Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“A-Angelina…” Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke the name, her voice a fragile child’s attempt at communication.
Landon’s breath hitched. “Lauren,” he said softly, “Angelina’s gone, but I believe she’s never truly left us. She’ll always be a part of us, here in our hearts.”
Alyssa received Jeremy’s call on her way back to Solana City. She quickly slammed her foot down on the accelerator and raced to the hospital.
She hurried into the hospital, visibly distressed.
“Ms. Alyssa!”
A gentle voice called out from behind, causing her to spin around. There, at the bottom of a steep wheelchair ramp leading into the hospital, stood Justin. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his face etched with determination as he attempted to propel himself up the incline.
He looked like he was in a hurry to get to her.
But then, something went wrong. The wheelchair seemed to catch on something, causing it to roll backward uncontrollably.
For a horrifying moment, Justin’s eyes widened as he lost control, his chair tilting precariously backward.
In the nick of time, the world stopped whirling as a warm strength instantly supported his back while another hand grabbed his arm.
“Be careful.”
Justin looked up in surprise. His eyes met a clear, sparkling gaze. He felt an unfamiliar rush of emotions like a drop of water plopped into the still lake of his heart and sent ripples across it.
Alyssa used all her strength to push Justin and his wheelchair onto flat ground.
As her body swayed, a few strands of hair inadvertently brushed his face.
Justin’s gaze darkened before he smiled wanly, his brows furrowed. “It’s all thanks to you just now. If not for you, I would be staying here overnight.”
“It was no trouble at all.”
Alyssa looked down and kicked away a rock beside the wheelchair. “The wheels must have gotten stuck with rocks. That’s quite dangerous. Why isn’t Ms. Gillis with you?”
“I’m returning to Mosgravia soon, so I wanted to see Lauren before I left. Initially, I was at the cafe next to the hospital because I wanted to buy coffee for my dad and the medical personnel in charge of Lauren. Sheryl wanted to buy some things from the grocery store, so I waited alone in the cafe.
“But suddenly, I received a call from Rory. I couldn’t help but worry about Lauren, so I just came over by myself.”
It was obvious that Justin came over as fast as he could. His face was still sweaty, and he was trying to catch his breath.
Alyssa only saw him twice, but her image of him as the eldest son of the Walsh family remained the same. He was always elegant and well-groomed. Even when he was sitting in a wheelchair, he still sat with his head held high, like a swan. He never looked like he was caught off guard.
“As the eldest brother, your concern for Lauren is understandable. But judging from your condition, you shouldn’t have come alone. It’s too risky.” Alyssa’s expression was neutral, as always.
Justin’s gaze was gentle as he smiled at her helplessly. “It’s at these times that I can’t help but wonder, if I were healthy and whole, I wouldn’t be troubling others all the time.”
Upon hearing that, a mixture of complex emotions flashed across her face, but they quickly vanished.
“Are you going to wait for Ms. Gillis? I’ll go and see Lauren first.”
“If you don’t mind, may I go with you?” Justin’s gaze was pleading. “I’m really worried about Lauren.”
“You are Lauren’s brother. Of course I don’t mind,” she said, then quickly turned away.
Suddenly, a hacking cough sounded from behind her. His wheezing breaths made her feel like he was about to drop dead at any moment.
“Ms. Taylor, I’m afraid my condition is… not helping me here.”
Justin’s face was ashen, and his lips were pale. It didn’t look like he was acting. “I don’t have enough energy. can you. push me there?”
Although Alyssa wanted to avoid as much contact with him as possible, she was also a doctor. She couldn’t be so unkind to a patient, especially since Justin had saved Jeremy. No matter what, she couldn’t disregard his sufferings.
“Alright.” Alyssa walked behind him and pushed his wheelchair along.
“Thank you.” Justin placed a hand on his chest and tried to steady his breathing. He looked up to peer at that electrifying gaze that moved his heart.
The sudden intrusion of a deep and cold voice shattered the momentary calm. Its icy tone cut through the air, sending a chill down their spines.
