Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman
Chapter 181 Guilt And Remorse

"No, it is different right now, Zed." Overwrought with grief and guilt, Jean shook her head to Zed's proposal of a caregiver. "Zed, I know that you are doing this for my good. But, I wil stay upset as long as I know that Moore, who is so young, might not... all because of my carelessness." Talking about it made the soft-hearted Jean abruptly choke with sobs. With doe-like eyes, she implored Zed, "Please let me stay and take care of him. Otherwise, I just may spend the rest of my life with enormous guilt and regret. OK?"

It was the moment of truth for Jean. All the anger and distance that she was putting between them dissolved. She revealed her pure sentiments and gazed at Zed for an answer.

Zed, too could sense that this was the barest of emotions Jean was expressing in front of him. He now understood the depth of the remorse she felt. His smooth handsome face slowly softened for his sorry wife and was filled with compassion. After taking some time, Zed said: "I am afraid that you will get very tired. After all, looking after a patient in severe coma is a challenging task......"

Then, Jean resolutely replied: "I know this task is arduous, which is why I won't feel confident if you ask someone else to look after him."

"Alright!" Sensing how strongly her mind was made up, Zed had no choice but to sigh and nod.

Under the circumstances, disagreeing to Jean's request to stay in the hospital would mean that he was the bad guy.

"Thank you, Zed." After all that they had gone through, their agreeing to this made Jean suddenly burst into tears of joy.

Elian was taken aback with Jean's tears. He had been noticing them talk this grave matter through.

Knowing Zed all his life, it was the first time, he had seen him treat someone so patiently and care about so much.

It was all because of Jean......

Elian unconsciously stared at Jean. Her round face and hazel brown eyes showed a clarity of purpose. She wasn't gorgeous in looks but she looked pure and innocent making anyone fall for her lovely charm.

It was beyond anyone's imagination that Zed would even like such a girl. And yet, Elian was gladdened by Zed's love for her.

He kindly said: "Then, I will ask a nurse to lead you to the ICU. I will tell someone to explain to you what you should pay attention to and what you should do inside the ICU."

Looking at his uncle and Jean, Zed anxiously added: "Uncle Elian, shall we also get a nurse?"

Elian replied: "Sure, our hospital will assign a nurse to the patient."

At last, Zed felt a little more relieved, nodded and then shifted his attention to Jean.

Her eyes were still downcast as she looked a little absent-minded and nervous.

They came to the ICU with Elian. In front of them, Moore was lying on the bed.

Zed and Jean saw, through the glass, that he was bandaged with white gauze all over. There were tubes of different devices inserted into his mouth and nose.

Elian explained: "He is so badly wounded that can be infected by the most trivial of infections. This is the reason why he is directly transferred from the operation room to here. When you go inside, make sure you wear sterile clothes only. " Both Zed and Jean nodded.

Catching Jean look at Moore fixatedly, Zed felt helpless and said: "Jean, you stay here to look after him. Meanwhile, I will go back to work and ask Zelda to bring you some food later."

Jean only shifted her glance from Moore when she heard Zed's words. Then, she nodded to him.

Feeling the urge to comfort Jean, Zed stretched out his hand to touch her head and comfort her.

But, Jean flinched and instinctively took a step back. Flushed, she said: "You must hurry and go back since you have something to deal with at work."

And with that Jean walked into the sterile room to get changed assisted by a nurse who was waiting for her.

Jean's reaction left Zed stunned. He withdrew his hand and smirked.

Her apathy and sense of alienating him was back again, Zed felt.

'Forget it. She might not have adapted to the situation yet. It is a major event and not easy to digest.

Let's give her some time!'

After studying Jean for a minute who was visible from the sterile room, Zed walked outside.

Her aversion to his touch was playing on Jean's mind as she slipped into the disinfected clothes. She glanced back at the place where he had stood a few minutes ago. No one was there anymore. Zed had left. It all felt too empty. The fragile Jean couldn't cope with helplessness and heaviness of the situation.

When Moore's bed became visible to her, she realized that she had no time to think about the problems between Zed and herself. She entered the ICU with the nurse.

The body was depending on a lot of machines and lay listless after the surgery.

A young man's life was hanging between life and death, due to no fault of his own.

It was her carelessness and absent-mindedness that he was lying there.

Overwhelmed by what she had done, Jean began to sob.

I am so sorry, Moore. You must wake up so that I have a chance to expiate my guilt.

The hours went past and Zed was still immersed in work until it was nearly evening.

After stretching his stiff arms in his chair, Zed slowly stood up and took out his cellphone: "Toby, what's the situation there in the hospital?"

"Mrs. Jean has been staying inside the ward, sir. So far, the patient's condition hasn't improved." Toby had been hiding outside the ICU all day long and reported to Zed meticulously.

Zed frowned and asked: "Has she stayed there without leaving? Has she eaten something?"

Toby hesitated for a while. At last, he replied honestly: "...... No."

Zed looked at his watch. It was seven o'clock in the evening. That was to say, the silly woman hadn't had anything for the last 12 hours.

Zed hung up the phone, took his coat and furiously walked out of his office with big steps.

On his way to the hospital, he got sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed carp and some vegetables that Jean liked. Then, Zed drove fast towards the hospital.

When he arrived at the hospital, he walked straight towards the ICU.

He could spot Toby guarding the ICU from afar. Zed walked over to him and said: "Go get something to eat, Toby. I will be here for the time being."

After Toby left, Zed knocked at the glass door. A bone-weary Jean turned at the knock and saw Zed signalling her to come out. Jean hesitated for several minutes. She kept on looking at Moore who was still lying just as he was this morning. She could do nothing but heave a gentle sigh. She headed for the sterile room to get changed and join Zed.

"I didn't object when you said you wanted to look after him. But Jean, you should take care of yourself, ok?" A worried Zed unpacked the boxes of food he had got for her.

Jean bit her lips and said: "But I have no appetite."

"I know that you don't have much appetite, so I specially bought some of your favorite dishes from the DYX Restaurant. You just eat some food, so that I can be a little more relieved," said Zed softly.

'How thoughtful of Zed!' She was astonished that Zed had taken great care in bringing her the food she liked and then coaxing her so patiently.

This softened her towards him and she involuntarily nodded.

Opening the boxes, her eyes welled up as she saw her favorite dishes.

"What's wrong?" Seeing that Jean simply stared at the food and wouldn't eat, Zed grew concerned: "Don't you like the food? I can go out to buy some more if you want to eat anything else......"

"No, you needn't. I like all these dishes." After she finished speaking, Jean picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

Instead of gorging the food down, which Jean would whenever she was hungry, she took small bites and ate with reserve.

Her slow chewing of the food made Zed frown.

He saw that Jean was in tears even when eating.

Leaning towards her, Zed consoled her and said: "Jean, take it easy. Don't be too worried. Who knows maybe he would wake up the next minute."