“So, the results of my medical evaluation meet the requirements, Doc?” Max asked with his eyebrows raised to the max.
“Yes,” the doctor nodded firmly. “I will prepare for the transplant operation as soon as possible.”
A sigh of relief suddenly blew into the air. A second later, Max turned to the woman who was still holding her hand tightly.
“Don’t worry, Gaby. I’ll be fine,” the man said as he knew the meaning behind the curve of his wife’s stiff lips.
“That’s right, Madam. You don’t have to worry. Your husband has a fit body. Donating a small part of his liver will not cause any problems,” the doctor said reassuringly.
With slightly pursed lips, Gabriella released the pressure in her lungs. “I hope this operation will go smoothly,” she said in a thin voice.
In a sudden, Max caressed and kissed his wife’s head. “Amen. Now, how about we visit Dad? I want to see him before we go home and rest.”
Gabriella nodded.
After thanking the doctor, the couple left. With relaxed steps and hands clasped together, they walked towards Herbert’s room.
“Do you think Dad will be angry when he finds out your liver is in his body?” Gabriella muttered, tilting her head.
“Dad will be mad. But then, he’ll burst into tears,” Max said, curling his lips wider.
“Wouldn’t that magnify his regrets?”
The man’s smile suddenly faded. After taking one deep breath, he replied, “That’s right. But, it’s the consequence that must be borne. He should know that revenge is not a good thing.”
“Are you still going to mention the Little Prince?”
After a moment of silence, Max nodded. “Even though I have forgiven what he did to me, Dad still has to know about his grandson. That way, he will be deterred and not repeat mistakes.”
Hearing her husband’s explanation, Gabriella mumbled, “I think, Dad would be very sad if you said that the Little Prince’s leaving was the result of his actions.”
“Is that plan too evil?” the man asked, narrowing his eyes.
The woman nodded slightly. “I dare not judge. But, Max, you don’t prolong your father’s life just to make him sink into regret, right?”
Max’s laughter sounded crisp. “Do you think that your husband is a psychopath? Take it easy. We’ll talk about the Little Prince when Dad’s condition stabilizes. Perhaps, when that time comes, Little Prince has been back in your womb.”
“That would be a powerful medicine for Dad,” Gabriella muttered as she turned her head to look at Max. The man was painting a faint smile under the sad eyes.
“Right. That way, Dad won’t fall too deep,” he said before taking a quick breath and returning to his wife’s gaze. There was no more sorrow that colored his face. “Gaby, wait until I recover. We will send many invitations to Little Prince.”
Understanding what her husband meant, the woman snorted. “I’ll have to buy an eye patch for Smiley and Snowy. It can be dangerous if they see us too much.”
“Do you think they are underage?” Max commented on his wife’s joke.
“Yes,” the woman nodded before laughing too.
Right at that time, someone walked over and bumped into Gabriella’s shoulder. In just an instant, the woman’s body twisted. Her laughter automatically turned into a groan.
Luckily, Max managed to catch his wife. “Are you okay?” he asked with eyes wide open.
Holding her throbbing shoulders, Gabriella furrowed her brows and nodded. A second later, she turned towards the person who bumped into her. The big man didn’t even look back.
“What’s wrong with that person?” Max grumbled before snorting. “He doesn’t even say sorry. How impolite.”
In contrast to her husband who expressed annoyance, Gabriella blinked in confusion. The man’s back felt familiar to him.
“But, are you really okay? Your wound hasn’t healed completely, Gaby,” Max inquired as he was still worried about his wife’s condition.
However, instead of answering, the woman remained motionless, checking her memory. After a while, her eyes widened. With breath starting to rumble, she sighed, “Max, we have to see Dad soon.”
Without giving an explanation, Gabriella walked quickly to her father-in-law’s room. She had no time to relieve the pain in her body. The woman’s mind had been clouded by fear.
Seeing his wife suddenly panicked, Max didn’t ask anymore. With the same speed, he followed Gabriella’s footsteps.
Just as the door opened, Minnie, who was about to leave, spontaneously widened her eyes. While stroking her chest, she sighed, “Why are you running like that? It surprised me.”
“Was there any stranger coming here?” Gabriella asked bluntly.
The frown on the butler’s brow instantly changed the meaning.
“A stranger?” Minnie sighed as she blinked. After a while, the old woman shook her head. “No.”
“Are you sure Auntie? How’s Dad?”
“Mr. Herbert is sleeping.”
As if not believing the butler’s words, Gabriella barged in to examine the father-in-law with her own eyes. As soon as she saw Herbert sleeping, the tension evaporated from her body.
“Ah, thank God,” the woman sighed as she held her head. The pressure inside had already reduced considerably.
Seeing his wife’s unusual behavior, Max finally asked, “What’s the matter, Gaby? Why did you suddenly panic?”
Having managed to catch her breath, Gabriella pointed her index finger towards the door. “The man who bumped into me earlier, he’s very similar to the person who attacked you. I thought he came here to harm Dad.”
Listening to the explanation, Max grabbed his wife’s hand which was still leading to the hallway. With a sad smile, he kissed the cold fingers.
“You don’t have to worry, Gaby. It was just a hallucination. The doctor told me that you might be going through some psychological trauma. It’s natural that you’re shadowed by that bad guy.”
“But, he’s very similar, Max. His height and size are the same as that criminal,” Gabriella argued in a thin voice.
A second later, the man grabbed his wife’s shoulder and leveled their gaze. “Did you see his face?” he asked softly.
“No,” the woman shook her head.
“Did you hear his voice?”
“Not really,” Gabriella answered with the roar of her breath starting to subside.
“Is it possible that you can recognize a person you’ve only met once, just by looking at his back?”
The woman finally fell silent and lowered her gaze. She was starting to regain the senses. Realizing it, Max stroked his wife’s hair.
“Calm down. The bad guy won’t hurt anyone. Isn’t Dad the boss? He can’t possibly attack the person who paid him, can he? You’re just hallucinating, Gaby.”
After a moment of contemplation, Gabriella took a deep breath. “You are right. Maybe, I just hallucinated,” she muttered while furrowing her brows.
It was only when Max rubbed her cheek that Gabriella forced a smile. The woman didn’t want her husband to worry about her condition. The man should not go up to the operating table with a burden on his mind.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, the big man who had bumped into Gabriella, was giggling in a car. However, when the laughter stopped, he began to grit his teeth.
“Apparently, I have to change the target. The old man is almost dead. It won’t be fun if I kill him. After all, he should know that no one can play with me.”
After starting the engine, the fierce man mumbled again, “He shouldn’t refuse to pay me nor threaten to report me to the police. I’ve spent a lot of time, money, and energy to fulfill his orders. How dare he even pretend to forget his request.”
While gripping the steering wheel, the big body chuckled in annoyance. “Just watch! The old man will cry regretting his impudent attitude. Kneeling in front of me will do no good. He has pushed me past the limit of my patience.”
Leaving no trace, the big man stepped on the gas. He had to rearrange the strategy. His determination to make Herbert suffer was inviolable. The plan must be really painful.