“Lyse.”
Alyssa jolted, and her gaze met Jeremy’s dark gaze. Her heart thumped heavily against her chest.
Right now, Jeremy’s classy suit was stretched tightly against his muscles. Even if he didn’t take off his clothes, she could visualize it.
“Jeremy.” Justin coughed, his face pale. Unexpectedly, he was the one who spoke up and tried to explain on Alyssa’s behalf, as if they were hiding something from him.
“Nothing happened just now. I just met Ms. Alyssa at the entrance of the hospital. I wasn’t feeling well so… I asked her to push me upstairs.”
“Justin, did I even ask?”
Jeremy smiled lightly, although it turned into a slight grimace. Nevertheless, he still tried. “You’re my brother, and Lyse is your sister-in-law. We’re a family. She’s helping you as a sister would.”
As he spoke, he strode to stand beside Alyssa. His gaze was gentle as he took over the wheelchair handles. “Let me do it.”
“Sorry for the inconvenience, Jeremy.” Justin smiled as well while his gaze darkened.
Jeremy bent down and whispered in Justin’s ear, holding back his rippling emotions. “You are my brother; it’s just my duty.”
Outside the patient’s room, Javier anxiously discussed Lauren’s condition with the main physician.
“Dad!” Justin called out worriedly. He was wheelchair-bound, but he desperately wished that he could walk for himself.
“Justin! Your body still needs rest, so why are you here?” Seeing Justin’s sickly face, Javier worried for him.
“I’m worried about Lauren, so I came to check on her condition. Coincidentally, I met Jeremy and Ms.
Alyssa downstairs, so we came up together.”
Justin asked grimly, “Dad, how is Lauren?”
Alyssa was also pale with anxiety; Jeremy gripped her cold hands tightly.
“Landon is inside, keeping her company. It’s a good thing that Landon is here, or else.”
Javier sighed and lowered his head, feeling a weight in his heart. “But we can’t go on like this. Lauren was already depressed in the first place, and now she’s experienced such a traumatic event. I’m worried that her mental state will crumble!”
Jeremy’s heart twinged in pain. After thinking for a while, he said hesitantly, “If we really have no choice, we can only use modified electroconvulsive therapy.”
Javier and Rory looked at each other and repeated, “Modified electroconvulsive therapy?”
“It’s a treatment method using a safe amount of electricity to treat mental disorders. When I was in the Peacekeeping Forces, a lot of soldiers suffered from the horrors of watching death happen on the battlefield, and they got PTSD. After they left the military, the trauma prevented them from living a normal life, so they could only use this treatment.”
Alyssa felt as if her heart was stabbed. She couldn’t help but gaze at Jeremy’s strong profile, feeling complicated.
Javier asked, “Then, are there any side effects?”
Jeremy said truthfully, “In the beginning, the patient will be prone to dizziness and nausea. Later, they may lose some memories. In the future, there will be difficulties in recalling things to some extent.”
“No, I don’t suggest this treatment.” Justin shook his head. “Is the only treatment option to forget your memories? Must we kill off our past selves?”
Alyssa stared at him in shock. She never thought that he would be so empathetic.
The atmosphere became awkward. The two brothers glared at each other with invisible gunfire clashing between them.
“Back then, I also received this kind of treatment. Again and again, nobody will understand how it feels. It’s as if your soul is getting sucked out. That’s just using another form of pain to distract yourself from the suffering.”
Justin’s expression darkened. “Then again, this method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. That woman, Angelina, she’s an important person to Lauren.
“Even if Lauren forgets her temporarily, in the future, when something reminds her of that woman, her memories will come flooding back. If that happens, then what? Do we electrocute her again and force her to forget?”
His heartfelt words made Javier tear up. “Son… I had no idea you suffered so much.”
Jeremy pressed his lips together, feeling as if a needle pierced through his throat.
That year, the kidnapping gave Justin a lot of trauma. He had no choice but to choose this method to get through those dark days.
“Dad, it’s all in the past. It’s alright.”
