Chapter 675 Targeted Drug
The lights in the emergency room flickered on and off. Billy emerged with the test results, his face unusually grave. George rushed over, his voice tight with worry, "How's Emma?"
"Her tumor's back," Billy sighed, handing over the scans. "The last surgery got it all, but now there's a malignant tumor on the back wall of her uterus, and it's growing fast."
George's fingers traced the blurry shadow on the scan, his fingertips cold.
When Emma was first diagnosed with the tumor years ago, was she in as much pain as she is now? No, she must have been in even more pain.
Back then, he hadn't been understanding of Emma's illness and had constantly tormented her. Yet Emma had selflessly given birth to Lucas for him.
But now, he wouldn't allow Emma to endure any more suffering.
"What are the treatment options?"
"Surgery, right away," Billy's tone was firm. "But Emma's almost three months pregnant. The tumor's too close to the placenta. If we do the surgery, the baby won't make it."
George's breath caught in his throat. As expected, all the doctors had given the same advice.
This baby couldn't stay!
But Emma loved this baby so much.
He looked up sharply at the door to the operating room, as if he could see Emma's pale face through it.
"Is there no other way?" His voice was dry, like sandpaper rubbing together. "Can we try to keep the baby until it's more stable and then do the surgery?"
"Impossible," Billy shook his head. "The tumor's getting worse faster than we thought. If we wait even a month, it'll spread throughout the pelvic area. At that point, we won't be able to save the baby, and Emma's life will be at risk too."
The operating room door opened, and a nurse wheeled Emma out. She was still unconscious, her brows furrowed as if she was in pain even in her sleep. George followed them to the hospital room, watching her hand instinctively protect her lower abdomen, his heart gripped by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.
When Emma woke up, she saw George sitting by her bed, his eyes dark and focused on her belly. She moved her fingers slightly and asked softly, "Is the baby okay?"
George took her hand, but his warmth couldn't reach her cold fingertips. "Emma," he began with difficulty, "I have to tell you the truth. Do you know why I've been trying to get you to terminate this pregnancy? Now I have to give you the answer. Your tumor's back."
Emma's body stiffened for a moment, then she gave a bitter smile, as if she had been expecting this day. "I wondered why I've been feeling so tired lately." She touched her belly, where a small life was quietly growing. "What about the baby?"
"It has to be terminated," George's voice was strained. "The surgery can't wait, Emma. We can't gamble with your life."
"No!" Emma shook her head violently, tears welling up. "George, this is our baby! How can you be so heartless?"
"But your life is more important!" George raised his voice, his eyes reddening. "You almost died giving birth to Lucas. I'm terrified! Emma, I can't lose you!"
"But I can't lose this baby either!" Emma's voice was choked with sobs. "This is our flesh and blood, the continuation of our lives."
As they argued, Billy walked in with a bottle of medication and placed it on the bedside table.
"This is my latest targeted drug," he said, looking at Emma with a complex expression. "It's specifically for pregnant tumor patients like you. It can temporarily suppress the tumor's growth and buy time until delivery."
Emma's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"But I must warn you about the risks," Billy's tone was serious. "This drug is still in clinical trials, with only a fifty percent success rate. If there are any adverse reactions or the tumor suddenly worsens, you and the baby might not survive."
"Fifty percent?" George immediately opposed. "That's too risky! We should go with the surgery. Let's schedule it now!"
"I choose the medication," Emma interrupted, her gaze resolute as she looked at Billy. "I want to try."
"Emma!" George grabbed her hand. "Are you crazy? A fifty percent chance is like gambling with your life!"
"I'm not crazy." Emma held his hand back, her palm warm with unwavering determination. "George, you might not know this, but when I was pregnant with Lucas, my condition was even worse. The doctors warned me about the risks, but I still kept him. Now, I want to try for this baby too."
She looked down at her belly, where a tiny seed was stubbornly taking root and growing. "If I don't even have the courage to fight for him once, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
George saw the light in her eyes, a mix of maternal love and determination that left him speechless. He knew Emma's nature; she seemed soft but was more stubborn than anyone.
"I don't agree," he turned away, his voice choked with emotion. "If we're going to gamble, let's gamble with my life. I can't afford to gamble with yours."
Billy sighed and pushed the bottle closer to Emma. "The decision is yours, but time is running out. The tumor won't wait for you to make up your minds."
The room fell silent, the only sound the steady beeping of the heart monitor, echoing in everyone's hearts. Emma looked at the bottle on the bedside table, then at George's tense profile, and suddenly spoke softly:
"George, do you remember the first time we met? On the beach at Dreamscape Peak, you said you loved the ocean because it embraced all the storms." Her voice was gentle but strong. "This baby is our storm. I want to hold him and wait for the storm to pass with you."
George turned sharply, seeing the tears in her eyes, his heart feeling like it was being torn apart. He knew he couldn't win against her. This woman, from the day he met her, had always made him shed his tough exterior and willingly follow her lead.
He reached out, pulling her into his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice hoarse:
"If you feel even a little bit uncomfortable, tell me immediately, and we'll stop the medication, okay?"
Emma leaned into his embrace, nodding firmly, her tears soaking his shirt. "Okay."
Billy watched the two of them, then quietly left the room.
In the present moment, George was anxiously holding Emma. Besides praying to the heavens, there was nothing else he could do.
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