Alexia's mouth opened in shock. "What..."
"No!" Chaim squeezed her hand a bit too hard. "I said I’d accompany you. Why are you being
stubborn? Let's go!"
He pulled her out of Evelyn's room and toward the elevator. Once they were in the elevator, Chaim
didn’t let go of her hand. Instead, they held hands for quite a while before Alexia couldn’t help but laugh
silently to herself.
She realized that with Chaim standing there with her, almost all of her fears about the surgery
vanished. She felt brave enough to face a battlefield in the middle of a war, let alone a bone marrow
donation operation. Alexia also hoped that even if Chaim couldn't let go of Evelyn in his heart, Alexia
was the one he was married to now. Plus, Chaim had said himself that he wouldn't get back together
with Evelyn, and that was enough for her. As long as she could stay by his side, she was sure he would
care for her one day.
With such wonderful thoughts, Alexia changed into her surgical gown and laid on the hospital bed and,
under the watchful eye of Chaim, was wheeled into the operating room by the nurse.
Nathaniel appeared above her, dressed in full surgeon garb. "Ready?"
Alexia took a nervous breath. "Ready."
"Then we will begin." Nathaniel nodded with a serious expression and gave an order to the nurse
beside him while putting on his gloves. "Put her under."
"Okay," the nurse said, stepping forward.
Alexia couldn't raise her head to see the nurse's movements, she only felt a pain in her arm followed by
a cold liquid flowing through her veins.
Soon a feeling of powerlessness came over her, her vision gradually blurred, and then, slowly, her eyes
closed and she knew nothing more...
Then, she woke up back in her room, her head dizzy from the ringing in her ears.
"Aunt Song?" Alexia tried to move, her throat dry and hoarse as she called out.
When Aunt Song heard Alexia call, she hurriedly wiped her tears and turned around. "Ms. Alexia,
you're awake?"
"Mm..." Alexia responded weakly, trying to prop herself up into a seated position.
Seeing Alexia struggling, Aunt Song hurriedly stopped Alexia from trying to move and forced her to lie
back down. "Ms. Alexia, please lie still. You’re not supposed to move around after the operation!"
"Okay, okay. I won't move." Alexia cried and laughed as she obediently lay still.
Aunt Song smiled with satisfaction when she saw how obedient Alexia was.
Alexia looked at Aunt Song and asked, "What time is it?"
"It's almost two in the afternoon," Aunt Song said as she looked at the time.
Alexia turned her head some. "So how much time has passed since I had the operation?"
"Less than a day."
"It's only been a day..." Alexia responded in a low voice.
‘That really hasn’t been very long.’ Alexia assumed it had been at least two or three days.
"Ms. Alexia, are you uncomfortable anywhere?" Aunt Song asked nervously as she tucked in the
corner of Alexia’s blanket.
Alexia shook her head. "No. My body hurts..."
"You've just had surgery. Of course it hurts!" Aunt Song laughed heartily as she pressed the call bell at
Alexia’s bedside.
Alexia's heart warmed, and she smiled faintly. "Right, Aunt Song. May I ask why you’re here? I know I
didn't tell you about the operation."
"Mr. Lancaster told me to come. After your operation, he asked me to come and take care of you. I
worried something had happened to you, only to find out after I arrived you donated your bone marrow.
I can’t believe he even asked you to do such a thing!" Aunt Song said with a stern face and righteous
indignation.
Alexia didn't think it was a big deal. Her bone marrow had already been donated, so she had to accept
that and move on.
She had to admit she was a little disappointed to wake up without seeing Chaim.
"Has he come by yet, Chaim?" Alexia asked hopefully.
Aunt Song looked away, unable to look Alexia in the eye. "No, he’s been with that woman the entire
time!"
Alexia's stiffened and her eyes dimmed more than a little. "Oh, I see…"
"Ms. Alexia, please don't be upset. I'll call him right now and set him straight." Aunt Song moved to get
up to grab her phone.
