Chapter 115 Great Hope
Tristan stepped up, holding her tight, and whispered, "This one's on me."
His deep voice hit her ears, and just like that, the waterworks started again.
After what felt like forever, Tristan's shirt was drenched.
She sniffled, pulled herself together, and stepped back. Wiping her tears, she muttered, "Sorry, I lost it there."
Not waiting for Tristan's reaction, she bolted back to the emergency room.
Tristan frowned, his eyes full of pain, and followed her.
Outside the ER, George was there, sitting next to Matilda, trying to comfort her, but she wasn't having it.
Katniss stood like a statue by the door, eyes glued to the lit-up sign above, while Tristan was at the end of the hallway, chain-smoking.
Four hours dragged by, and finally, the light in the ER went out.
Damon walked out with a bunch of top cardiologists, smelling faintly of blood.
Katniss was on him in a flash. "Damon, how's my mom?"
"Katniss, chill for a sec. Let me explain," Damon said, trying to calm her down. "Your mom coughed up blood, which means she was super angry. But what knocked her out was a busted blood vessel in her brain. The docs worked hard to save her, but she's still unconscious, and we can't say when she'll wake up."
'Unconscious?' The word hit Katniss like a punch.
Matilda broke down, clinging to Katniss, tears streaming.
"Hold up, don't lose it yet; this might not be all bad," Damon quickly added. "There's this drug that can stop cancer cells from spreading, but it only works when someone's out cold. With your mom's condition, we can use it to keep her cancer in check. Plus, there's a new cancer drug in the works. Maybe by the time she wakes up, it'll be ready, and she could be cured. Wouldn't that be awesome?"
Damon laid it out straight. According to him, Sophia's coma was a chance to buy time for the new drug.
But everything had to go just right.
If Sophia woke up before the new drug was ready, she wouldn't make it.
Or she might not wake up at all.
Or even if the drug was ready, she might never come around.
Katniss forced a smile, her voice raspy. "Thanks, Damon. Thanks, docs."
It was tough to say if she should be happy, but Damon's words gave her and Matilda a glimmer of hope—maybe Sophia could wake up and even get better someday.
After the surgery, Sophia had to chill in the ICU for seventy-two hours before they could move her to a regular room.
Someone had to be on standby outside the ICU, even at night, just in case.
Tristan had Ryan bring some grub, but Katniss and Matilda weren't feeling it.
Tristan said, "If you don't eat, Matilda won't either. You both need to take turns watching over Sophia. If you crash before your mom gets better, then what?"
Katniss glanced at Matilda, who was curled up on a chair, hugging her legs. She sighed and grabbed a bowl of porridge, walking over to her.
"Matilda, eat something. Later, you and George go home. I'll stay and take care of Mom. You can come back tomorrow to relieve me. Be good," Katniss said.
Matilda was stunned for a moment but then took the porridge, eating it while crying.
"You should eat too," Tristan said, handing Katniss an open bowl of porridge.
There was enough food for four, but Katniss and Matilda only managed half a bowl each.
Tristan and George didn't eat, just kept pushing them to finish.
The ICU doc said Sophia's condition had been stable for the past few hours.
"Leave two people outside to wait, and the rest can come back tomorrow for shifts. There's no major issue, so don't worry," the doc said.
As night fell, the neon lights outside cast a reddish glow through the hallway window.
At Katniss's insistence, Matilda left with George, but Tristan stayed without a word.
There were a couple of older folks in the hallway, lying on small mats in the corner.
Katniss sat on a chair, not once looking at Tristan, even though he was right next to her.
His faint scent filled her nostrils, making it impossible to ignore him.
The endless silence was getting to her, so she broke it.
"You should know, she's not my biological mom," she said softly, her tone calm.
"Yeah," Tristan responded.
"She married my dad when I was about ten. When my parents split, they both fought for custody of Rupert, but neither wanted me. My dad lost and had to keep me. He was broke and hated me, always cursing at me."
Talking about her rough past, she stayed calm, her eyes showing no emotion.
"Her arrival was like a light in my life. She protected me. After she came, my dad never hit me alone again; she always shielded me. Sometimes we could avoid it, and if not, she would take the beating with me. I did well in school, and she was so proud. She'd buy new clothes for me and Matilda. Later, when I was in high school, she believed I could get into a good college and took on multiple jobs to earn my tuition."
As she spoke, her hand suddenly felt warm. Tristan's big, warm hand had wrapped around her cold, almost frozen one, and the warmth slowly spread from him to her.
