Chapter 340: Fifteen Reasons to Hope
While Harper worked, the technician began removing the blood bags one by one, carefully checking each label before placing them on the prepared counter.
By the time the last bag had been removed and accounted for, fifteen units were lined up and ready for testing.
Lee closed the case while Harper made a few final adjustments on her phone. She reviewed the information before allowing the altered report to go through, then watched the screen until confirmation appeared.
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
“All done.”
A collective sense of relief swept through the room. What had seemed like another impossible problem had been handled, and they finally had the blood Jaime might need.
Nick, however, appeared impressed for an entirely different reason.
The moment Harper stepped back beside him, he leaned down until his lips were close to her
ear.
“That was fucking hot,” he whispered, keeping his voice low enough for only her to hear. “I’m so fucking turned on right now. You’re amazing.”
The warmth of his breath against her ear sent a small shiver through her, and heat immediately crept into her cheeks.
Damn him. She knew exactly how much satisfaction he would get from seeing how easily he could affect her, and she refused to give it to him. At least not yet.
Instead, Harper merely shrugged and slipped her phone back into her pocket, wearing her most unaffected expression.
“I know.”
Nick chuckled, clearly not fooled, and slid an arm around her waist, drawing her a little closer. But beneath his amusement was something else, a warm surge of pride that caught him
slightly off guard.
Watching Harper take control of the situation so effortlessly, confidently doing something none of them could have pulled off without her, had stirred something in him beyond simple
attraction.
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+25 Points He had always known how brilliant she was, but seeing her like this made him ridiculously proud that this incredible woman was his. And, fuck, if that didn’t make her even hotter in his eyes. Damien, standing close enough to witness the entire exchange, glanced at Nick and caught the proud expression still plastered across his face. He leaned slightly closer to him. “Tone it down,” he muttered under his breath. “You look like an idiot.” Nick glanced at him, completely unbothered. “I think I’m in love, man.” Damien gave him a flat look. “No shit.” Harper caught the quiet exchange between them and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What are you two whispering about?” She directed the question at Nick, who immediately shook his head. “Nothing important.” Harper raised a brow, clearly unconvinced, but Nick only smiled innocently and tightened his arm around her waist. With the immediate problem handled, the medical team wasted no time. The next hour was spent inspecting and testing the reserve units. One after another, the units were cleared for use, giving them the compatible blood supply they had desperately needed. Another round of bloodwork was also performed on Jaime. His hemoglobin was still lower than the doctors wanted, and after reviewing the results, they decided another transfusion was necessary. This time, the unit prepared for him was Cecilia’s. Maya sat beside her grandmother as the transfusion began inside Jaime’s room. For Cecilia, there was something almost overwhelming about knowing that her own blood was flowing into her grandson. Chapter 340 Fifteen Reasons to Hope +25 Points> After all the years she had lost with Malia, after all the years she had unknowingly lost with Maya and Jaime, a part of her was now helping keep her only grandson alive. Cecilia pressed her lips together as her eyes filled with tears. Maya noticed and without saying anything, she reached over and gently took her grandmother’s hand. Cecilia looked down at their joined hands, visibly caught off guard by the gesture. After everything that had been revealed between them, she hadn’t expected Maya to reach for her so naturally. Her fingers slowly closed around Maya’s hand, holding on tightly. Maya gave her hand a gentle squeeze before turning to her. “Once Jaime wakes up, let’s talk.” Cecilia’s expression softened, emotion immediately welling in her eyes again. There were so many things left unsaid between them, so many questions she knew Maya deserved answers to. But hearing that Maya was willing to have that conversation meant more to her than she could put into words. “Yes,” Cecilia replied softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’d love that.” The hours that followed were less frantic than the ones before them. Jaime continued to be monitored closely, and when his bloodwork showed that he needed additional support, the doctors used the newly cleared reserve to give him the necessary transfusions. Thanks to Cecilia, they no longer had to worry about running out of compatible blood. Her reserve had given them fifteen units, fifteen precious reasons to hope that Jaime would have everything he needed while his body fought to recover. And most importantly, he remained stable. Amid everything that had happened throughout the day, Dahlia had also found an opportunity to sit down with her son and Maya and explain why she had made the decisions she did. There had been questions, particularly about the risks and possible consequences. But after everything they had witnessed since the truth came out, neither of them could bring themselves to be upset with her. They had seen Cecilia’s genuine love for Maya and Jaime, her acceptance of Damien, the regret she still carried over losing her daughter, and how quickly she had been willing to risk Chapter 340: Fifteen Reasons to Hope the consequences if it meant saving Jaime’s life. It didn’t mean Damien and Maya agreed with every decision she had made, but they understood why she had made them, and that was enough. By the time evening settled over the estate, some of the suffocating tension that had consumed everyone throughout the day had finally begun to ease. +25 Points Ken and Kenji had already excused themselves to attend to other matters, while Alice left shortly afterward to make sure the staff had dinner prepared for everyone. With Jaime’s condition stable and the immediate crisis under control, Dr. Nakamura and the rest of his team eventually took their leave as well. Maya, however, still refused to go far from her brother. It took considerable convincing from Damien, Nick, and Harper before she finally agreed to leave long enough to eat. “I’m not hungry,” Maya insisted. “You haven’t eaten properly all day,” Damien reminded her. “I can eat here.” “You could,” Harper said, “but then you’ll stare at that door the entire time and forget there’s food sitting in front of you.” Maya gave her a look, but Harper simply raised her brows. “You know I’m right.” Maya glanced toward Jaime’s room again, still torn between leaving and staying. Damien rested a hand gently against her back. “He’s stable. The doctors are with him, and we’re not going far.” She hesitated, but Nick reminded her that the dining hall was still inside the estate and they could be back within minutes if anything changed. Finally, she sighed. “Fine.” With one last look toward the closed door of Jaime’s room, Maya stood with everyone else, ready to leave, when a sudden beep sounded from inside. Chapter 340 Fifteen Reasons to Hope Nurse Daniel immediately rushed into the room to check on him. Seconds later, he reappeared at the doorway and called urgently for Dr. Brown and Dr. Anderson. “The patient is awake!” 19 Comments LUCK DRAW > Vote 3K Thenjiwe Mofokeng