Though Abigail did not want to, the patient and their family met her through Finn’s liaison and pleaded for her help.
Unable to refuse because of the Hippocratic Oath, she returned to the surgical table no thanks to Finn.
The surgery lasted five hours, and Abigail was better at it now thanks to the experience she gained from the last time.
The patient was young and met all the requirements for such a major surgery.
The surgery was a success too, and things looked good for him.
As Abigail left the operation room, the patient’s parents quickly approached her. However, they appeared too nervous to ask, seemingly afraid that it would be bad news.
Though they were only in their forties, they already had white hair—probably from the stress of their child’s condition.
Still, Abigail told them, “The surgery was a success, and he’s been sent to the intensive care unit. The next 24 hours can be risky, but he will most definitely be fine if nothing comes up.”
“Really?” The couple grasped her hand in excitement. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Abigail replied. She then arranged for them to visit the patient, albeit from behind a glass screen.
Still, being able to see their child would grant them some extent of relief!
With that done, Abigail left the hospital with Finn in tow.
“Thank you very much for this,” he suddenly said. “I’m sorry I brought you so much trouble.”
“It’s not your fault,” Abigail replied. “I can’t turn them down anyway.”
She was a doctor, and that patient had all the right conditions to receive an artificial heart transplant. All they needed was her surgery, and they would have hope to live.
Why else would they take the risk if not for the lack of other options?
She understands why the patients’ family were determined to try, and she was too—even if it might put her in an awkward position.
Finn looked at her then—she still retained her resolve to help people despite the dramatic events revolving around Dennis’s death.
That alone earned his undying respect, because not everyone could hold on after such a mess.
“I’m not going back to Hotmesh,” Abigail told him just then.
“Yeah,” Finn replied with a nod.
Abigail went to check on Mrs. Watson, who appeared spirited, and the care worker was dutiful as well.
She then hurried home, and saw that Erin was still there.
“You’re not leaving yet?” Abigail asked—Erin said she would just be staying a day.
“There’s lots to do, but there’s no one else around the house, so I postponed my flight.”
Abigail smiled. “Thank you, but it’s actually fine. I won’t be going back to the research center.”
Erin nodded. “Well, I’m leaving tomorrow anyway.”
“Have you considered staying?” Abigail asked.
“Not at the moment,” Erin said, shaking her head. “Things are fine right now.”
“Mommy.” Tommy suddenly scurried toward her, holding out his stubby hands. “Hug.”
Abigail grinned and scooped her spoiled son up in her arms.
“You’re so heavy,” Erin commented, giving him a little smack on the rump. “You’re fat.”
“No, I’m not fat,” Tommy pouted, his round, chubby cheeks puffing up right then.
Erin could not resist pinching his cheek then—his skin was fair, tender and smooth, and very soft as she squeezed it.
“That hertz,” Tommy complained, mispronouncing ‘hurts’.
Erin laughed and pinched him again.
Bzzt—
Abigail’s phone rang just then, and Erin took Tommy off her arms as she took it out and answered it.
Zachary spoke from the other end. “Hey, Abigail… I just got arrested.”
“What?!” Abigail exclaimed in shock.
“It’s just drunk-driving—it’s not that big of a deal,” Zachary quickly explained. “I’m basically fine. They’re just telling me to have my family get me, but my mom won’t come for me since it’s been a while since I’ve been home. That’s why I have to call you.”
In fact, Mrs. Slate was used to him not going home for up to half a month.
“Should I tell your mom?” Abigail asked.
“Nope,” Zachary replied.
That left Abigail musing. “Was it about last night?”
“Yeah.”
Abigail was left frowning. “Diarmuid was just saying that you’d tough it out. Why would you try drinking your sorrows away?”
“It was just a few glasses.”
Abigail was speechless—a few glasses, and he ended up getting arrested?
“What can I do for you?”
“Nothing. Anyway, time’s up. I have to hang up now.”
And with that, the call was cut off.
“Haha…”
Tommy was laughing and rolling around on the couch from Erin’s tickles.
Abigail put down her phone then, rolled up her sleeves, and headed to the kitchen—she had to prepare dinner.
Erin came in as well, offering to help, but Abigail told her to play with Tommy.
Seeing Tommy coming to the kitchen as well, Erin said, “Brats don’t get to play.”
Still, Tommy tugged on her hand. “Please play with me, Aunt Erin…”
“Well, are you a brat?” Erin asked.
Tommy blinked. “What’s a brat?”
Abigail giggled while Erin was left speechless.
“Why are you laughing, Mommy?” Tommy asked blankly then.
“I’m laughing at your aunt, not you,” Abigail told him.
Erin scooped Tommy up in her arms then and explained what a brat was.
Abigail started cooking and opened the fridge to find it filled with food ingredients.
She did not know that many recipes, however, and just picked the handful that she could make.
Stan Hill was told to frame Neil Turner as soon as he returned.
Then, not two days after he was discharged from the hospital, James passed all his work to Stan.
Stan was frowning so hard his brows were touching.
“Forget Mr. Althoff squeezing me dry, James. How could you do this to me too? Do I look so easily bullied to you?”
James clapped Stan on the shoulder. “Just take this one for me, brother. It’s for the sake of my happiness.”
Stan was speechless. “I think you’re just mocking me for not having a girlfriend.”
James leveled a sincere look at him. “Think? I’m doing exactly that.”
“Buzz off.” Stan gave James a shove.
James laughed, but he soon turned serious. “Erin’s not here for long. I have to spend some time with her—I won’t have time for this, so just pretend you’re doing it for charity.”
Stan snorted coolly. “You’re all hoes before bros.”
James did not say anything in return, while Stan stared at the stacks of documents on the table and sighed, lamenting his tragic existence!
“I’ll buy you a nice dinner someday,” James said.
“Make it a fest,” Stan pouted.
“Fine, whatever you say.”
Having someone to stand in for him at work now, James went looking for Diarmuid, asking when he could leave work.
Diarmuid’s own tasks were done, and he naturally doubted James was done with his.
As Diarmuid looked up, James smiled. “I was just thinking we could have dinner together with the family, so I let Stan do my work for the day.”
Diarmuid raised a brow—was James exploiting Stan as soon as the latter returned?
“You really like making enemies, huh?” Diarmuid said. “Oh, and book a room at a restaurant.”
Mrs. Watson was sick and still hospitalized, while Abigail was working. Sheryl would not have the time to cook either since she had to take care of both his sons.
“Okay,” James said, whipping out of his phone to book a place.
In the meantime, Diarmuid finished his tasks before leaving work.
As James followed him into the elevator, Stan asked, “You’re leaving together?”
“Mr. Althoff is buying dinner,” James said.
“What about me?” Stan pressed.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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