She paused for a moment, then kept going.
"I didn't let her down. I got into a good college, and just when I thought I could finally repay her, she got cancer. She's so kind, it's just so unfair!"
Sophia was her rock, the person she'd do anything to save.
Tristan gently held her fingers, listening quietly until she finished. He took a deep breath. "You're lucky to have such a kind stepmom. I wasn't as fortunate."
His tone was calm, like he was talking about the weather.
He successfully shifted Katniss's focus. She looked up, her eyes a bit red, staring at him in surprise.
She didn't know much about Tristan's parents. Did he have a stepmom too?
Her curiosity was cut short by the ICU door suddenly opening, and she immediately stood up, tense.
But the nurse called someone else's name, not Sophia's.
The brief interruption ended their conversation.
It also snapped Katniss back to reality. She pulled her hand away, her expression turning cold again. "Sorry, I shouldn't have told you all that. It's late, you should go home."
She got up and walked to the window outside the ward, looking in at Sophia.
She heard footsteps behind her and assumed Tristan had left.
But when she turned around after standing for a while, she saw the faint glow of a cigarette at the end of the hallway. Even from just the silhouette, she knew it was Tristan.
The first rays of morning sunlight streamed into the hallway as Matilda and George arrived, bringing breakfast.
Katniss only ate a little before Matilda insisted she leave the hospital.
Tristan drove her back to Oakwood Hills. Exhausted, she didn't argue.
Despite not sleeping all night, she didn't feel tired. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
It wasn't until Tristan lit a sleep-inducing aromatherapy candle that she finally relaxed and fell asleep.
The Astor Corporation was in chaos. Michael had already chewed out several executives that morning.
Back in his office, he threw the documents on his desk and loosened his tie, asking Samuel, "What's the situation at the hospital?"
"Sophia's in a coma, under a seventy-two-hour observation period. Whether she wakes up is up to fate," Samuel replied.
Sitting down, Michael thought for a moment before saying, "Where's Matilda? Bring her here."
Samuel hesitated. "It's not easy. Matilda's very resistant to you. As soon as she hears you're looking for her..."
Before Samuel could finish, Michael swept the documents off his desk, glaring coldly at him. "Can't you think of another way?"
"Because of Sophia, George has been with her every day. It's hard to find the right time," Samuel said, slightly bowing his head.
Michael's anger turned into a cold laugh. "Didn't you understand what I said? I want to see Matilda as soon as possible, or you're out!"
He sat back down, seething with anger.
After a long pause, Samuel nodded. "Yes."
He left and returned to his office, deep in thought, repeatedly looking at his and Katniss's brief Facebook messages.
His frown deepened until he remembered the marriage certificate he had seen in her bag before graduation.
Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone book and dialed a number. "Keep an eye on Matilda. Notify me immediately if there's an opportunity."
The seventy-two-hour critical period passed, and Sophia was moved to a regular ward. Her hair, already sparse from chemo, was shaved off, and she was hooked up to various tubes.
Damon gave further instructions. "I've started her on the static drug after the critical period. It should kick in soon. However, the research base for the targeted drug is in Nightfall City. If possible, it's best to transfer her there because the hospitals in Nightfall City will be the first to start treatment once the drug is ready."
"Thank you, doctor. I'll consider transferring her to Nightfall City," Katniss replied, not directly agreeing. She lowered her head, avoiding the tall figure beside her.
In the ward, Sophia lay quietly, her kind features calm, her lips pale under the oxygen mask.
The only sound was the cold beeping of the machines, making it hard for Katniss to breathe.
In the past, visiting the hospital and talking to Sophia would make her happy for a long time. But now...
Sophia was still there, but Katniss felt a void in her heart. There was no one to talk to, no one to call her "my daughter."
No one to put warm eggs in her bag, no one to remind her to eat more.
Memories flooded her mind, and she frowned deeply.
"Katniss, I need to go to George's place to pack my things. I've quit my job with him and rented another place. You stay and take care of Mom. I'll be back before dark," Matilda said, looking exhausted and conflicted.
Katniss was stunned. "Why did you quit? Why didn't you tell me? What about the money you owe him?"
"Mom has given me the money. I thought she got it from you, but now I realize..." Matilda's lips trembled, almost crying, "she used her medical expenses to pay for it."
In the hallway outside the ward, Tristan stood at the end, smoking. George sat on a bench, looking unwell, likely because of Matilda's resignation.
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