“She won’t let anyone else operate,” Anthony murmured, stealing a glance at his mother’s red, worried eyes. “Lottie promised it’d be okay. If she says that, I believe her.”
Lavinia just nodded. She didn’t say anything more, choosing instead to sit quietly beside Anthony, waiting for good news.
Outside, the wind was wild, making the trees whisper against the windows. The hallway lights flickered, casting lonely shadows through the night.
No one really knew how much time had passed. The darkness faded, and suddenly the hallway was bathed in morning light. That meant Patricia’s heart surgery had already lasted over ten hours.
There had been no updates. No one had any idea what was happening behind those doors.
“Anthony, you should eat something.” Hans had arrived with a maid, both of them carrying trays of breakfast to the operating room. Anthony shook his head. He hadn’t slept or even had a sip of water since they arrived.
“I’m not hungry,” he said, waving Hans off and gesturing for his parents to take the food instead.
His grandmother’s life hung in the balance. Lottie was in there, probably running on empty too.
Lavinia clutched a glass of milk but didn’t take a single sip.
Then Anthony’s phone rang. It was Kevin.
“Hey, Kevin.”
“Yeah, she’s still in surgery.” News about Patricia had already reached the Gates family. Robert couldn’t travel easily, so he sent Kevin to check in for him.
“We’re at the entrance. We’ll be there in a minute.”
Soon after, Kevin showed up at the operating room with Samantha by his side.
No one ever imagined the two families would meet for the first time like this.
They exchanged a few polite words. Even in her anxiety, Samantha could hear the warmth and genuine concern for Lottie in everything Matthew and Lavinia said. She relaxed a little. Lavinia seemed so open and sincere, not at all the type to make things difficult. Lottie probably wouldn’t ever have mother-in-law drama.


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