Chapter 320 - Any Update?

Susan and John arrived at the hospital just a few minutes apart from each other. The maid brought them to Mike's location. He's still sitting on the bench, wearing a distraught expression on his face. He's looking visibly shaken, looking at the wall with a blank stare.

Susan sat beside Mike and rubbed his back. "I'm here now, son," she said softly.

John lowered himself on the bench beside his brother. "Any update, bro?" he asked.

Mike shook his head. "Nothing so far..." he replied absentmindedly.

"Where is the ICU located?" Susan asked.

Mike pointed his hands at the room located a few meters away from where they were sitting. It was just two doors away, next to the delivery room.

Susan released a deep sigh and rushed to the ICU, hoping to get some news about Althea's condition.

John patted his brother's slumped shoulder, trying to comfort him. "Let's hope and pray that Althea will survive this," he said sadly.

Mike breathed deeply. He's still reeling from the shock of what had happened to Althea.

"How's the baby?" asked John.

"The baby is fine. Our son is fine," Mike said.

"Thank's God!" John said, feeling grateful.

Susan returned to the bench a few minutes later.

"How is Althea's condition, Mom?" John asked.

"She's still under observation. There's a nurse on duty inside the room monitoring her condition," Susan replied.

"Let's go to the private room so that you can take a rest. Don't worry, the housemaid will stay here just in case you are needed. She will inform us right away," Susan said. "By the way, I went to the nursery room and saw your son. He looks healthy!" she said.

Mike's face brightened up a bit. "I want to see my son even for a few minutes!"

"Okay, let's go!" Susan said.

They went to the nursery room.

The nurse inside the room brought Mike's son near the glass window so that they can see the baby.

A faint smile appeared on Mike's face. "Hello, baby..." he said.

They stayed outside the room for a few minutes, watching the baby, and then left.

Inside the private room.

They sat on the couch.

Susan looked at Mike. "Son, I was able to talk with Althea's doctor, and she told me that Althea is in a grave condition," she paused for a few seconds, gathering strength. "No matter what happened to her, you have to be strong because you already have three children that are depending on you," she said.

Tears glistened in Mike's eyes. "I will. Don't worry about me, Mom. I will survive this..."

"Good," Susan said and breathed deeply.

Hours went by.

Susan left the hospital to go home while John remained by Mike's side.

They waited outside the ICU until midnight and finally went to the private room to rest for the night.

~

They woke up early in the morning at 6:00, and there was a nurse outside knocking at the door. She's the bearer of bad news, informing them that Althea passed away twenty minutes ago.

Early morning they were greeted by the tragic news!

Mike slumped back on the couch, shocked by Althea's sudden death. Fresh tears sprang from his eyes.

John rubbed his brother's back, comforting him in his moment of great sorrow.

Mike broke down in front of his brother. He was devastated.

John never leaves his brother's side, determined to be his rock to lean on during times of great sorrow. He allowed him to cry as much as he wants.

The maid took the initiative to call Susan and informed her of the bad news.

Half an hour later.

Mike finally stopped crying. "I'll go and see Althea," he said.

"I'll come with you, brother," John said.

They went to the hospital's mortuary and gazed at Althea's dead body covered by a white cloth. They stayed inside the morgue for a while.

A few minutes later.

Susan arrived in the hospital. She found her two sons sitting on the bench outside the morgue of the hospital.

She hugged Mike, her heart was breaking inside. "I'm so sorry for your loss, son," she said, teary-eyed.

Mike's tears fell from his eyes.

Fifteen minutes later. They were back in the private room discussing what to do next.

"I already contacted a funeral home. They will be arriving a few minutes from now to get Althea's body. I will settle the hospital bills after we'll get the baby," Susan said. She stood up. "I'll go to the nurse station to inquire if we can already bring the baby home," she said.

"Thank you, Mom," Mike said.

Susan left the room.

John gave money to the housemaid, instructing her to buy their breakfast outside the hospital. He exited the room to call his wife.

"Hello, wifey!"

"Hubby...what's the update?" Catherine asked.

"Bad news! Althea passed away this morning. Mother is here to get the baby and settle the bills in the hospital. The funeral homes have already taken Althea's body for embalming. As soon we'll leave the hospital, I can finally go home," he said.

"OMG!" Catherine exclaimed, shocked by the tragic news. "Poor Althea... b- but how about the baby?" she asked worriedly. She was deeply saddened by the depressing news.

"The baby is fine. He's a healthy baby boy. The OB decided to do a cesarean operation to save the baby after Althea went on cardiac arrest while undergoing painful labor," he explained.

"Thank God!" Catherine said in relief.

"See you soon!" he said.

"Take care, hubby," Catherine replied and ended their conversation.

Six hours later.

The nurse finally informed Susan that she can now bring the baby home safely.

She settled the hospital bills, and together with Mike and the housemaid, they bring home the baby. While John went back to his family at Infinity Jade Tower.

After arriving at her mother's mansion, Mike immediately took a bath and changed his clothes. He went to see his newborn son for a few minutes and told Susan that he's going to the funeral homes.

Before he boarded his car, he took a deep breath for a few seconds, then placed a call to Althea's family in the province informing them of her sudden death.

Althea's family was devastated. He heard people crying in the background while he was talking to her mother.

He told them that he will send money for their bus fare so that they can stay in the city for several days to attend the burial. But the family refused, they don't want to go to the city. They demanded that Althea's body can only be buried in their province. Mike was left with no choice but to bring Althea's remains into her hometown. He also informed Althea's best friend Janice of the tragic news.

After he finished calling Althea's loves ones and friends, he slid into the driver's seat of his car and started the engine, going to the funeral homes.

His heart and mind were already numb with pain. Just when he was about to develop real feelings for Althea, she's suddenly left this world, gone with the wind, and left him a beautiful son. Fresh tears fell from his eyes.

He drove the car straight to the funeral homes.