Chapter 396 I Can Donate Again!
Aaron squinted and shot back, "Wait, are you saying I swapped the bone marrow? What the heck are you talking about?"
He thought she had bailed from Lindwell early today, but never in a million years did he expect her to roll up to the Abbott Group and grill him about the missing bone marrow.
"Aaron, cut the crap. I'll trade the special medicine for the bone marrow with you. It's a straight-up deal!"
"Susanna, you're losing me here. When did I swap the bone marrow? Didn't you send the bone marrow and Lillian back to Novaria last night? Now you're hitting me up for the bone marrow?"
Aaron was convinced Susanna was off her rocker!
Susanna's brow knitted as she shot back, "What do you mean? Wasn't it you who swapped the donated bone marrow?"
If it wasn't Aaron, then who the heck could it have been?
"Susanna, even though I'm pissed you played me, I wouldn't mess around with Lillian's health."
From her freaked-out look, Aaron figured Susanna was dead serious. He asked, "What exactly went down? Is the bone marrow MIA?"
Susanna nodded, "Yeah, the bone marrow's gone. It was supposed to hit the hospital by noon today, and they could've started treatment right away. But when they cracked open the box, it was empty."
"Empty? Could it have been lost or jacked along the way?"
"No way. I had a private plane, and it never touched strangers. I rushed to the hospital, and the doc said he definitely put the bone marrow in the box. We have no clue why it was empty."
Susanna looked at Aaron and asked, "So, besides you, who else could mess with it without getting caught?"
"Susanna, chill out!"
"I can't chill. That's Lillian's life on the line! How can I chill? Aaron, I know you're mad I lied to you. I'm sorry. Just give me the bone marrow back, and I'll do whatever you want!"
Susanna was on the edge of losing it.
Charles was already waiting in the vacuum chamber.
If the bone marrow didn't show up in time, Charles was toast.
She couldn't handle that!
Seeing her teary eyes, Aaron stepped up, grabbed her shoulders, and said seriously, "I'll get someone on this at the hospital right now. Don't stress. If someone messed with it, we'll find out. This is Lindwell; there's nothing I can't dig up!"
Hearing his words, Susanna calmed down a bit.
She took a deep breath and said, "My people are already checking the hospital's surveillance. But if it wasn't you, then who else could it be? Why would someone swipe a useless bone marrow?"
Bone marrow's pretty special and not worth much.
And only a match can use it. Usually, no one has a reason to steal bone marrow! This is just nuts!
Susanna suddenly said, "Could it be your mom?"
If it wasn't Aaron, then it had to be Maud!
Aaron had this nagging suspicion too. He said, "It's not impossible. But I've already done the bone marrow donation today. No matter what my mom does, it's a done deal. She has no reason to pull this!"
Susanna was pacing like a caged tiger, totally frustrated.
She knew Maud had no reason to pull this stunt. Maud was all about Aaron not suffering during the donation.
But Aaron had already done the deed, and Susanna had even broken up with him in front of Maud.
She'd played by Maud's rules. There was no reason for Maud to yank the bone marrow at the last second.
Then, both Susanna and Aaron's phones buzzed.
Susanna's people said, "Surveillance shows someone slipped into the room where the bone marrow was stashed. We’re tracking down those two right now."
Susanna snapped, "Use everything we’ve got, no matter the cost, to find those two!"
Aaron hung up, looking like he'd swallowed a lemon.
He looked at her, guilt all over his face. "I swear I'll get the bone marrow back. Sorry, but it looks like this mess is tied to my mom. One of the docs who went into the office is her attending physician."
"Then call your mom right now and find out where the bone marrow is. As long as we get it back, I won't hold her accountable. I'll agree to whatever she wants!"
Aaron pressed his lips together. "I'll make her apologize to you. This is on her!"
"I don't need her apology. Just get the bone marrow back, and I won't hold a grudge. Don't you get it? Lillian's already in the vacuum chamber; she can't wait!"
Susanna was on the edge of losing it.
Aaron's eyes widened in confusion. "Lillian's already in the vacuum chamber?"
Wasn't Lillian just back in Novaria? How did she end up in the vacuum chamber so fast?
Susanna froze. She realized she’d let something slip.
She quickly covered, "Lillian was prepped for the vacuum chamber, so as soon as she got there, they started. She can't wait. If she asks, what do I tell her?"
Aaron didn't overthink it and said, "Got it. I'll call my mom right now."
Susanna watched him dial, relieved he didn't catch her slip.
Aaron called Maud, but no answer.
He frowned and called the landline. Taylor answered, "Mr. Maud Abbott is on a trip and will be back in a few days."
Aaron hung up, his face like stone, and told Tyler, "Bring her back."
Susanna was shocked, "Your mom went on a trip? Right now? You just got out of the hospital, and she was so worried about you. How could she leave before you’re fully recovered?"
She was sure Maud was behind this!
Aaron tried to calm her, "Let's head to the hospital. If it comes to it, I can donate again!"
Hearing this, Susanna was floored!
Finally, she said, her voice shaky, "I'll have the special medicine sent over right away."
"Susanna, do you really think I'm doing this for that special medicine?"