Alexia pulled her back, feigning contentment and pulling up the corners of her mouth. "Aunt Song don't
go. Ms. Chi has just had a successful surgery. It’s normal for someone in his position to be relieved. Let
him stay with her longer. I’m okay."
Aunt Song stopped and stared indignantly at Alexia. "She just had an operation, and you, Ms. Alexia,
haven’t? As far as I can see, all Mr. Lancaster has eyes for is that woman, and doesn't have you in
mind at all."
"He didn't have me in his heart originally, either." Alexia smiled bitterly.
Aunt Song panicked, "Ms. Alexia, I didn't mean to say that. I..."
"It’s alright, Aunt Song, I don't blame you." Alexia patted the back of Aunt Song’s hand soothingly, then
asked. "Is Ms. Chi alright? Was the operation successful?"
She made that her main concern.
Aunt Song nodded. "Yes, it worked. And even if it hadn’t how could she not be okay with Mr. Lancster
with her!"
"That's good," Alexia said, breathing a sigh of relief and ignoring Aunt Song’s comment.
As long as Evelyn's operation is successful, then Alexia hadn’t donated her bone marrow in vain.
"Good? What’s good about that?" Aunt Song rolled her eyes. "When that woman recovers, she might
as well become a demon!"
"What do you mean?" Alexia blinked in confusion.
"Nothing. Nothing..." Aunt Song smiled as she trailed off and waved her hands in panic.
Although Alexia was curious, she could tell that the subject wasn’t one Aunt Song wanted to discuss
further and instead she cleared her throat to change the topic. " Aunt Song, do you have any water? I'm
thirsty!"
Aunt Song calmed down and slapped her forehead. "Look at me. I'm so old and confused I forgot to
ask you if you were thirsty and hungry.
Having said that, she hurried to pour Alexia some water. When she realized Alexia was too sore to get
up, Aunt Song patiently fed her spoonful after spoonful.
After having her fill with the water, Aunt Song retrieved a bedpan from under the bed. "Do you need to
use the restroom?"
Alexia shook her head, her face reddening. "No, no, I’m okay."
"Okay. Don’t hesitate to let me know when you need to," Aunt Song said, putting the potty back.
Alexia stared desperately at the ceiling with wide eyes, an indescribable feeling settling in her heart,
one of both embarrassment and awkwardness. ‘I never thought I would one day be reduced to the
point of using a bedpan to release myself.’
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock at the door interrupted Alexia’s thoughts and the suddenness caused her to jump. "Who is it?"
"Sister it's me." Nathaniel's cheerful voice called from the other side of the door.
Alexia's eyelids dropped to hide the disappointment in her eyes. "Just a moment." She’d hoped it was
Chaim. "Aunt Song, go and open the door, it's Dr. Hardy," Alexia instructed Aunt Song.
Aunt Song nodded and headed for the door.
Once the door was open, Nathaniel strode in wearing a white coat with a light smile on his face, "Hello,
sister."
"Hello." Alexia returned the smile.
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and teased, "Sister doesn't seem very happy to see me. Is that because
I'm not the one you wanted to see?"
Alexia's gaze flickered but she quickly regained her composure. "No, it's only that I woke up and am
still a bit groggy."
"In that case, I would like to do a quick exam." Nathaniel's expression changed and he immediately
became serious.
Alexia's heart staggered as she watched his expression change rapidly. Just the moment before, he
was a carefree man, but he became a strict doctor in the blink of an eye. He changed roles so quickly a
professional actor would be jealous. However, Alexia complied with Nathaniel's request to examine her,
despite the worry in her heart.
Aunt Song stood close by watching nervously, and as soon as the examination was over, she asked
eagerly, "Dr. Hardy, is Ms. Alexia okay?"
"It's nothing serious. You’ll take good care of yourself, but there will be no side effect, only that your
body will be lacking the amount of bone marrow it’s used to," Nathaniel said, looking at Alexia.
Alexia had known that for a long time and didn't have much of a reaction. "Is there anything else?"
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