Financial Emperor: After I Rose From the Dead
Chapter 37: Please, Don’t Leave Me

Chapter 37: Please, Don’t Leave Me

Rino walked into the hospital room and found the girl sitting up on the bed. Beside her, was a nurse who was careful feeding her small spoonfuls of light food.

Once he stepped in, the girl tilted her head in his direction.

Her eyes were tired, but alert. The color has returned to her cheeks, and though, she still looked weak, it was clear that she was recovering.

Rino had paused at the door while he walked in. Also, standing by the side of the room’s pulse reading machine, was the doctor whom Rino guessed had worked on reviving the girl.

Before Rino could say anything, the second doctor stepped in. The one who had initially called him to inform him of the situation and had granted him the privilege to speak with the girl’s father.

The privilege?

He didn’t want to take it to be that way, but— there was a ’But’.

The doctor’s voice cut through his thoughts.

"We did our best," the first doctor began, coming closer to Rino, probably to prevent the girl from hearing what he wanted to say. "And I can say she’s incredibly strong. She actually died twice on arrival."

Rino’s eyes widened slightly as his lips parted itself in disbelief.

"Died?" he whispered, demonstrating with his hand.

"Yes," the doctor who he had been with, in his office confirmed, nodding solemnly. "She went flatline two times before stabilizing. It’s a good thing that we moved her to this special ward to receive fast-paced attention."

Rino stared blankly as the doctor spoke. Now, he understood the reason the nurse had badged in the way she did. He understood what the cause of their reactions had been.

"T-Thank you," Rino found himself stuttering in disbelief.

"It’s okay. We had given her special attention by transferring her to our main emergency unit to receive the kind of treatment so many incoming cases couldn’t be given," the second doctor who seemed to have a way with words said. "We understood that life was important."

Rino listened quietly to what the doctors said. He took in every word, his hands clenched at his sides as he inwardly whispered a brief prayer of thanksgiving.

"Thank God nothing happened to her..."

Once he said this prayer, the image of her lifeless body flashed in his mind and he pushed it away quickly.

Let by-gone be by-gone.

He couldn’t bear to think of what the consequences would have been, or what would have happened if to say the girl had died. Not only that she died, but in his hands too.

God save my soul, he remarked at this thought.

Paving away all thoughts, he walked slowly to the bedside and sat on a seat nearby. He watched over the girl as she finished the last few bites of food she was fed, then, turned her head towards him and gave a small smile.

This smile suddenly meant everything to Rino.

It was charming and refurbished her cute face the more.

Her eyes carried a glowing pupil, that had no color in particular except for its shimmer. The kind of eyes that were a rare thing to find, blended with contrast to her morning glow skin. Her hair, raven black, cascaded across her shoulders and wrapped over her body, was the hospital bed sheet.

"Thank you," the girl said with a soft and clear voice. "Thank you for saving my life."

Rino gulped.

Is she thanking him?

She had saved him a great shame that could have befell him, and probably, a huge problem.

The words had struck deep into Rino’s heart. His face flustered slightly as a wave of shame washed over him. It was his fault that this girl had succumbed to this situation. It was his fault she ended up at the hospital to begin with and now she’s thanking him?

Still, he bowed his head slightly and leaned over, dropping his elbows on the bed and he held the hands of the girl.

"No," he said. "I should be the one thanking you. For surviving. For staying awake. For not giving up. For being a strong girl."

He said all that without mustering enough courage to meet the eyes of the girl.

The girl released her hand from his grip and raised his head so that his eyes could meet hers. She stared into them for a longer time, before Rino breached the silence.

As if he was trying to change the subject of the matter, he said, "Your father called earlier."

If he knew mentioning the girl’s father would cause her to do what she did, he wouldn’t have dared to. But, what now, he had done it already.

The moment he said that he noticed a shift in the girl’s facial look. Her brows pulled together faintly, and her expression turned into something unreadable.

The reaction she had displayed confused Rino. He waited for a response but none came, and he knew none would come from the way she had acted. Instead of pressing further, he thought it wise to drop the subject.

"What’s your name?" he asked gently.

"Arinna. Arinna Meth," the girl answered and looked at him with a second hesitation. "I am fourteen."

"Fourteen?" Rino was surprised.

He had guessed the girl was in her sixteen judging from the mature frame she inherited from wherever.

Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out and saw the name that flashed across the screen.

It was you-know-who—Zaria.

His eyes darted to the time immediately. It was twenty minutes left for the hour of 8, and he had scheduled the meeting at 7.

He stood up quickly, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Where will I be given my bill?" he asked the nurse who was sitting on the other side of the bed, who had fed the girl.

"Meet the nurse at the counter," she said, and Rino wanted to rush out of the room when he heard the voice that called out to him. It was fragile, yet firm enough to have stopped him mid-step.

"Please... don’t leave me."

Rino halted at once, the words slicing through the air and wrapping around his chest like chains.

He didn’t move. Not yet.

Then, slowly he turned to meet the watery eyes of the girl on the bed watching him with a pitiful face.

Rino instantly faced the ground and raised his head again.

What in the heavens?

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.