Chapter 544

Four hours later, Dr. Moore had yet to make an appearance.

Lawrence stood there, his composure slowly crumbling.

With watery eyes, Sidney quietly asked Jeremy, "Uncle Jeremy, didn't you say grandma's surgery would only take four hours? Why isn't it over yet? Dad looks really pale."

"Yeah, that's what I said. Only if everything went according to plan..." Jeremy cut himself off mid-sentence, almost cursing his foreboding thoughts.

"Sidney, hold tight, buddy." Winnie stood up and walked over to soothe her son. "Surgeries don't run on a strict schedule. Timings can change based on what doctors encounter in the OR. Let's be patient. Look, Dr. Moore hasn't come out with any bad news, which is a good sign."

Her gaze shifted to Lawrence, who stood still as a statue. He caught her glance and realized she was comforting him, too. Her face was soft and kind, stirring a longing within him, a desire to pull her close.

He lowered his eyes, almost hoarsely, and whispered, "Winnie, can I hug you?"

It was almost impossible for her to say no. At that moment, he seemed like a child on the verge of losing his mother, vulnerable and in need. She stepped forward, offering him a tissue, her slender shoulders leaning slightly into his sturdy embrace.

Lawrence wrapped his arms around her tightly, his chin burrowing into her soft, pale neck, his stubble prickling her skin. His masculine presence enveloped her, making her lightheaded.

But the embrace was brief; releasing her, he advised, "Go have a seat. Standing too long can wear you out."

"I'm fine, and try not to worry yourself," Winnie replied, biting back further words.

A slight, visible smile finally curved his lips.

The air hung warm and silent as if heralding a turn toward something beautiful.

The OR light ceased flickering, and the sterile doors swung open slowly.

Every waiting heart paused.

Dr. Moore emerged from the operating room, holding his mask in hand, with a post-surgery Melissa behind him.

A crimson flicker touched Lawrence's deep-set eyes.

Dr. Moore approached him with a hint of joy. "Mr. Rodriguez, Melissa's surgery was a success. Ishara's bone marrow donation encountered no issues and no signs of rejection. We need to wait for her to wake up from the anesthesia; then, you can speak to her."

Lawrence remained silent.

Jeremy, unable to contain his excitement, nudged him. "Mr. Rodriguez, snap out of it. Your mother is going to wake up soon."

"That's fantastic! Melissa is such a good person. Good things do happen to good people." Olivia couldn't help cheering.

"Take my mother to her room," Lawrence said with restrained emotion.

Melissa, still unconscious, was wheeled into the ward.

Lawrence turned and gave Winnie a deep, meaningful look. Winnie, holding her son's hand, smiled back at him.

In that priceless moment, Lawrence's eyes lingered on her abdomen. He wondered if his mother would be happy, knowing Winnie was carrying his child again.

Waking up from surgery brought her the greatest gift she could imagine.

Half an hour later, Melissa began to emerge from the anesthesia with a faint consciousness. She opened her eyes slightly, looking frail and weak.

"Mom." Lawrence stood tall by the bedside, his large hand enveloping hers.

"Oh, it hurts, Lawrence Promise me this is the last time I'll endure such pain. If there's a next one, I won't go through surgery. Just let me go," Melissa complained to her son.

The people in the room looked at the withered figure on the bed and lapsed into silence.

Tears welled up in the corners of Lawrence's eyes, his heart aching. "It won't happen, Mom. You're going to fully recover this time. You have to believe me, and if not me, believe Winnie. She's here. Have you forgotten how skilled she is?"

"Winnie?" Melissa turned her head, anxious. "Is Winnie here to see me again?"

"Melissa." Winnie approached and took her uplifted hand.

Melissa held one hand in each, bringing her son and Winnie's hands together, crying tears of joy. "You're both here with me. I'm so happy."

Lawrence looked at Winnie with warm eyes.

She didn't pull her hand away; she was merely showing respect for her mother.

His gaze dropped.

"Grandma, you're forgetting about me. "You were the one I worried about the most during your surgery." Sidney ran over, interrupting the adults. His lips pouted as he fought back tears.

"There, there, Sidney. I missed you and Oscar, too."

Melissa's newly awakened mind was still foggy. Her longing for Oscar silenced both Winnie and Lawrence.

Lawrence turned away and asked Jeremy coldly, "Is Ishara still in the OR?"

"She just donated bone marrow and should still be unconscious. My people have her under watch in the OR. She isn't going anywhere for now," Jeremy replied.

Lawrence clenched his fists, a cold, dark light flaring in his eyes before he turned and walked out.

"Lawrence!"

Winnie followed him to the doorway, calling out his name.

"You've been on edge; go rest," he said, frowning and gesturing toward the couch in the hospital room.

Winnie shook her head. "No, I have something important to tell you. Please get Dr. Moore to come out, too."

Her expression turned steely. Lawrence's eyes shimmered with a shadowy depth, wondering what she needed to discuss.

Shortly after, Dr. Moore rounded the corner.

Winnie took a deep breath, lifting her eyes to meet his. She pondered over the fact that Melissa's surgery had been a success. Her health was no longer under threat.

Regardless of whether the relationship between Lawrence and Ishara were good or bad.

She no longer had to worry about Melissa's safety. It was time to reveal the truth.

Winnie's lips parted. "Lawrence, Melissa's spinal degradation must have been caused by Ishara."

As her words faded, Lawrence's gaze settled upon her with an intensity that trembled. Dr. Moore, on the other hand, was visibly shocked, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Ms. Winnie, are you saying Ishara staged the entire spinal donation act herself?! How is that possible? Did she meticulously plan it all so her marrow and blood type would miraculously match Melissa's exactly?"

Winnie nodded calmly. "Precisely. If she had foreknowledge of her rare blood type matching Melissa's, this scheme wouldn't be surprising. Lawrence, remember the night Melissa was kidnapped by Darcy? The needle prick left a large puncture in her spine. Did Jeremy tell you about it?"

Lawrence's breath turned icy as he looked at her, silently acknowledging.

Winnie brought up the photo on her phone again, presenting it before them. "I asked Darcy about that night. Melissa disappeared for four hours while in her custody. At the same time Oscar went missing, Melissa vanished.

"Those four hours, she provided Ishara with enough time to inject poison into Melissa's spine. When the kidnappers saw Melissa again, she was bruised all over and incredibly weak.

"By then, the poison had taken effect. When I arrived at the mountainside to rescue her, her pulse was indiscernible. It is likely a dramatic toxin, a chemical agent rapidly altering her spinal genes, causing necrosis and cessation of growth. Her leukemia appeared out of nowhere?"