The Silent Wife novel (Rachel and Justin) novel Chapter 565

It wasn’t until three days later that Rachel came off the ventilator, and during that time, she got more conscious by the day. Only when her condition had stabilized and the doctors were certain there wouldn’t be risks did they stop the ventilator.

“You have to tell me at once if you don’t feel comfortable. Alternatively, you can press the bell. Don’t fight it. You’ve inhaled a lot of smoke, and it’s pretty severe.” It was like Jolly and Rachel had switched overnight, with Jolly becoming the motherly one.

Gloria, however, didn’t buy her act. “Yeah, right. You pressed down on Rachel’s tube as soon as she woke up, nearly suffocating her. I can’t even begin to imagine what would happen to her under your care.”

“I’ve told you it was an accident! You’ve been on about this for three days. When are you going to stop?”

“Until the day I step into my grave!”

“Knock on wood!” Jolly hit the roof. “Can’t you watch your mouth?!”

Jolly wasn’t superstitious, but after Rachel was hospitalized, everyone in the gang did whatever they thought could help Rachel regain consciousness. If possible, they’d pray to every godly being in this world and do anything that would bring good luck.

Likewise, Gloria uttered the phrase ‘knock on wood’ at once and even tapped on the bedside table.

Rachel chuckled amusedly, leading her pallid face to be laced with a tinge of redness as she coughed.

Jolly hurriedly brought a glass of water to Rachel at that. “Have some water.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t waste your voice on useless words like this when your throat’s uncomfortable.”

After taking a sip of water, Rachel asked with a raspy voice. “How’s Justin?”

“Who?” Gloria and Jolly exchanged a glance.

“Oh, he’s recovering pretty well. He can even walk now. You should do your best too.”

“In that case, why hasn’t he come to see me?”

“Huh?” Stumped, Jolly started mumbling, “He, uh, he… The doctor advised him against walking too much. He still needs to recuperate, after all.”

Being a shrewd one and knowing Jolly like the back of her hand, Rachel instantly knew the former was lying upon seeing her behavior.

“How exactly is he doing?”

Overwhelmed by Rachel’s questioning, Jolly looked to Gloria for help.

However, Gloria was a terrible liar as well, not to mention when it was about Justin. Her eyes were already red-rimmed when she heard his name, and she even failed to hold back her tears, letting them roll down her cheeks like beads of a broken string. “He’s still in a coma.”

Rachel’s expression turned awful the second she heard Gloria’s sobs. “Take me to him.”

Jolly stopped her at once. “The doctor said you need to recuperate. You can’t run around just yet.”

“I said, take me to him—”

Having gotten worked up, Rachel started coughing violently.

“Don’t get agitated. Take a deep breath. Fine, we’ll take you to him.”

Jolly knew there was no stopping Rachel anymore and pushed a wheelchair over. With Gloria’s help, they helped Rachel out of bed and into the wheelchair, taking her to the ICU.

The second Rachel saw the man lying behind the window, her eyes turned red-rimmed with oncoming tears.

Like when she had just woken up, Justin needed the support of a ventilator too. Unlike her, he had a lot more tubes attached to him, and it was so complicated that she couldn’t even tell just how many there were.

“How is his condition?”

“The doctor said he inhaled too much smoke, and the carbon monoxide level in his blood was so high that it damaged his brain, triggering his old affliction from the car accident. H-He might never wake up.”

“That’s not possible.” Rachel was rendered stupefied. “Didn’t you guys tell me he ran out himself? Why is his condition more severe than mine? He was in much better health than I was! He could’ve certainly left.”