Chapter 1030 Adversity Reveals True Love
Susan stopped in her tracks. "Randy, there was never much between Johnnie and me; it was always one-sided. If nothing had happened to Johnnie, maybe I would've waited. Maybe with your and Vilma's help, we could've ended up together. But now..."
Susan hesitated. "Johnnie had an accident. If you and Vilma push me to marry him, he might develop psychological issues. You said it yourself, people get irritable when they're sick. They have wild thoughts.
Johnnie doesn't like me, so I can't really comfort him. If I can't comfort him, his inner turmoil will only get worse. Over time, he might get depressed. You don't want Johnnie to have both physical and mental problems, do you?"
Susan was being honest. She wondered if this would help Randy and Vilma accept Gabriella.
Randy furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
Susan added, "Randy, adversity reveals true love. It seems Ms. Costa really loves Johnnie. Why not let her take care of him? You and Vilma can decide what to do next once Johnnie recovers."
Randy stayed silent, so Susan had no idea what he was thinking. She had said all she could. "Randy, I'll be going now."
Finally, Randy spoke, "Susan, are you sure you won't reconsider?"
Susan smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Randy. I'll visit you and Vilma often."
Randy watched Susan leave and sighed.
Susan had a point. Now that Johnnie was incapacitated, he feared that without timely psychological support, Johnnie might develop mental health issues.
Randy shook his head and went back into the ward.
Nora and Aaron exchanged a glance and followed him in. Johnnie was lying in bed, his eyes vacant.
Randy saw this and felt both pain and sorrow. "Johnnie, why did you drive Susan away?"
Johnnie's unfocused eyes moved slightly. "Dad, I'm already a cripple. Do I have to drag Susan, an innocent girl, down with me?"
Randy frowned. "I don't want to hear you talk like that. How are you a cripple? Isn't Mrs. Gordon Junior a miracle worker? She'll cure you."
Johnnie forced a smile. "What if she can't? Then I'll just be a burden to others."
Randy's brow furrowed deeper. "How are you a burden? Susan is willing to take care of you."
Johnnie smiled calmly. "Dad, if Susan really loved me, she would've stayed even if I yelled at her, right?"
In other words, Susan didn't love him that much.
Randy was at a loss for words, feeling a bit stifled because he agreed. After a while, Randy spoke gloomily, "Do you really want Gabriella?"
Johnnie was silent for a moment. "No, I don't want anyone. I don't want to be a burden to anyone."
Hearing this, Randy became anxious. "You're being stubborn again, aren't you? If you don't want Gabriella to take care of you, do you expect Vilma and me, at our age, to take care of you?
Vilma just recovered from a serious illness and can barely take care of herself. I have to take care of her and also worry about you. Do you really want to drive your parents to exhaustion?"
Randy thought, 'Johnnie doesn't want Susan or Gabriella to take care of him. Is he trying to drive me nuts?'
"Dad, didn't you say Gabriella and I aren't compatible?" Johnnie asked.
Randy was speechless for a moment. "That's why I wanted Susan to marry you. She's a nurse, good at taking care of patients, and your mom and I would feel at ease."
Johnnie forced a smile, staring blankly ahead. "Don't worry, I won't be a burden to anyone."
He looked calm, like he'd lost the will to live.
Randy remembered what Susan had said about Johnnie's inner turmoil leading to mental illness. He became alert. "Johnnie, don't overthink it. Mrs. Gordon is a miracle worker. With her treatment, you'll get better and won't be a burden to anyone."
Johnnie's voice was faint, his face full of sorrow. "Dad, can I really hold on until then? Do you know what it's like to be unable to see or hear? I'm like a three-year-old now, needing help with everything. Living without dignity, I really..."
"Johnnie!" Randy grabbed his hand, eyes filled with pain and panic.
He was truly afraid Johnnie would say he didn't want to live anymore. He gulped and hurriedly said, "Listen to me, don't overthink it. This is just temporary; you'll get better.
Think about how your mom and I raised you. If something happened to you, what would we do? Especially your mom, with her heart condition. If something happened to you, she might not survive it."
Johnnie sighed. "Dad, I'm unfilial. I'm sorry for not repaying you and mom. If one day I'm gone, you can adopt a child for some comfort."
"You silly boy, what nonsense are you talking about? At our age, should we adopt a child as a son or a grandson?" Randy was both angry and anxious.
Looking at Johnnie's lifeless face, he thought of something and blurted out, "Alright, since you like Gabriella, I'll let you be together. When you get out of the hospital, you can get married and give your mom and me a grandchild, okay?"
Randy couldn't worry about anything else now. He just wanted Johnnie to live well. If Johnnie had a child, maybe he'd have something to live for and wouldn't feel like giving up.
Johnnie's fingers twitched, but his face remained despondent. "But you said Gabriella and I aren't compatible. Can we really get married?"
Randy cursed, "Mrs. Gordon said those so-called sorcerers' words are just for show. Do you really believe them?
Besides, even if you and Gabriella aren't very compatible, there are ways to resolve it. At most, we can spend some money each year to deal with it."
Randy had exaggerated the situation back then to separate Gabriella and Johnnie. But now, he had to tell the truth.
He had already lost his intended daughter-in-law; he couldn't let Gabriella slip away too.
"Dad, will you really let Gabriella stay and take care of me?" Johnnie asked.
"Wait here, I'll go get her right now." Randy just wanted to rekindle Johnnie's will to live and was about to get up.
Johnnie quickly said, "Dad, don't go. She just had a miscarriage. Let her rest."
Randy paused mid-motion. "A miscarriage? You had a child?"
Johnnie's eyes reddened. "Yes, if it weren't for the accident, you would have been a grandfather."
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