Chapter 422 Can't Live Without Marriage?
With her head buried in her hands, Serene wept, skillfully evading the probing questions of Sarah and Antonio.
Antonio's patience began to wear thin. "Serene, we can't assist you if you remain silent. Would you kindly..."
"Antonio," Sarah interjected, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"Please, hold your tongue and take a seat."
Left with no other option, Antonio obediently clamped his mouth shut and retreated to a chair.
Sarah slid into the seat beside Serene, offering her a comforting tissue.
"Mrs. Jerrett, please dry your eyes and share your story. Antonio and I are here to support you, but we need to understand what you're grappling with first."
Serene drew a deep, shaky breath, gradually regaining control over her emotions.
"To tell you the truth, I've been seeing someone for a while now. After Antonio declined the arranged marriage between our families, I began dating him."
"I initially feared my father's disapproval, so we decided to keep our relationship under wraps. Nobody in my life knew about it. We intended to introduce him once my father's health improved. It was meant to be a joyous revelation."
"But, to my dismay...he proved to be ungrateful. Upon learning of my potential amputation, he severed all ties with me. I haven't been able to reach him since my return."
As Serene recounted her tale, her tears flowed freely, her sobs uncontrollable.
Sarah empathized deeply with Serene's current plight. She imagined herself in Serene's position, envisioning the devastation she would feel if Antonio had abandoned her under similar circumstances.
Regardless, she knew that one should never inflict harm upon oneself over such matters.
"Mrs. Jerrett, he is not a man worthy of your tears. Don't let this upset you. There's no need to torment yourself over someone so undeserving." Sarah offered her words of comfort patiently.
After another bout of crying, Serene finally managed to compose herself.
"I apologize, Sarah. I originally planned to depart quietly on m y own. I didn't anticipate that you both would bring me to the hospital...I'm at fault for being so helpless, incapable of managing anything."
"I truly didn't mean to impose on you both." Serene's voice trembled as fresh tears streaked down her cheeks.
"When Antonio rejected the marriage proposal, I was somewhat disheartened, but witnessing your l ove for each other, I knew I couldn't intrude. Later, I found a boyfriend and thought I had discovered true love, only to injure my leg again. It seems that marriage isn't in the cards for me in this lifetime. But don't worry, Sarah, I can manage on my own."
Antonio's brow furrowed in confusion. Why did the conversation keep circling back to him? What did this have to do with the declined marriage proposal?
Eager to intervene, he quickly chimed in, "Mrs. Jerrett, don't succumb to such pessimism. I've already found a solution. The foreign experts who specialize in treating your condition arrived yesterday. If you wish, I can arrange a consultation with them immediately."
At Antonio's words, Serene's heart fluttered anxiously.
Antonio had acted so swiftly. He had already summoned them? But if they were to consult, wouldn't her secret be revealed?
As soon as Antonio finished speaking, Serene promptly lost consciousness.
"Mrs. Jerrett! What's wrong?" Sarah exclaimed in shock, hastily summoning the doctor.
After a thorough examination, the doctor sighed deeply and ushered Sarah and Antonio out of the ward.
"Hadn't I made myself clear?" came the stern admonition. "Mrs. Jerrett is in no condition to endure any stress at the moment. It would be best if you returned home; I find it necessary to restrict visiting hours for the patient."
Antonio bristled at the suggestion, annoyance creeping into his voice. "I haven't caused her any undue stress. Is a consultation truly out of the question? " He was unsure whether his irritation stemmed from Serene's remark about the impossibility of marriage.
Sarah sighed, her patience wearing thin. "Given her current state, a consultation is decidedly out of the question. We must simply wait and see."
She found herself puzzled by the situation. It was merely the end of a romantic relationship, wasn't it? Why would that drive someone to such depths of despair?
In Sarah's mind, Serene was not the sort of woman who would crumble without the prospect of marriage.
Regardless, their thoughts were in turmoil, and they had no choice but to vacate the hospital and retreat to the sanctuary of home.
As they prepared to depart, Sarah's secretary called out in a hurried voice, "Mr. Valencia, if you could spare a moment, please."
"What is it?" Sarah queried, her tone laced with exhaustion.
The secretary cleared her throat, her gaze shifting uneasily towards Antonio. "The situation is such that, given Mrs. Jerret's current condition, she is unable to fulfill her responsibilities at the company.
With the chairman also hospitalized, the company may have to depend on Mr. Valencia," she explained, her voice faltering. "Mrs. Jerret made mention of this in her previous will, so I thought..."
Antonio cut her off with a curt wave of his hand. "There's no need to continue," he said, a note of irritation creeping into his voice. However, considering Serene's present condition, he realized he couldn't return to the company.
This time, there was no way for him to refuse.
"If there's any development, notify me immediately," he instructed.
With Antonio's reluctant consent, the secretary finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As Antonio and Sarah exited the hospital, Sarah found herself letting out a sigh of her own. Her thoughts were consumed by Serene's predicament and Mr. Jerret's illness.
"Antonio, you must keep a close eye on the Jerret’s affairs," she advised.
"What's the matter?" Antonio asked, noticing the troubled expression on Sarah's face.
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