Bound Hearts: My Vows to My Disabled Spouse

Chapter 23 A Mysterious Woman

The elderly woman gazed at Elyse intently and, with a surge of excitement, clutched her hand. Her voice was hoarse as she spoke her name, her tone tinged with a hint of sorrow. "Miss Lloyd, I finally meet yor

With those words, excitement overcame her, and she fainted.

Elyse was left in shock. The situation was baffling. She had no prior knowledge of the old woman, nor had she ever encountered her before. Yet, somehow, the old lady knew her name. Confused, Elyse stood frozen until the driver, noticing the unusual scene, quickly briefed Jayden. Exiting the car, Jayden approached Elyse, who appeared distracted, and inquired, "Are you okay?" Looking at the old woman lying unconscious, Elyse was at a loss for words. The moment the old woman had uttered her name, it had painfully gripped her heart. "She seems to know me. She called out my name even though I've never seen her before."

Jayden responded, "She knows you, yet you don't recognize her? This means she's familiar with your circumstances and has been watching you without your awareness."

"That can't be right. She's not a relative of mine."

Elyse held her chest, overwhelmed by a sudden flurry of anxiety, feeling an inexplicable

connection to the old woman.

"We should get her to a hospital."

The driver chimed in, "Don't worry, an ambulance is on its way. She should be fine. The accident

wasn't severe."

Elyse gave a nod and patiently awaited the ambulance's arrival.

It showed up ten minutes later, and once the paramedics had loaded the elderly woman inside,

diverted their path to follow the ambulance to the

the emergency room, the trio settled into a

"I'm sorry this is

of the blame lies with my driver for not spotting her

time."

the driver apologized, "I'm sorry. It was my

the video footage. The lady unexpectedly darted out

remembered Driscoll's words

the doctor came out to brief them on

condition.

severe malnutrition, and has been experiencing considerable

time, which has led

The next chapter is

brow furrowed in confusion. "A coma? So, it wasn't the accident that caused

only physical injury from the accident. The tests indicate she's suffering from multiple organ dysfunction and somatoform autonomic dysfunction." Shocked, Elyse responded, "She looks to be in her

long-term stress, at least that's our best guess. We need her family to confirm the specifics

with the police. She was reported missing twenty-two years ago, and since then, there's been no

a brief pause, he added, "Moreover, she isn't in her seventies or eighties.

realization that a sixty-two-year-old woman appeared so much older weighed heavily. What had she endured

hearing the patient's actual age, the doctor excused himself to

wash over her, puzzled by