CHAPTER 149
Her racing heart eased slightly, only to be replaced by a new wave of anxiety. Arianna had promised Alan that she would meet him for a meal the day before, and now that it was evening, she realized he must have been waiting for her all this time.
Rochelle, observing the sudden shift in Arianna’s expression, grew worried herself.
“What’s happening, Arianna? Is something wrong? Don’t keep me in the dark!”
Arianna, without taking the time to explain to Rochelle, quickly dialled Alan’s number. As soon as the call connected, Alan’s voice came through clearly.
“Arianna?”
“Yes, it’s me,” Arianna said, her voice filled with embarrassment. She took a deep breath before continuing,
“I’m so sorry, Dr. Woods. Something urgent came up on my end, and I won’t be able to take you out for dinner today as planned.”
Alan’s voice held a note of concern. “What happened? Is everything alright?”
“It’s nothing serious. I’ve managed to handle it,” Arianna assured him, trying to sound more composed than she felt.
Alan’s tone softened with a hint of humour.
“I was getting worried when I couldn’t reach you. I half expected you to vanish like before. But what matters most is that you’re okay.”
Arianna appreciated his understanding.
“Thank you for being so considerate. I'm sorry for missing our dinner. I hope we can reschedule soon.”
Alan chuckled softly and replied, “I had something come up today myself, which is why I called to let you know I couldn’t make it to our appointment. There’s no need for you to apologize.”
He paused for a moment before adding,
"Nevertheless, it's really important that we get together today."
Arianna’s eyes widened slightly in worry.
“Why, is everything alright?”
Alan didn’t delay in giving her the news.
“Yes, Saint John managed to review your brother’s case last night and has already drafted a preliminary treatment plan. He now needs to discuss it with the attending physician to refine and optimize the approach.”
Arianna was stunned by this revelation.
She had assumed that someone as busy as the little saint would need more time to review and work on Charlie's case after initially agreeing to look over the medical records. To her astonishment, he had managed to formulate a plan overnight.
It took Arianna a full minute to regain her composure, her amazement still evident.
“The Saint truly lives up to his reputation as a renowned doctor. His efficiency is astonishing!”
Alan’s voice carried a hint of amusement.
“Isn’t it a positive thing?”
“It is!” Arianna affirmed with conviction.
“It’s perfect, though I’m quite taken aback. I can only imagine how much praise you must have heaped on me for him to respond so quickly.”
She abruptly recalled Alan’s earlier comment from the previous night, which made her reconsider her words. Instead of expressing her gratitude, she said,
“Perhaps it’s not such a big deal that I can’t treat you to dinner today. We can certainly meet another time, and I’ll make sure to treat you to an even grander meal then!”
“Sure,” Alan replied, his voice warm and reassuring.
Alan chuckled softly over the phone before stating, "I have an errand to attend to at the moment, but I will make my way to the hospital later. I'll meet you there."
“Alright, I’ll be waiting for you,” Arianna responded, feeling a surge of relief as the call ended. The appearance of the little saint meant that there was renewed hope for Charlie’s treatment, and the weight of her worry began to lift slightly.
Simultaneously, the pain and sadness caused by Xander’s actions seemed to ease a bit. She resolved to view the previous day’s troubles as nothing more than a minor setback, akin to being bitten by a stray dog—after all, Xander was no better than a troublesome stray in her eyes.
The possibility of the little saint stabilizing Charlie’s condition and buying him more time to find a suitable heart filled Arianna with hope. If things went well, she might also be able to end her arrangement with Xander and cut ties with him by the time Charlie’s new heart became available.
With this thought in mind, the deep gloom that had clouded Arianna’s face began to dissipate, replaced by a flicker of optimism.
She set her phone down and glanced up, only to be taken aback by Rochelle’s peculiar expression. Arianna blinked, puzzled, and asked,
“Why are you staring at me like that, Rochelle? Is there something on my face?”
Instinctively, Arianna reached up to check her face, but she felt nothing amiss…
Rochelle clicked her tongue a few times and said,
“Arianna, who is this ‘Dr. Woods’ you were talking to? He seems like quite an extraordinary doctor. Just one phone call from him has worked wonders for you. You were on the brink of despair before his call, but now, you’ve made an incredible comeback!”
Arianna realized Rochelle’s imagination had taken a wild turn and quickly interjected.
“Don’t get carried away. Dr. Woods is an old friend of mine from when I lived abroad. He’s the reason Charlie has access to treatment from the renowned Saint John. He’s a major benefactor and an outstanding individual.”
“Ohhhhh!” Rochelle responded with a nod,
“You know, expressing gratitude to someone who’s helped you can go beyond words. Sometimes, showing your appreciation involves dedicating your whole heart to them!”
Arianna found Rochelle’s comment amusing and replied, “Oh, come on, stop teasing. We’re just friends, nothing more.”
Rochelle’s smile broadened, clearly amused by Arianna’s response. “I understand that you see Dr. Woods as just a friend, but he might have a different perspective!”
Arianna was taken aback and didn’t know how to respond.
“If a man shows genuine concern for a woman’s situation without any apparent reason, he’s usually interested in one of two things: either he’s after her money, or he’s interested in her. Since you’re not in a financial position to attract him that way, it seems likely that he might be drawn to you as a person.”
Rochelle’s eyebrows wiggled playfully as she continued, “Maybe you should think about whether he’s a good match for you, not just professionally but personally as well!”
Arianna shook her head with a light laugh.
“Why even consider it? With my ongoing mess of marriage with that jerk Xander and Charlie’s health issues, I can’t spare any energy for anything else right now.”
After a moment, she offered a thoughtful smile and said,
"Rochelle, have you considered your future? Do you intend to let things with John continue indefinitely?"
Their relationship was mired in a cycle of hurt and frustration, with no resolution in sight, only continued emotional turmoil.
