CHAPTER 179: CHAPTER 179: YOU... DON’T REMEMBER YOUR CHILDHOOD?

"Summer Shaw!"

Seeing her best friend fall down the stairs, Juliana Jacobs rushed up without a second thought and intercepted her halfway.

However, at this moment, a dark figure flew towards her.

Juliana didn’t have time to see who it was before she shielded Summer, and then Raine Kane leaped over their heads.

The agile shadow swiftly returned to the second floor, prompting Raine to give chase.

"Summer!"

Juliana then had the chance to notice a dagger plunged into Summer’s heart.

She held her, trembling uncontrollably.

Summer gripped her hand, opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

Tears streamed down Juliana’s face.

"Don’t talk, calm your breath, just hold on a bit."

Summer glanced at her hair and then weakly passed out.

The assailant escaped, and Raine Kane, rather than continue chasing, returned.

Examining Summer’s wound, she said gravely, "The dagger can’t be moved, take her to the hospital immediately."

...

By the time Mr. Shaw and Mrs. Shaw arrived, Summer had already been taken into the emergency room.

Juliana had just finished giving her statement and stood in front of them with her head down.

"How could you let her out of your sight?" Mrs. Shaw reproached.

Mr. Shaw patted her shoulder and said with grief, "Enough, she couldn’t have foreseen this happening, don’t blame her."

Juliana felt even worse because of these words.

Even though it was Summer who was attacked, she always felt the target was herself.

"The suspect’s escape was swift, with a clearly chosen route, suggesting prior surveillance. Almost no clues were left at the scene, further investigation is necessary," the police said.

Mrs. Shaw nearly faltered, and Mr. Shaw held her up.

"We trust you to find the culprit," Mr. Shaw said.

After the police left, Elias Langley patted Juliana on the shoulder.

Seeing she didn’t move, he pulled her into a hug.

Eight hours later, Caleb Shaw was the first to come out of surgery.

The first thing he said to Elias Langley was "Thank you."

Elias nodded.

If he hadn’t urgently requested the top cardiothoracic surgeon from Kingsford to Harlan, Summer wouldn’t have made it off the operating table today.

"How are things now?" Mr. Shaw asked.

Caleb couldn’t muster the courage to meet his father’s eyes, "Her heart’s severely damaged, and the fall injured her head; right now, we can only keep her alive."

"What do you mean by just keeping her alive?" Mrs. Shaw asked shakily.

At this moment, Caleb’s cardiology colleague came out.

"The patient experienced respiratory arrest and is now in a vegetative state. Based on current assessments, the chance of waking is slim. However, there is a potential method, but no guarantee of success."

"What method?" Caleb asked.

"A heart transplant might increase the chances of waking up."

Seeing Caleb’s gaze, his colleague explained in a lowered voice, "Your sister’s heart is so badly damaged that even without a transplant, it would barely last another six months. Now, Kingsford has successful cases of using a patient’s own cells to cultivate artificial organs for ’zero rejection’ transplants. You should try matching and contact the lab."

At least, this gives a sliver of hope.

Afterward, Summer was transferred to the intensive care unit.

Juliana wanted to see her, but Mr. and Mrs. Shaw wanted to see their daughter even more.

So, Juliana could only stand outside the window, quietly watching her best friend, who was covered in tubes.

Caleb looked at the elderly couple with hunched backs inside and said calmly, "When we were young, our parents were too busy to take care of two kids at home, so as soon as she was born, she was sent to relatives in the countryside to be raised. She only came back at 12. We thought there might be a rift between her and the family, but she grew up to be a cheerful and sensible girl, always the one to make life easier for our parents. It was me who always worried them."

Juliana turned to look at him.

Caleb’s eyes were red.

"Why isn’t it me lying in there?" he said.

Juliana looked at the glass again, "That’s because she got tired and wants a rest, while you have a lot more important things to do."

Caleb looked at her, lost for words,

Juliana continued, "It’s not easy to wait for a heart, so start the matching now, and ask around which lab in Kingsford is doing the cell cultivation. She has some time before heart failure, maybe we can use the cell-cultivated heart technology to fight for a chance."

For the first time, Caleb realized how logical Juliana was in her speech.

"Think about how to save her, leave finding the culprit to me."

Juliana didn’t provoke him further, speaking calmly before turning and leaving.

Elias Langley followed, concerned.

As soon as Juliana reached the elevator, Jared Langley’s call came through.

"Has your friend made it out of surgery?" Jared Langley asked.

Juliana was in a bad mood and responded limply.

"Then why aren’t you coming to see me?" he asked.

"Can’t you understand me?" Juliana retorted.

Jared was taken aback.

Suppressing her erupting emotions, Juliana said, "My best friend is lying in the ICU. My mind is a mess. Can you let me adjust before I face you?"

"Su... sure,"

Jared intended to offer comfort, but was dumbfounded to find himself utterly perplexed, not knowing how to console her.

"Don’t be too upset, we’re engaged. If you’re feeling down, you can come to me anytime."

"Take care of your injury."

Having said this, Juliana hung up the call.

Feeling all the more irritated, she should have gone downstairs but ended up on the rooftop.

The wind blew, making her eyes tear up.

Elias Langley frowned and put his jacket over her.

Juliana, however, tried to avoid him.

"What, are you disgusted?" Elias Langley asked.

Juliana shook her head and wiped her face.

"Summer has always been kind. The attacker definitely wasn’t after her. I might be cursed. Anyone close to me meets a bad fate, you should stay away from me too."

Elias Langley smiled, "You were downstairs at the time. If their target was you, that dagger would have been aimed at your heart."

"Then they must have made a mistake, and it’s still my fault Summer ended up this way."

Juliana finally reached her breaking point.

She cried.

"Because I’m cursed, my parents abandoned me. Just when I felt a bit of warmth with the Linton Family, Old Man Linton had an accident... I’m probably destined not to have happiness."

But Elias Langley pulled her into his arms and held her close.

"It’s not your fault: your parents’ choice or the events with the Linton Family. The fact that you’ve survived so many hardships shows you’re stronger than so-called ’destiny’. Don’t trap yourself in others’ words, there’s a long road ahead, let’s take it step by step, okay?"

Seeing no response from the person in his arms, Elias continued, "And how can you be sure your parents abandoned you?"

Speaking of this, Juliana bit her lip hard.

"If they hadn’t forcefully driven me away, how would I not remember their faces or even my name? I did a blood test to find them via DNA, and haven’t matched with anyone. Doesn’t that just prove they deliberately abandoned me and won’t look for me?"

Elias Langley’s heart tightened. "You... you don’t remember your childhood? You’ve also had your blood tested at Hospital 547?"