Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever
Chapter 803: After effects

Chapter 803: After effects

A week passed just like that, and Ivy’s health was getting better and better. Albeit slowly, her wounds were healing well. Her head was still covered in gauze, and it would be that way for a few more weeks.

Ivy stared at the ceiling like she usually did. It was still difficult for her to move, and her immobility stressed her out. But she could do nothing about it.

"Hello, Ivy. How are you doing today?" The doctor entered with Aria and Ian following him.

Ivy blinked her eyes twice in response, and the doctor returned a warm smile immediately.

"Shall we see if you can breathe without the ventilator?" The doctor questioned, and Ivy blinked again.

"Good." He glanced at the nurse who was behind everyone, and she removed her mask carefully.

Once the mask was completely off Ivy’s face, the doctor examined Ivy a few more times. Ivy showed no difficulty breathing on her own. She could do without the ventilator.

"Good. You are recovering well, Ivy, and in no time, she will start walking again."

"Thank you, doctor." Ivy’s lips parted, but the words didn’t come out of her mouth at all. She tried again, only to meet the same result. Her voice was gone.

Ivy stared anxiously at the doctor whose face had lost its smile, and he was now staring at her grimly.

"Try to speak again, Ivy." He urged her, and Ivy did as she was told. But again, only her lips moved while her voice was nowhere to be heard.

Ivy started becoming frantic and tried to move her body vigorously. Tears leaked out of her eyes as she begged for the doctor to help.

Her sudden agitation stunned everyone, and Aria and the nurse had to hold her down to stop her from hurting herself. Her condition, which had improved a little, deteriorated even more, and she started having difficulty breathing.

The oxygen mask that had been removed had to be put back on, and the doctor injected her with her medicines. Although it took a few minutes for Ivy to calm down, she finally did, and eventually, she went to sleep.

"Doctor, what’s happening?" Aria’s face had gone pale, and her hands shook as she stared at her sister.

"Didn’t I tell you before that she might face some problems in the future? I’m presuming that Ivy must have lost her sense of speech."

"But..."

"And this might not be the only one."

"What do you mean?" Ian was still in shock. Even though he was a doctor himself, he had to ask the other man for clarification.

"I’m not sure. Ivy is still in the initial stages of recovery. So, we don’t know what else has been affected. I’ll have to do some tests once she gets better. I can’t say anything right now."

"Can it be that since she was asleep for a long time and hadn’t spoken all these days, her throat has gone sore and her voice has gone gruff?"

"Doctor Davis, how I wish to admit it to be a possibility?" The doctor shook his head in sorrow. "There is a high chance that Ivy has lost her sense of speech. But I can only confirm it after she recovers completely. After all, her brain is still healing, you see."

"Thank you, Doctor." Ian had nothing else to say. Ivy’s state only made him anxious, and he just hoped that it was all a false alarm.

While the doctor left the ICU and the nurse followed suit after changing her dressing, Aria and Ian remained with Ivy, who had slipped into a deep sleep. Unlike before, Aria didn’t cry anymore. Yes, her face had gone pale, and she had broken out into a cold sweat. Yes, her hands shook every time she thought about her sister’s state. But she didn’t cry anymore. She held back her tears as much as possible as she looked at her unconscious sister.

"Aria," Ian sighed as he looked at her in worry. He was scared for her. She didn’t seem to be fine.

"I’m fine, Ian." Aria mumbled before she turned her head away from him to hide her glossy eyes from him.

"I’ll be back." Aria choked, yet she remained strong as she stopped her tears from escaping her eyes.

Ian watched Aria leave the ICU, and he followed her in concern. But before he could stop her, she had run towards the washroom, forcing him to stay put in his place.

This scene was noticed by Noah, Joshua, and Oliver, who were making their way towards the ICU, and Oliver’s pace increased as he almost jogged towards Ian.

"Ian, what’s wrong? What happened to Aria?"

"Mr. West..." Ian sighed, not knowing how to tell the truth to the old man.

"Ian, please tell me what’s wrong. You’re scaring the hell out of me." Oliver held Ian’s shoulder as he looked at him anxiously.

"Mr. West, Ivy’s condition deteriorated, and..."

"And?" Oliver looked at him nervously.

"And, she has lost her sense of speech."

Oliver’s legs gave way instantly, and Noah, who was right beside him, had to catch him to keep him standing.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no." Oliver shook his head frantically. "Please say you’re lying to me."

"I wish, Mr. West. I wish." It pained Ian to see the state the West family was in. They didn’t deserve it. They didn’t deserve any of it, especially Ivy.

Immediately, his gaze moved towards Joshua, who seemed to be visibly shaken and frozen. He hadn’t moved even for a second as he stared blankly at who knows what.

Oliver thrashed in Noah’s arms before he broke free from him and entered the ICU, and Ian followed him instantly, leaving Noah to handle Joshua.

Noah pulled his hair in irritation. He even let out a low roar to release his frustration. Everything was going well, and then Jared came and destroyed everything. Every damn thing.

Every time he thought about Ivy’s state, he had the urge to beat the hell out of Jared. If not for him, she’d still be healthy and kicking.

Noah stared at Joshua, who hadn’t reacted even once since Ian conveyed Ivy’s state to them. Although the man had managed to revive himself a little in their eyes, the wounds on Ivy’s body couldn’t hide the fact that he had somehow pushed her to that state.

Noah didn’t know if he should hate him and blame him or not. Although it was true that Jared would look for another opportunity to harm Ivy, at least she wouldn’t have an injured heart as well.

"What are you standing here for?" Noah’s voice came out furious, and Joshua immediately came out of his trance. "Aren’t you going to see her?"

"Do I even deserve to?" Joshua questioned back, his voice laced with guilt and sorrow. "It was all because of me, Noah. She is suffering because of me. If only I hadn’t fallen for Amber’s words. If only I had believed in Ivy’s love for me."

Joshua’s eyes turned red in an instant as he drowned himself in self-loathing and guilt. His actions would forever haunt him, and there was no way in hell he’d forgive himself for what he did.

Noah sighed helplessly. Even though he wanted to blame Joshua,

he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Although Joshua had been selfish, he understood why he had chosen to protect himself over Ivy’s love for him.

Noah was in turmoil. He wanted to assure Joshua and even offer him words of comfort. But every time he thought about the state Ivy was in, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. In his desire to protect himself, Joshua had hurt Ivy, and it was a fact no one could change.

"See, I don’t know what will happen between Ivy and you in the future. I don’t know if she’ll accept you back as well. If she doesn’t, I’m only going to say that you brought this upon yourself." Noah was merciless with his words. There was no need for him to sugarcoat his words.

"If you’re truly regretful, don’t give up on her. Show her how sorry you are and accept every punishment she has for you. Apologizing to her is your duty, accepting your apology, and forgiving you is her choice. That is all I can say."

"I’ll never give up on Ivy, Noah. Never. I know after I broke her heart, it’ll be hard for her to trust anyone, and I don’t want her to trust me and forgive me quickly either. I want her to make it difficult for me, punish me, hit me, scold me. I’m willing to take everything. I just want her to be happy."

"Good keep this in and hope for the best." Noah nodded at him before he went in the direction Aria had gone while Joshua stood outside the ICU for a few more seconds as he composed himself before he entered it.