Chapter 164 It's Too Late
"What?"
Susanna's mouth dropped open in shock after she heard what Aaron said, wide enough to fit an egg.
'Why is he spouting nonsense again? Are these words really meant for me?' Susanna thought to herself.
She blinked her eyes. "Mr. Abbott, if I had known you had this attitude, I wouldn't have spent the last three years feeling so stifled!"
"Better late than never," said Aaron.
His deep gaze and the meaning behind his words were clear.
Susanna saw his beautiful eyes, and her heart started racing uncontrollably. Aaron's features perfectly matched her aesthetic; no matter how she looked at him, he was always handsome.
Aaron's tone was calm. "You don't have to answer now. I can give you time to think about it."
Susanna quickly regained her composure, coughed, and replied, "Mr. Abbott, have you ever heard the saying. 'A love that comes too late is insignificant and can't make up for anything'?"
After she finished speaking, Aaron's face turned displeased again.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Susanna, do you have to talk like that?"
Aaron had made his intentions so clear and promised so much, yet she still wasn't willing?
A complex expression flashed in Susanna's eyes. "If it were three years ago, hearing these words at any time would have made me so happy I couldn't sleep for three days and nights!"
Aaron's expression froze for a moment. "And now?"
Susanna said, "Now I'm so angry I can't sleep for three days and nights."
She looked up, adding, "Mr. Abbott, I've decided I'm over you, so I don't think our marriage needs to continue. Maria will surely recover healthily after the surgery, and you won't be threatened by her surgery anymore. You're free now."
Susanna's calm and powerful words struck his heart like a drum, disrupting his heartbeat.
Aaron looked deeply at her, those clear and earnest eyes no longer held any admiration for him.
For a moment, Aaron felt a deep sense of emptiness and loneliness as he heard her say that she had chosen to be over him.
In the past, hearing those words would have made him happy, but now, it didn't feel as good as he had imagined.
Not long after, the door to the operating room opened, and a nurse with a serious expression brought out a document. "The patient's heart condition is more complicated than expected. She's currently being resuscitated and needs a family member's signature."
Hearing this, Susanna felt a chill run through her body. She instinctively looked at Aaron, whose face was cold and seemed to be in some kind of despair.
She quickly took the document and handed it to Aaron. "Sign it, the sooner the better. We have to trust the doctors."
At this point, there was no turning back from the surgery.
Aaron's face was extremely grim, but he eventually signed the surgical consent form, feeling as if all his strength had been drained.
Susanna stood beside him and comforted him, "Maria will be fine. She promised us."
Aaron stared at the operating room door, standing silently.
He remained standing, and she stood beside him as well.
The surgery lasted until the evening.
When the nurse opened the door to the operating room, Susanna's heart leaped into her throat. She asked anxiously, "How is it?"
"The surgery was very successful, but the patient needs to go to the ICU. Family members shouldn't wait outside; visits are not allowed during this period," said the nurse.
Susanna finally smiled and hugged Aaron as if to prove she wasn't dreaming.
She looked up at Aaron. "Did you hear that? Maria's surgery was very successful. We don't need to worry anymore."
Aaron gave a faint smile.
Susanna exclaimed, "It's really great!"
Susanna looked up at Aaron in front of her. His handsome, slender features looked like a painting under the light.
For a moment, she was stunned.
At that moment, Austin came out of the operating room, looking tired. When he saw Susanna hugging Aaron, he immediately said with a cold face, "What are you doing? Stop it!"
Hearing Austin's voice, Susanna realized what she had just done. She had hugged Aaron out of sheer joy.
She blushed and let go, turning to look at Austin with bright eyes. "The surgery was very successful!"
Austin had promised the surgery would be successful, and he had delivered.
Austin smiled and ruffled her hair. "Of course. I promised you, and I always keep my promises."
A promise to Susanna had to be as sincere as a vow.
Susanna beamed a sweet smile, feeling immensely grateful to Austin.
Aaron, standing nearby, saw Austin ruffling Susanna's hair and felt a surge of displeasure as if something that belonged to him was being touched by someone else.
Austin sensed Aaron's gaze. As a man, he understood what it meant, but Aaron had no chance. They would take Susanna back to Novaria to live, and Aaron would be nothing.
There were plenty of good men in Novaria!
Austin looked at Aaron. "Although the surgery was successful, the next week in the ICU is crucial. If she gets through this week safely, Mrs. Abbott should be fine."
Aaron's throat moved slightly, and he didn't know what to say. His feelings were very complicated.
It felt like this surgery had cost him his wife, leaving him feeling stifled.
Susanna responded, "I believe Maria will get through this observation period."
Austin's gaze softened when he looked at Susanna. "I believe so, too. It's getting late; let's head back."
Susanna nodded. "Okay."
After she answered, she seemed to feel the tension.
Aaron, standing behind her, said coldly, "I'll go check on Maria's condition."
He couldn't stay any longer. He turned and stormed off, afraid that if he stayed, he might lose control and hit Austin.
Susanna watched Aaron's retreating figure, relieved that Maria was ultimately safe.
She turned to Austin. "Austin, has the lead surgeon left? I didn't see him come out."
When Austin heard this, his face stiffened. "The lead surgeon was too tired and left through a private exit. After all, he performed the surgery for a long time."
"That makes sense."
Austin asked tentatively, "Why do you want to see the lead surgeon?"
"I wanted to thank him in person. Even though he's Erica's brother, we owe him for performing Maria's surgery," Susanna explained.
As for the issues between Susanna and Erica, that was a separate matter.
Austin let out a sigh of relief. "I'll make sure to convey your gratitude to him."
"Okay."
Susanna didn't insist on seeing the lead surgeon. Given the awkward relationship with Erica, it was enough to have Austin convey her thanks.
Austin looked at her. "Let's go home. You shouldn't be staying up late in your condition."
Susanna nodded and turned to see Erica not far away.
