We Were Once Called Losers Chapter 08
The elite class, The Rothschild Family’s private hospital.
In the high-end VIP ward on the top floor, it was so quiet that only the steady beeping of medical equipment could be heard.
I pushed the door open and walked in with light steps.
Julian leaned against the hospital bed, his face still pale, but his breathing was steady.
A new defibrillator had been implanted in his chest, wrapped in thick bandages.
Hearing the door open, he turned his head.
Those eyes, once hollow from autism, lit up the moment they saw me.
“Chloe.”
His voice was soft, a little hoarse.
Fighting back tears, I hurried to the bedside and tightly grasped his outstretched hand.
“I’m here.”
I buried my face in his palm, feeling the warmth of his hand.
“I’m sorry, Julian. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have taken you to that banquet…”
If I hadn’t been so eager to join the fun, he wouldn’t have suffered so much.
Julian squeezed my hand back, the pad of his thumb gently rubbing the corner of my eye.
“Not your fault.”
He spoke slowly, every word sounding incredibly earnest.
“Chloe… protects me.
“And I… protect Chloe too.”
My tears finally fell, unable to be held back any longer.
Such a fool.
He couldn’t even protect himself, yet the moment danger struck, he shielded me without a second thought.
His second sister, Eleanor, pushed the door open and sighed helplessly at the sight of us.
“Alright, stop being so lovey-dovey.
“The test results are out. He’s adapting well to the new equipment, and he can be discharged after two weeks of rest.”
She walked to the bed and checked Julian’s vitals.
“This kid is lucky.
“If it had been a minute later, not even God could have saved him.”
Still shaken, I gripped Julian’s hand tighter.
“Thank you, Eleanor.”
Eleanor rolled her eyes.
“Save it.
“Your oldest and second brothers are right outside, and they’re absolutely furious.”
Right on cue, the hospital room door was pushed open.
My oldest brother, Alexander, and second brother, Nathaniel, walked in.
Alexander still wore his usual icy expression, but his gaze softened significantly when it landed on me.
Nathaniel, on the other hand, looked at Julian with sheer disgust.
“Tsk, what a useless burden.
“He goes to a dinner party and somehow lands himself in the ICU.”
Despite his sharp tongue, Nathaniel was carrying herbal tonics specially brewed at the ancestral mansion.
“Those two old ladies from the Vance Family almost blew up Seattle when they heard their precious grandson was in trouble.
“If Lillian hadn’t stopped them, they probably would have flown to Seattle to tear Arleth apart with their bare hands.”
Julian’s two sisters were notoriously fiercely protective of their own within the elite class.
Our arranged marriage happened because the four of them thought it would be less of a hassle to lump the two ‘useless burdens’ together.
But looking at it now, it wasn’t less of a hassle at all — it just gave us a glaring weakness.
“Alright, as long as he’s fine.”
Alexander said in a deep voice.
“The situation with the Sterling Family has been completely dealt with.
“From now on in Seattle, no one will dare to even mention their name.”
He looked at me, his tone softening a fraction.
“If anything like this ever happens again, call me immediately.
“Don’t try to play the hero on your own.”
I nodded obediently.
“I know, brother.”
My brothers didn’t stay long. Once they confirmed Julian was alright, they left to give us some privacy.
The hospital room fell quiet once more.
Julian kept staring at me, his gaze intensely focused.
“What’s wrong?”
I touched my face. “Is there something on my face?”
He shook his head, then suddenly reached out and pulled me into his arms.
His movements were gentle, yet carried an undeniable stubbornness.
“Chloe.”
His chin rested on my shoulder. “I don’t want… to be useless anymore.”
I froze.
Julian suffered from severe autism; immersed in his own world, he never cared about the outside world’s opinions.
This was the first time he had ever expressed a desire to change.