The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 396

Cough… cough, cough…

Garnett’s eyes were squeezed shut, his brow furrowed as he let out a series of harsh coughs before slowly blinking them open.

His vision was met with a scene of dim, cold desolation.

With great effort, Garnett propped himself up. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the faint light, but he eventually made out his surroundings.

It was a spacious, filthy place that looked like a long-abandoned factory.

The windowpanes, neglected for years, were shattered beyond recognition, and the frames were riddled with rust.

Wind and a fine mist blew in through the broken glass, feeling like an icy blade against his skin. It carried the sharp, biting smell of rot and mildew.

He tried to stand but found he didn't have the strength, so he gave up for the moment.

“Cough…” The wind kicked up a cloud of dust, and Garnett couldn't help but cough again. A sharp pain shot through the back of his head, making his vision go black for a second.

“Is anyone here? Is… cough, cough… is anyone there?”

He gritted his teeth against the pain and shouted with all his might.

“…”

For a long time, the only response was the echo of his own voice. The factory was deathly silent.

Garnett was still in his thin hospital gown, which offered no protection against the cold wind seeping in.

He took a deep breath and spotted a pillar not far away. Slowly, he dragged himself toward it.

The factory had windows on opposite sides, and the pillar was in the center, where the draft would normally be strongest. But fortunately, a large tree stood outside the left window. It was early spring, and its dense branches and leaves blocked the crosswind.

Garnett leaned his back against the pillar and curled his knees to his chest. As his thoughts cleared, the pain in the back of his head grew more intense, spreading to his temples, as if a wire had been threaded through his skull and was being constantly twisted and pulled.

The wind rustled the leaves of the tree outside, making a soft, hissing sound.

Garnett closed his eyes, and the events from before he lost consciousness slowly replayed in his mind…

The man calmly pulled out a test request form and handed it to Mr. Flint. “This is a special test,” he explained. “It needs to be done ten hours before the surgery for the results to be accurate.”

Mr. Flint was skeptical, but he carefully reviewed the form.

It did indeed state a time constraint for the test: “eight to ten hours prior to surgery.” Furthermore, the signature in the physician’s authorization field was identical to the handwriting of Garnett’s attending physician.

“If you still have any doubts, you can call Dr. Quick to confirm,” the man added, noticing Mr. Flint’s hesitation.

Dr. Quick was Garnett’s attending physician.

Mr. Flint thought for a moment. Although the form seemed legitimate, he couldn’t shake the unease, especially after the incident where Garnett had collapsed in the garden pavilion.

“Alright. Please wait a moment while I call Dr. Quick.”

“Be my guest.” As he spoke, the man tugged his mask higher, a sinister glint flashing in the depths of his dark eyes.

Mr. Flint turned to get his phone from the sofa, quickly found Dr. Quick’s number, and prepared to dial.