Chapter 231 Had He Truly Changed?

Chapter 231: Chapter 231 Had He Truly Changed?

Laurel remained beside Jack’s bed, studying the latest readings on the monitor. His breathing was steady, but the fact that he had not regained consciousness continued to trouble her. She had already seen the bleeding inside his skull, and although the first scan had shown only a small amount, she knew that even a little blood could become dangerous if it pressed against the brain.

The door opened, and one of the doctors entered with the results of Jack’s latest scan. Laurel immediately stood and took the report from him, her eyes moving across the images.

The bleeding had increased since the first examination, and the swollen tissue around it was beginning to press against the surrounding part of his brain.

Laurel’s expression darkened with worry. She had hoped the bleeding would stop on its own, but the new images made it clear that waiting any longer would put Jack at greater risk.

"Prepare the operating room," Laurel instructed, handing the report back to the doctor. "The blood is putting pressure on his brain. We need to remove it before it causes more damage."

The doctor nodded and hurried away to make the arrangements.

Laurel looked at Jack’s pale face and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from his forehead. He was still so young, yet he had already endured more than many adults could bear. She remembered how Tina had described him carrying her through the passage despite his own exhaustion, and the thought made her chest tighten.

"You’ve been brave enough, Jack," Laurel murmured, carefully adjusting the blanket around him. "Let me take care of the rest."

Within minutes, the medical staff began preparing him for surgery. Laurel changed into her surgical clothes, washed her hands and joined the team in the operating room.

Under the bright lights, Jack looked even smaller on the operating table. Laurel studied the scan one last time, making sure she knew exactly where the blood had gathered. She then checked that the equipment was ready and that the doctor responsible for keeping Jack asleep and monitoring his breathing had completed the necessary preparations.

Once Jack was safely under anesthesia, the operation began.

Laurel carefully opened the area of his scalp above the injured part of his skull. With the assistance of the surgical team, she made a small opening in the bone to reach the blood that had collected beneath it. As the trapped blood was removed, the pressure on the surrounding tissue began to ease.

She worked slowly and carefully, watching for any fresh bleeding, fatigue catching up with her. When she found the damaged blood vessel, she stopped the bleeding and examined the surrounding area to make sure there was no other injury that required immediate attention.

Throughout the procedure, the doctor beside the monitor kept Laurel informed of Jack’s heartbeat, blood pressure and breathing. The numbers remained steady, allowing her to concentrate on completing the operation without unnecessary delay.

After confirming that the bleeding had stopped, Laurel carefully closed the area and covered the wound with a clean dressing.

The surgery had gone well, but she knew that Jack would still need time to recover. Removing the blood had relieved the pressure on his brain, yet it could not immediately undo the injury he had already suffered.

She wanted to use her healing power, but she knew she hadn’t recovered from the backlash she had suffered when she saved Alexander and Chris.

Not long, Jack was moved to a recovery bed, where the doctors would continue watching him closely. Laurel reviewed his condition and the first readings after surgery. His breathing and blood pressure were stable, and there was no sign of fresh bleeding. Only then did she allow herself to relax a little.

She removed her gloves and stepped out of the treatment room, rubbing the back of her neck as she walked. Her body was beginning to feel the exhaustion she had ignored since entering the underground passage. Between treating the children and operating on Ida, she had barely stopped moving.

Meanwhile, Alexander was waiting in the corridor. He stood near the wall with a bottle of water in his hand, and when he saw Laurel emerge, he immediately straightened his spine. His gaze moved over her tired face before settling on the faint marks the surgical mask had left against her cheeks.

"How is Jack?" Alexander asked, approaching her.

"The surgery went well," Laurel answered, accepting the water he offered. "We removed the blood that was pressing against his brain. He’s stable now, but he still needs time to recover."

Alexander sighed, relieved that the boy had survived another dangerous procedure. "That’s good. Tina has been asking about him, although she fell asleep again a little while ago."

Laurel opened the bottle and drank several mouthfuls. The cool water soothed her dry throat, reminding her that she had not eaten or drunk much since returning.

"Thank you for staying with her," Laurel replied, lowering the bottle. "She must have been frightened when she woke up without me."

"She was," Alexander admitted, his expression softening as he remembered the little girl’s anxious face. "But I told her you were taking care of Jack, and that seemed to reassure her."

Laurel smiled faintly. She knew how much Tina trusted Alexander, and despite everything that had happened between them, she was grateful that the little girl had someone like him.

Alexander watched her for a moment before speaking again. "Laurel, there’s something I’ve wanted to say to you."

His unusually serious tone made Laurel look up from the bottle. She noticed that he seemed hesitant, which was unlike the Alexander she knew, and her curiosity was immediately mixed with caution.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice softer than she intended.

Alexander glanced towards the door of the children’s room before returning his attention to her. "Thank you for going back to find Tina. I know how dangerous it was, especially with the monsters still roaming around."

Laurel did not expect him to bring that up. She studied his face for a moment, searching for the familiar arrogance or hidden intention that she had learned to be wary of, but all she could see was genuine gratitude.

"I couldn’t leave them there," Laurel answered quietly. "Tina and Jack were trapped, and we didn’t know how long they could survive."

"I know," Alexander replied, lowering his gaze briefly. "But you could have asked someone else to go. You had already done so much for the fortress, yet you still went yourself."

He paused, struggling to find the right words. For someone who had once spoken to her as though everything she did required his approval, admitting how much her actions meant to him did not come easily.

Laurel noticed his hesitation, and her brows rose slightly in curiosity. She wondered what he was trying to say, especially when he was usually so direct with her.

"Alexander?" she prompted gently.

He looked at her again, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "I suppose what I’m trying to say is that I admire you, Laurel. More than you probably realize."

Laurel’s fingers tightened slightly around the water bottle.

They were husband and wife, at least in name, but their relationship had never been simple. There had been a time when she desperately wanted his affection, when even a few kind words from him would have been enough to make her happy. She remembered that version of herself clearly, and perhaps that was why his sudden gentleness made her uncomfortable rather than pleased.

Had Alexander truly changed, or was he simply behaving differently because she was no longer the woman who followed him around, hoping for his attention like she did in her past life?