<b>Chapter </b><b>86 </b>
Mirabe gave a quick report to the nurse <b>on </b>duty at the <b>station </b>and left the hospital <b>in </b>a hurry<b>. </b>Despite her grandmother’s <b>sudden </b>illness<b>, </b>there was a sigh of relief knowing that her grandma was admitted to the hospital in time and had her medication on hand<b>. </b>There was little worry aboutplications.
However<b>, </b><b>as </b>Mirabe stepped out of the hospital, her eyes inadvertently caught a somewhat familiar figure. She <b>paused </b><b>mid</b><b>–</b>stride, her mind quickly cing the person<b>. </b><b>Wasn’t </b>that <b>Collins</b><b>, </b><b>Leo’s </b>agent? She had just seen him yesterday <b>and </b>his image was fairly fresh in her mind.
She squinted, scanning the <b>crowd </b>once <b>more</b>, but there was no sign of Leo.
Seeing <b>an </b>agent at the hospital didn’t necessarily mean that Leo would be there as well, especially since Leo had mentioned flying out to <b>a </b>neighboring state to shoot a music video that day. Leo was likely airborne <b>at </b><b>the </b>moment.
<b>With </b>a shake of her head<b>, </b>Mirabe let go of her curiosity and continued on her way out.
No sooner had she left<b>, </b><b>a </b>man emerged from a side door near the restrooms, his face half–<b>hidden </b>by a ck mask and a baseball cap pulled <b>down </b>low. Collins approached him with a document in hand. “Leo<b>, </b>the hospital director and the others are waiting,” he said.
Leo’s gaze fell on the sheet Collins was holding. He nodded, “Let’s go.”
Collins knew how much courage it took for Leo toe to the hospital and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You never know, miracles can happen, right?<b>” </b>
Leo just offered a wry smile in response.
Soon, they entered the director’s office, where they were met by the director and a top neurologist.
With a polite nod, Collins handed over the medical report to them. After a brief examination, the director removed his sses, his expression tinged with regret. “The spinal damage is severe. It will take years to recover, if at all–and that’s secondary<b>. </b>The main concern is the damage to the spinal cord nerves. Thatplicates things significantly.”
The neurologist added, “The nerves connect to the entire body. If the spinal nerves are damaged, it could lead to sensory abnormalities or even paralysis. ording to Mr. Davis‘ report<b>, </b>the damage is moderate. Conservative treatment is the only option, and there’s no guarantee of full recovery. Even if there’s a one in a thousand chance of healing, strenuous physical activity will be out of the question.”
Leo’s fists clenched at his sides. Despite having heard simr verdicts before, each one felt like a knife twisting in his gut.
“Isn’t there any more effective treatment?” Collins asked, his eyes reddening. Collins had secured this meeting because the hospital was renowned for its neurology department, and he had hoped for more than the same disappointing answers they’d received elsewhere.
“I’m sorry,<b>” </b>was the simple<b>, </b>disheartening reply.
Before Collins could say another word, Leo ced a hand on his arm, nodded to <b>the </b>director and the specialist, and said, “I understand<b>. </b>Thank you.”
Without waiting for a response, Leo turned and walked away, his solitary figure a portrait of despair.
The neurologist, ustomed to such cases yet still touched by the sight, let out <b>a </b>sigh. His eyes inadvertently fell <b>on </b>a magazine lying nearby, sparking a thought. “Wait a second,” he called out to Leo.