Chapter 493 The Transplant Surgery Moved Up
In Lymington, Ishara waited in the hospital's lounge for Lawrence R to awaken. She had transfused 500 ml of blood to Madam Rodriguez and naturally had some conditions to discuss with him.
Then, a call from Eleanor sent Ishara's complexion from worried to full-on alarm. "Didn't I tell you to be careful, not to transfer any money, to be wary of Winnie's possible deceptions?"
"It's your father; he doesn't trust me one bit. He watched me transfer the money to your aunt and even trailed your uncle..."
Eleanor was both frantic and angry. "He's dead set on divorce now, looking for lawyers to draft the agreement at home. Ishara, you need to go see your grandmother!"
"I won't let Dad toss you aside!"
After hanging up, a shadow fell across Ishara's face.
Claire had quickly packed their bags.
"Leave a message for Lawrence R; tell him we had to head back to Trenton City."
Claire nodded and attended to it while Ishara stepped out of the hospital.
Four hours later—
Lawrence R awakened from the emergency room. His first act was to visit Madam Rodriguez. Outside the Hematology ICU, Dr. Moore discussed a new treatment plan with him.
"Mr. Rodriguez, the plan was to strengthen your mother's health for a bone marrow transplant in six months. But the risky experience with the last blood transfusion has me concerned. Regular transfusions each month come with many risks. If Miss Blanchet pulls another reckless no-show, leaving your mother anesthetized and lying in bed awaiting a transfusion through the night, her body certainly won't hold up. The chemo is not working, her condition is deteriorating rapidly, and her spine is no longer producing blood cells; she may not last another six months! Perhaps, despite the risks, we should move the transplant up to next month. After analyzing the situation, I believe there's a 50% chance of a successful transplant..."
Lawrence R closed his eyes heavily. Ishara's desertion at this critical moment had nearly cost her mother her life while waiting.
Monthly blood transfusions, and now what else could go wrong with Ishara?
The deal had soured as he punctured the façade Ishara had put up, revealing complexities he had not anticipated.
He couldn't risk his mother's safety any longer; in a month, he needed Ishara’s bone marrow.
"Let's move the surgery up, schedule it for a month from now," Lawrence R agreed.
Dr. Moore was troubled, "The condition can change at any moment; it's out of our hands. I doubt Mrs. Rodriguez can hold on for another six months. You should go back to Trento City and discuss this matter with Miss Blanchet."
"What about Ishara?" Lawrence R turned to ask Luke.
Luke replied, "Ishara hurried back to Trento City four hours ago, not sure what the issue was. You were still unconscious then."
Lawrence R furrowed his brow and remained silent.
In the hospital room, Mrs. Rodriguez opened her cloudy eyes—
Lawrence R immediately stood up from his wheelchair, his surgical wound gaping and painful, but he steadied himself.
He took slow, long strides into the room.
Mrs. Rodriguez struggled to breathe and took some time before she could see the figure before her clearly.
Her breath was faint, "How long... have I been out? Lawrence, why are you back from Trento City?"
Lawrence R had just returned the day before last, right before the transfusion, to check on the arrangements.
The blood transfusion was now complete, and his mother was showing signs of improvement.
She was unaware of the true nature of what was happening to her.
Lawrence R's lips thinned as he gripped her increasingly frail hand, "Mother, you need to focus on recovering."
"Lawrence, am I not going to last much longer? You lied to me before, said it was just organ failure. But I'm not a fool; my health has declined over these past weeks, and recently, I’ve been slipping into unconsciousness. Tell me the truth, what's wrong with me?"
Lawrence R wouldn't tell her.
He could never reveal that her leukemia might be connected to the medication Winnie had provided over the last three years.
"It's not a serious illness, you've been sick for years, and recovery is never easy."
Mrs. Rodriguez looked into his dark eyes, "You're deceiving me again... I can accept it if my time is short. I’m not afraid of death, but my heart is heavy with unfinished desires.”
“You and Winnie... your falling out has troubled me deeply. I’ve wanted to go to Trento City to find her. She's upset, heartbroken, and she refuses to visit me, right? And you, why did you drift to someone else? Are you willing to abandon your two sons as well?"
“In my lifetime, I only had eyes for one daughter-in-law, Winnie. I need you to understand that no other woman can catch my eye, and don't you dare bring any of them to see me!"
Lawrence felt the sting of those words, aware that his mother might've overheard some hospital gossip.
This only confirmed she was far from learning the truth.
He looked down, speaking in defense of Winnie, "She didn't refuse to come see you. In fact, she asked Olivia to bring you your meds. It was me who didn't want her around the hospital."
"You..." Madam Rodriguez started to ask why he could be so cruel to Winnie.
Lawrence met his mother's anger with silence.
He had learned from Dr. Moore that Winnie was stubborn yet caring, silently sending Olivia with the medication.
But the meds, he hadn't given them to his mother.
His gaze grew intense, "No matter what happens between me and Winnie, you need to get better. Otherwise, you won't witness anything. Focus on your recovery, alright?"
He was urging his mother not to give up deep inside. A person's spirits profoundly affect their health.
Madam Rodriguez sighed in resignation; her son's ultimatum was effective.
She requested, "If Winnie expresses her wish to see me next time, don't stand in her way, okay? She's been through a lot with the marriage and the divorce. I want to make it up to her."
Lawrence paused for a moment, "When you're fully healed, naturally, you can see her."
"How long will that take?" Madam Rodriguez felt a spark of hope for her 'illness'.
"Soon enough."
"Mr. Rodriguez."—Luke spoke up from the doorway, indicating he had something to say.
Lawrence let go of his mother's hand and wheeled himself out.
Luke said, "Sidney called me; he wants you back in Trento City immediately, claims there's something important you need to know!"
"What's so important?"
Lawrence checked his watch; it was two in the morning.
Luke implored, "Sidney's likely asleep by now. Don't rush; you've got more treatment to go through or you might pass out on the plane. Let's leave first thing in the morning."
With his wound throbbing in pain, Lawrence had no choice but to agree.
-
The next day.
At the Blanchet family villa.
Upon arriving in Trento City, Ishara went straight to the old house, where she brought back Madam Rodriguez.
In the morning, Carlos caught the divorce attorney red-handed at Madam Rodriguez's place.
Eleanor's face, which had been a picture of despair, lit up with a renewed spark of defiance and arrogance. Her posture stiffened as she glared resentfully at Carlos. Patrick, who had accompanied them, tried to counsel her.
"Eleanor, why throw away over two decades of marriage over an illegitimate daughter?" Patrick implored with a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
Eleanor cast a sidelong glance at Patrick, her eyes filled with silent reproach.
Madam Rodriguez interjected firmly, "Carlos! Mother will never agree to a divorce. It would be a disgrace to the Blanchet family name! Plus, Mrs. Blanchet has been exemplary in her role inside and out over the years. What grievances could possibly drive you to end your marriage?"
Carlos, his expression cold, revealed all the things Eleanor had done to Winnie.
Madam Rodriguez's face was a portrait of domineering resolve as she dismissed his concerns, "So Winnie claims it was Eleanor's doing, and you believe her just like that? What about the bond between husband and wife?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
