Chapter 537

Ishara's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She took a deep breath and said, "I'll be waiting for you in the OR."

Her words struck Leo's heart like a sledgehammer, sending his pulse racing.

An hour later, Winnie's stomach pain was unbearable.

She approached the self-service kiosk once more, only to find that her test results were still pending.

Winnie headed over to the information desk with the intent to inquire about the delay.

Just then, a nurse approached her. "You're one of Dr. Smith's patients, Winnie, correct?

Dr. Smith mentioned your test results were a bit concerning. Could you please follow me to his office for a follow-up?"

The word 'concerning' often heralded grave news.

Yet Winnie, listening to her body, felt no significant ailments and was confident in her assessment.

In the doctor's office, the physician who had attended to her earlier sat behind his desk, presenting a lab report. "Ms. Winnie, here's the situation. Your bloodwork shows complexities, suggesting that your issues go beyond a simple gastrointestinal inflammation. To rule out the possibility of benign or malignant tumors in your stomach, we need to conduct an endoscopy. The procedure necessitates anesthesia, and there's a waiting list. It may require some of your time. Are you in agreement with proceeding?"

"Tumors?" Winnie reviewed the lab report. The abnormal figures were clear to see.

She verified her name, confirming it was indeed for her.

Shaking her head, she replied, "It's not that serious.

"The acute nature of today's symptoms might have skewed the bloodwork results.

"My stomach has been sensitive to certain foods lately, but I'm certain I don't have a tumor.

"I'm in a lot of discomfort right now. Could you start with an IV?"

The doctor, sensing her orderly refusal, pinched his fingers together in a subtle gesture of uncertainty, "I'm sorry, Ms. Winnie.

"Our hospital's diagnostic protocol is quite stringent. Since your tests have come back with multiple anomalies,

"I can't simply administer an IV with anti-inflammatory treatment.

"Should there actually be a significant issue in your stomach, it would be a case of misdiagnosis on my part, with potential medical liabilities if pursued afterward.

"If the endoscopy shows no problems, I'll promptly get you on an IV to alleviate your discomfort."

Winnie frowned deeply.

She'd been at this clinic for an hour now. Heading to another hospital would only result in missed opportunities due to closing times.

Her stomach was in knots, and her discomfort was sapping her strength.

"Forget it, schedule the endoscopy."

Resigned, Winnie paid the fees and was escorted by a nurse to another floor, where a queue of people awaited their turn for the procedure.

She excused herself to the restroom to vomit, then found a chair to sit and wait.

As she sipped her water, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss about that lunch.

Winnie pulled out her phone and sent Olivia a text.

Winnie: [I'm feeling iffy about the hotel food we had at noon. Are you experiencing any stomach issues?]

She copied the message and sent it to Nelson, concerned they might be in the same boat.

After a few minutes, there was still no response.

Checking the time, it was after two in the afternoon. They were on the plane.

A wave of pain washed over her, leaving her mind shrouded in a fog of discomfort.

Just then, the nurse returned, holding a number in her hand. "I noticed you were in discomfort, so I prioritized you on the list. Ms. Winnie, please come with me for your anesthesia," she said gently.

Winnie nodded and followed her into an examination room.

It was unusually quiet, with no other patients in sight.

Behind a curtain, a masked male doctor was preparing medications.

As Winnie glanced around, the nurse adjusted the bed to a flat position and told her to lie down.

Feeling apprehensive about the endoscopy process, Winnie wanted to remain informed.

However, when the masked doctor approached with an IV stand, she sensed something was awry. "Nurse, I requested local anesthesia for a standard endoscopy. It should be a spray in the throat. You've made a mistake. I won't consent to general anesthesia through an IV," she protested.

But before she could finish speaking, her body stiffened in shock. She looked down to see the doctor had already inserted the needle into the back of her hand. In less than two seconds, the anesthetic took effect.

Struggling to cling to consciousness and speak, her eyes glazed over. Despite her efforts, her lips could only sluggishly seal shut.

Summoning her remaining strength, she reached out and pulled down the doctor's mask, revealing the face of an unfamiliar middle-aged man.

The doctor's gaze faltered, and he quickly turned away.

Leo, upping the dosage, watched the stunning woman on the bed close her eyes.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, a cold sweat soaking his skin.

"Leo?" The nurse locked the OR door, turned the bolt, and approached.

Leo gripped the surgical forceps tighter, closing his eyes momentarily, "Let's start. Take off her pants."

An hour later, Leo sanitized his hands and stepped out, taking a medical bag from the nurse that held a test tube.

Donning his mask again, he crossed between buildings to reach a room in the farthest wing of the hospital.

Ishara was waiting inside, restless and on the verge of dashing out to inquire about the delay when Leo appeared.

Seeing the medical bag in his hands, Ishara's breath caught, eyes shining. "Leo, you finally made it!"

Leo stood in the doorway while Claire closed and guarded the door for them.

Leo was lost in thought, clutching the medical kit with a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes and a thirst in his throat. "Ms. Ishara, once I implant this, the embryo will develop inside you. Do you promise to nurture it and, after it's born, to raise the child as if it were your flesh and blood?"

"I give you my word," Ishara responded, her eyes fixed on the power and wealth within her grasp. "I love Mr. Rodriguez, and this is his child. Of course, I'll be a good mother. More than anyone, I want a happy family with Mr. Rodriguez. You have nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if Winnie were pregnant, she'd surely terminate the pregnancy. You're saving a life."

Ishara relentlessly manipulated Leo, seeing through his medical fanaticism and indecisiveness.

Leo was out of options.

With the embryo extracted, he suppressed the gnawing guilt within and approached Ishara.

In the silence of her unconscious state, Winnie felt the doctors and nurses had left her side.

Suddenly, a window creaked open, letting in a beam of light.

A small silhouette entered. It wasn't adult-sized. It seemed to be a child.

A sense of warmth rushed toward Winnie, a scent so familiar it penetrated her bones.

Someone spoke softly in her ear, a voice crisp and tender, tinged with the sound of tears.

Then, more people burst in!

Leo departed from Ishara's operating room and received an urgent message from his trusted aide. Shocked by the news, he realized he couldn't risk sharing it with Ishara.

He raced back in frantic and burst into Winnie's examination room.

There, a small figure lay collapsed on the floor beside the bed.