Cristofer scoffed, “That’s not important. He signed the donation agreement, and it’s too late for him to back out now. Let’s head to the operating room.”
“Okay,” Estelle agreed with a nod. She had wanted to bid farewell to Derrick and express her gratitude for his visit, but she refrained. Cristofer draped his arm around her shoulder, swiftly guiding her and Christina away.
Estelle swiftly explained, defending Derrick, “It’s not fair to treat him this way. Last night, when I called him to ask about postoperative care instructions, he was warm-hearted and willing to help…”
“Warm-hearted?” Cristofer scoffed, interrupting her. “Did you not notice his attire today? Do you think he’s here purely out of kindness?”
In truth, Estelle had also sensed something was wrong with Derrick. She felt he intentionally dressed to resemble Cristofer, like having similar hair length and wearing all black today, mirroring Cristofer’s usual style.
“It can’t be a coincidence that he dressed like this today. Derrick is more complex than you think. There’s likely someone behind him, pushing him to get closer to you. It’s best not to contact him anymore,” Cristofer reminded her.
Accepting his advice, Estelle nodded and asked, “Do you have any idea who might be behind this?”
Cristofer replied, “It’s hard to say, but I’m certain they have ulterior motives.”
They soon arrived at the operating room, where a doctor was waiting for Christina. Overwhelmed with fear, Christina burst into tears and found comfort in Cristofer’s embrace. “Dad, I’m scared…”
Observing this, the nurse who had guided them commented with a gentle smile, “It seems like your daughter relies more on you than her mother. When she was with her mother, she was nervous about the surgery but didn’t cry. Now that you’re here, she can’t help but cry.”
With a smile, Cristofer took Christina into his arms, still comforting her softly, “Don’t be afraid. Mom and Dad will be right here waiting for you.”
“Dad, I have a secret to tell you,” Christina choked out.
Curious, Cristofer asked, “What is it?”
Christina whispered mysteriously to him, “… I’ll tell you when I come out.”
Cristofer smiled and replied, “Okay, be brave in the operation room. I can’t wait to hear your secret.”
Christina then asked, “Dad, you’ll always love me, won’t you?”
“Of course, I’ll love you forever.”
Hearing her father’s reassuring words, Christina smiled through her tears and said, “Okay. Wait for me. I’ll come out as soon as I can.”
“Okay.”
The doctor at the operating room door then gently took Christina from Cristofer’s arms and entered the room. Christina turned her head to wave goodbye to her parents, and Estelle waved back immediately.
With the door closed Christina finally felt some relief and relaxed.
“The surgery will last about six to eight hours,” Cristofer informed Estelle. “I’ve arranged the best doctors for her. Don’t worry.”
Estelle bit her lower lip as her worries consumed her.
“Christina is such a sweetheart. Just now, she told me she has a secret to share when she comes out,” Cristofer chuckled. “It’s a shame that someone like Howard has such a wonderful daughter. Christina is the greatest gift in his life. Unfortunately, he didn’t appreciate her and lost her.”
Estelle lowered her head, her gaze distant for a moment, and then she said with a hint of sadness, “I also lost a gift once… a gift from Mr. Mysterious.”
Cristofer knew that she was referring to the dead child of Mr. Mysterious and her.
‘It was my child,’ he thought.
“Did you give her a name?” Cristofer asked gently.
Estelle nodded with a sniffle and replied, “Yes, her name was Christina,” her smile forced but heartfelt.
Cristofer understood the significance immediately. Christina was supposed to be their younger daughter’s name, but Estelle had miscarried and lost their child. Instead, she had given Howard’s child the name. He recalled that Christina’s birth coincided with the day Estelle had miscarried.
‘It makes sense now. Estelle has adopted Christina and cares for her so deeply because she sees her as the child she lost,’ he thought. With a gentle voice, he comforted Estelle, “That child will find her way back to you in the future.”
Estelle smiled bitterly and replied, “I hope so.”
“Will you have children with Mr. Mysterious in the future?” Cristofer suddenly asked.
Estelle shook her head, saying, “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Cristofer nodded without further comment. Although he knew he was doing the right thing, the thought of Estelle being with another man still stirred a deep-seated unease in his heart. He clenched his fists, suppressing the rising anger in his chest, repeatedly reminding himself that his actions were for the best.
‘Since Estelle can’t accept that I am Mr. Mysterious, I’d better keep this secret hidden from her forever. I hope my brother will treat her and the children well, even if it’s driven by financial gain.’
The surgery stretched on for a grueling eight hours. In the initial hours, Estelle managed to maintain her composure, but as time dragged on, anxiety gripped her. She paced nervously outside the operating room, each passing hour feeling like an eternity.
By the time the surgery light above the operating room finally switched off, darkness had descended. A few minutes later, the operating room door creaked open, and a doctor emerged. Estelle, filled with anxiety, rushed forward. “Are you Christina’s parents?”
“Yes, I’m her mother!” Estelle responded, her voice quivering.
The doctor delivered the news they had been yearning to hear, “The surgery was successful, and everything went smoothly. Your daughter will need to remain in the hospital for a few more days under observation. We’ll place her in the asepsis ward, and you can see her through the window of the door. Rest assured, our nurses will provide excellent care. If her vital signs remain stable after three days, we’ll transfer her to the private ward for recovery.”
Finally, Estelle’s pent-up tension began to dissipate as she listened to the doctor’s comforting words. She felt her strength drain away, and she sank onto a nearby bench.
“Ma’am, there are some formalities to attend to,” the doctor informed her.
Seeing the exhaustion in Estelle’s eyes, Cristofer stepped in, saying, “I’ll take care of it. My wife needs some rest.”
The doctor agreed, saying, “Of course, come with me.”
Cristofer was handed a form to fill out in the doctor’s office. “Sir, please complete this form for our records.”
Cristofer nodded and picked up the pen from the desk. Filling in the form was a straightforward task, requiring only Estelle and his own information to be recorded.