Chapter 489 Meeting the Grandson
"What? Not having Dr. Diaz do the surgery?"
Carol looked shocked in the hospital room.
"Maurice, we agreed! The surgery's set for the day after tomorrow. Everything's arranged, and now you..."
Maurice's face was stern. "Stop nagging. I've made up my mind."
"But why? Everything was set."
He wasn't one to waver.
"Don't ask so many questions. I've decided." Maurice turned to May. "When can the doctor you're in contact with schedule the surgery?"
"In two weeks."
"Okay."
"No, your condition can't wait two weeks. The surgery must be done the day after tomorrow. Maurice, I usually go along with you, but this is serious. You can't be so stubborn. Even if you don't think about yourself, think about me—my hair's already turning gray from worry. Do you want it all to turn white?"
Maurice felt a pang of guilt. He had agreed to Caleb initially because of his wife.
But family was important, and so were the students. The school couldn't fall into Arnold's hands. If Arnold ruined his reputation, he wouldn't become the next principal. He needed to train a trustworthy successor before stepping down.
Maurice's resolve strengthened. "I'm just not letting Hubert do the surgery, not that I'm skipping it. Don't scare yourself. May, keep a close eye on things."
"Got it, Dad."
"Mom, Dad will be fine. Waiting two weeks won't be a problem..." In the hallway, May tried to comfort Carol, but Carol angrily slapped her hand away, her eyes red. "Did you say something to your dad to make him change his mind?"
"No, how could it be me? Dad is so stubborn, I couldn't persuade him." May quickly clarified. She wouldn't be foolish enough to intervene directly. For such matters, it was better to have someone else speak, and Arnold was a good choice. She didn't want to go this far, but they forced her hand.
"If not you, then who?"
"I don't know. I think he figured it out himself. I always said he made a hasty decision before. Now that he's thought it over, he doesn't want to owe Caleb a favor. Isn't that normal? Rather than feeling uncomfortable about owing a favor, it's better to switch doctors."
"Your dad isn't like that; there must be a reason forcing him to change his mind."
Seeing Carol so certain, May felt a bit panicked, afraid Carol might guess the truth.
"Mom, stop overthinking. It's definitely Dad's own decision. You're overthinking because of stress, maybe even developing paranoia. You've been through a lot lately, why not go home and rest? I'll handle things at the hospital and stay in touch with the doctor." Carol was clearly unwilling. "I'm not going back; I must convince your dad to have the surgery."
She always went along with Maurice, but when it came to his health, she wouldn't back down.
"Mom, you're being more stubborn than Dad," May said, shaking her head. "Dad's already made up his mind. Forcing him to change it is just unreasonable."
"Unreasonable? I'm just worried about his health. But you, May, what's going on with you? Since your dad was admitted to the hospital, you've changed, almost like you don't want him to recover, constantly undermining me."
"That's because I'm more clear-headed than you," May snapped, annoyed. "You're old, not thinking straight, too stubborn, too self-righteous."
"How dare you talk to me like that?" Carol's brows furrowed tightly.
"I'm just telling the truth. It's normal for old people to be unclear. Since Dad has decided, don't cause trouble. Persuading him more will only disturb his rest."
"I don't want to talk to you." Carol stormed back into the room to persuade Maurice, but he wouldn't listen.
Carol, desperate, cried alone in the hallway.
In her desperation, she thought of Susan.
While Maurice was resting and May wasn't paying attention, Carol sneaked up to the third floor.
As soon as she entered the room, she closed the door.
"Mom." Susan was surprised and delighted to see her. "What are you doing here?"
"Susan," Carol grabbed her hand anxiously. "Your dad refuses to have the surgery again."
"How could that be?"
"He just said it. I don't know why. He didn't want me to tell you, planning to refuse right before the surgery. I tried to persuade him for a long time, but he wouldn't listen. I had no choice but to come to you, hoping you might have an idea." Carol's eyes filled with tears.
"Don't worry." Susan quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe Carol's tears.
"How did our family end up like this? What did I do wrong? I can't acknowledge my daughter, and my husband has heart disease." Carol, overwhelmed, let the tears stream down her face.
"Mom..." Susan felt distressed seeing her like this.
After crying for a while, Carol wiped her tears. "Susan, I know your dad well. There must be a reason for his sudden change of mind; it's not voluntary."
"Yes, I'll find out."
With Caleb around, Susan felt more at ease. If it were just her, she would be panicking, not knowing where to start investigating her dad's sudden change of mind.
"The surgery is in two days, you must hurry. Mom can only rely on you. I don't know what's up with May; she seems to not want your dad to have the surgery. The doctor she contacted can't schedule it for another two weeks, and your dad can't wait that long."
Susan replied honestly, "I also feel May has been acting strange lately. I don't know what she's thinking."
"Susan, last time I couldn't make it, it wasn't on purpose. I wanted to come, but your dad found out. It was May who told him. I didn't mean to break my promise."
"I know." Susan understood her mom's difficult position between her and her dad. She felt both sympathy and guilt.
The sound of a toilet flushing came from the bathroom, and Oliver walked out.
"This, this is Oliver, right?" It was Carol's first time seeing her grandson, and she was overjoyed.
Oliver reacted quickly, sweetly calling out, "Grandma."
"Good boy." Carol was deeply moved. "Come, let Grandma take a look at you. My grandson has grown so big, and he's so handsome." Carol whispered, "He looks a lot like Caleb."
"Yes, he's looking more and more like him. He used to look like me." Susan couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of genetics.
"Grandma." Oliver climbed onto Carol's lap.
"Good boy, my precious." Carol kissed his cheek, full of affection. "Your grandpa will be so happy to see you."
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