Chapter 196 Dora's Confession.

Charles was satisfied with Bella’s conduct and held on to her until Dora’s surgery was over. Throughout the elongated waiting period, he failed to understand how much Bella suffered. From the moment he had taken her in his arms, she dared not look at Beck.

Beck could tell that her marriage was not a happy one. This sudden public display of affection from Charles’s side was causing much embarrassment.

Bella from her side was afraid that she would see pity in his eyes. This made her feel awful. The last thing she wanted was Beck to see her as a miserable woman.

Luckily, Beck didn’t make her feel awkward. He must have sensed her condition and avoided talking to her. He also avoided looking at her. Occasionally she would shoot him a glance. He was leaning against the wall and seemed quite tired. Yet, he didn’t want to go away.

The first one to break the silence was Carl.

“Do you know who kidnapped Dora?”

He was talking to Bella but it was Charles who gave the answer.

“Why are you talking to her? She doesn’t know anything,” he said.

Bella wanted to tell Carl that the abductor was most likely a scientist from Devenport Research Institute who was expelled from the Kingdom of the Sea. Most of the people who were expelled were also looking for revenge and would do anything to harm those with the fish gene.

As the Protector of the Kingdom of the Sea, Charles knew about this but he could not share this kind of information with a person of low rank like Carl.

Carl knew well that those who were exiled from the Sea Kingdom were regarded as traitors. He deeply loved Dora but felt that he was he had to do something to prove this love, that why he wanted to find out who did this to her and make him pay.

After several hours of waiting, the door of the operation room opened again and out walked the doctor. He stood in front of Charles and wiped the sweat on his forehead with trembling hands.

“How did it go?” asked Charles.

“We cleared away the infected tissue and performed a skin graft. There is a slight chance she will reject the transplanted tissue. In that case, we will have to perform the amputation,” said the doctor.

“When will we know this?” asked Charles.

“Within the next twelve hours.”

“Can we see her now?” asked Bella.

“Sure, you can, but please don’t try to upset her.”

“Can I see her too?” asked Carl.

“Just take it easy with her. We don’t want to put her under any form of psychological strain,” said the doctor.

“Is it okay if I talk to her first?” asked Bella.

“Sure,” said Carl.

Bella put on a doctor’s robe and a facemask and entered the room. To her surprise, Dora had already regained her consciousness.

“How do you feel?” asked Bella.

“I’m fine,” whispered Dora in a low voice.

Although the effect of full body anesthesia was gone, it was hard for her to make an intelligible sentence. At that precise moment, an impatient Carl stormed into the room.

“Let me carry her out of here,” he said to the nurse.

Dora opened his swollen eyes and gazed at his direction. She didn’t seem the least bit surprised to see him there.

“You don’t need to do that. I must be very heavy right now.”

Undeterred by her words, Carl bent over and picked her up from the surgical bed.

“Where do you want me to put her?”

The nurse pointed to another bed against the wall. With slow steady steps that made his defect almost invisible, Carl[AT1]  took Dora there and laid her upon the clean white sheets.

“You were as light as a feather,” he said.

“I'm as swollen as a pig,” responded Dora. Though her head was wrapped with white gauze, her eyes were shining like stars. Everyone could tell how happy she was.

“Is the height okay? Would you like me to adjust it for you?”

“I’m fine,” said Dora and smiled. Then in an instant, her face got all scared.

“Why can’t I feel my legs?”

“You just had a surgical operation. It will take some time for them to recover.”

“If I never walk again will you be able to take care of me?” she asked.

“You know what they say,” said Carl. “It takes one to know one.”

“Are you going to marry me?”

Bella covered her mouth in surprise. She never expected that Dora would say such a thing. Neither did Carl or anyone else in the room. What Dora didn’t know yet was that Charles and Beck were also in the room.

It took some time for Carl to answer Dora’s question. It seemed that he was searching for the proper answer. In the end, he only muttered a low unclear sound.

After a long-time pause, Dora let go of Carl’s hand.

“I get it,” she said.

“Look at me,” he said. “How can I take care of you? I also need someone to take care of me.”

“Stop using your disability as an excuse. Why don’t you admit that you never loved me?”

“Please don’t say that. We shall talk about these things when you get better,” said Carl.

“Leave me alone,” said Dora and closed her eyes.

Despite the unbearable tension, nobody attempted to leave the room.