The 99th Divorce

Shen Longyue’s heart sank when the nurse told him about Shen Manting’s condition.

The nurse noticed his sorrowful expression and asked out of curiosity, “Excuse me, Director. May I know if the patient in the ward is related to you…”

Shen Longyue looked at her and sighed softly. “She’s my daughter-in-law,” he replied.

The nurse returned a sympathetic and concerned gaze when she heard that.

She knew at once that the impassive man sitting at the door with his face covered in blood and tears was the director’s son.

She offered consolation to them and soon left.

Shen Longyue sat down beside Shen Luo’an silently.

Both father and son sat together outside the door for over ten hours.

Shen Longyue and Shen Luo’an kept their eyes wide open the whole time, their gaze fixated on the door of the operating theater.

Both of them didn’t yawn even once or catch a quick nap.

Finally, the door of the operating theater opened.

When the chief surgeon opened the door and saw Shen Longyue, he was stunned. “Director?”

Shen Luo’an immediately rose to his feet and clutched at the chief surgeon’s clothes. “How was the operation? How is the patient doing?”

Shen Longyue walked over to join Shen Luo’an and said, “This is my son. The woman inside is my daughter-in-law. How is she now?”

The chief surgeon maintained his silence for a moment, as if contemplating an appropriate answer. Then, he began, “She’s in a worrying condition. She has undergone a blood transfusion, but her injuries are too serious. Her arm and leg are fractured. The loss of blood from multiple sites in her brain has landed her in a coma. It’s hard to tell if she’ll regain consciousness…”

Shen Luo’an’s face turned even paler in an instant.

He tugged frantically at the chief surgeon’s scrubs and roared angrily, “What do you mean?”

“Luo’an!” Shen Longyue held him back. “Listen to him first! Has she survived the critical period?” Doctor Qin shook his head and replied, “Not yet. I’ve administered some medication on her. She might experience complications within 24 hours. She also has to be admitted to the ICU for further observation. If she’s able to make it through the next 24 hours, she’ll probably have a chance at regaining consciousness.”

Shen Luo’an’s felt even more enraged upon hearing his explanation. He shouted, “What do you mean by ‘probably’?”

Doctor Qin looked at him and sighed, “She’s badly injured. If her vital signs start to stabilize, she’ll likely survive.”

The doctor’s vague speculations on Shen Manting’s chances of survival sounded so cold and cruel that Shen Luo’an began trembling.

He glared at him with bloodshot eyes and demanded, “If her vital signs become stable, will she regain consciousness?”

Doctor Qin paused in silence and turned to look at Shen Longyue. “You know better, Director.”

Shen Longyue’s eyes had already turned red. He held Shen Luo’an and sighed. “Get some rest first, Luo’an,” he uttered in a shaky voice choked with tears.

“Tell me what’s going on! Tell me!”

Shen Luo’an’s body turned limp. He struggled to stand on his feet and nearly collapsed.

He sounded so desperate that he was almost pleading.

His clean, fair face was now unshaven and bloodied. Traces of tears were evident. He appeared grotesque with his bloodshot eyes.

Doctor Qin pitied him and couldn’t bear to conceal the truth from him anymore. He glanced at Shen Longyue and warned gravely, “Even if she survives this ordeal, she’ll most likely end up in a vegetative state.”

Shen Luo’an felt as if he had been struck by thunder.

His body stiffened and his mind went blank.

“She’ll most likely end up in a vegetative state.” The sentence echoed in his mind.

Shen Luo’an broke down in despair and cried, “This is impossible. Impossible!”

Shen Longyue held onto Shen Luo’an, feeling devastated and heartbroken himself. He was sobbing softly as he pulled Shen Luo’an up from the floor. He ordered sternly, “Get up now, Shen Luo’an!”

“It’s my fault she ended up in this state…” Shen Luo’an looked up mournfully at Shen Longyue. “I’m the one to blame, Father…”