Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
When he found a doctor, the doctor frowned as he questioned sharply, “Is this really the patient’s request?”
“Yes, my brother loves that girl. He’s truly insistent on donating his bone marrow to her.”
The doctor was moved by Max’s love for Yelena and nodded firmly before replying, “Tell him I’ll do my absolute best. I’ll definitely save her life.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
As the two were talking, Callum suddenly received a phone call from Elspeth.
“Callum, bad news. Yelena’s condition has worsened.”
Elspeth seemed to be extremely anxious about Yelena’s ailing health. He could even overhear Hank’s voice through the phone.
“The whole situation doesn’t look good. The operation will have to be carried out immediately.” The doctor glanced at Callum anxiously. “Before that, we still need to do a bone marrow match to prevent any mishaps.”
Callum didn’t hesitate to agree.
So, they swiftly did the bone marrow test, and it turned out that they were really a match.
Hank was surprised when he found out about the news.
He knew that Max didn’t have long to live, so he couldn’t help but feel awful for the other man.
After Elspeth heard the news, she held Callum’s hand and looked at him sadly. “Is Max really dying?”
“I know you can’t accept this now, but it’s true. I can’t do anything about it.”
If she was upset about this, then she knew without a shred of doubt that Callum was faring far worse at the moment.
This was his younger brother. His family. Someone that had been by his side for decades.
At this point, there was no concealing her utter despair and frustration about this whole matter. Yelena’s illness was already a blow to her. Yet now, Max’s life was also coming to an end. Although to an outsider, Max’s actions were touching; it was still a decision made on his deathbed. So, how could she not feel angered yet utterly sad about this? She didn’t even want to imagine what would happen after this.
Elspeth sat on the bench outside of the operating room as she kept tugging on her hair as though she was silently venting her agitated emotion. Judging from her actions alone, it was apparent that she was visibly distraught.
After more than ten hours, the operation was finally over.
Yelena’s condition had stabilized temporarily, and she was soon transferred to the general ward.
As for Max… he never opened his eyes again.
Callum signed the documents and followed them to take Max’s body to be cremated. Meanwhile, Elspeth and Hank stayed behind as they took care of Yelena.
Yelena woke up 12 hours later after the operation.
When she opened her eyes, Hank was sleeping soundly beside her.
The sun filtered through his fluffy hair and left a soft glow around his face. She couldn’t help but reach out and gently ran her hand through his hair.
Even that slight movement was enough to wake Hank up. He hummed softly and woke up.
“You’re awake?”
Hank should be ecstatic that she woke up, but he wasn’t as excited as she expected.
Yelena looked at him and pouted in disappointment, “Why aren’t you happy that I woke up?”
“You’re overthinking it.” Hank forced a smile and reached out to comb through her hair.
“Did something happen?”
Hank almost blurted the words that were bubbling in his throat, but he immediately swallowed them at the sight of her pale face. Then, he gently soothed her, “Nothing’s wrong. Don’t worry about it.”
Yelena had always trusted him, so she immediately relaxed under his touch. At the same time, she figured that his strange behavior was mainly due to a lack of rest.
“By the way, am I slowly recovering after the operation?”
Hank poured a glass of water and placed it on the side table. When he heard her question, he held Yelena’s hand tightly. “Yes, as long as you rest well and your body doesn’t reject the marrow, you will soon be discharged from the hospital.”
Yelena almost sprung up in her excitement. “Really?”
“Of course. You should rest well and remember to eat regularly. Don’t wear yourself out by worrying. Also, I don’t think I have to warn you away from running about after the operation, right?”
Yelena nodded profusely as she replied, “Of course not. I’ll definitely rest well. It’s just such a happy coincidence that someone donated their bone marrow to me at such a crucial time. Who is it? I want to thank them properly.”
When she brought up this topic, she immediately noticed the change in Hank’s expression. So, she felt confused and asked, “What’s wrong? Did my savior insist on being anonymous?”
“Yeah, they said that they didn’t want any recognition for doing something so minor. They were pretty insistent on staying anonymous,” he said nonchalantly as he forced a lie out of his lips.
There was no way he could only tell her the truth when she was still recovering. So, he could only fib.
She would be devastated if she was told that the person who donated bone marrow was Max and that Max had passed away during the operation.
“Ah, that’s okay then.” Yelena scratched her head. “But I still think I have to thank them.”
This was a bone marrow donation. So, it wasn’t a small matter.
“You don’t have to worry about this. I’ve given them a lot of money so they can live comfortably for the rest of their lives.”
Yelena looked at him answering her question rather solemnly. She smiled, a little embarrassed. “I should be the one doing those things. Why did you do it for me?”
“You’re my girlfriend. So, it doesn’t really matter which one of us thanks them for saving your life.”
Yelena held the man’s hand and smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Hank.”
“You’re welcome. Now, be good and rest well.”
Just then, Elspeth noticed that Yelena had woken up and rushed over. She pushed the door open and tried to calm herself. “Yelena, you’re awake?”
“I am. I feel like I’ve been asleep for a long time. I almost thought I wouldn’t wake up.”
“You’d better stop with such nonsense. You’ll be fine.”
Yelena raised her chin triumphantly. “Of course. I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’m a lucky little star that fell from heaven.”
Her words, ‘lucky little star that fell from heaven,’ made her two friends laugh.
When she saw those two covering their mouths as they laughed, Yelena couldn’t help but stare at them with bewilderment as she furrowed her brows, faking annoyance. “What are you two laughing at? Is there something wrong with what I said?”
“It’s nothing, you lucky little star that fell from heaven.”
Elspeth walked up to her with a fond smile and ruffled her hair. “Since you’re awake, you need to eat. My treat. Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen.”
“I want to eat braised pork ribs, tofu, steamed pork…”
Yelena immediately pounced on the chance as she began listing all her cravings until she was satisfied.
“Need I remind you that you just woke up from surgery? So, you should be having something light.”
Yelena’s eyebrows knitted together as she whined, “But Elspeth, you know I don’t like to eat bland food. I refuse to eat them.”
“Unfortunately for you, you can’t eat those greasy foods. The doctor even specifically said that eating those will affect your recovery.”
Yelena thought about it as she slumped in dejection and nodded. “Okay, then I’ll eat something light.”
Hank figured that was his cue to leave as he rose to his feet and said, “I’ll be leaving her in your care, then. I’ll go out and get her food.”
That was fine. Elspeth wanted to have a private chat with Yelena anyway.
After Hank left, Elspeth sat by the bed as she wracked her brain in order to figure out how to word her sentence. Eventually, Yelena noticed and took the initiative to ask her instead, “Elspeth, what’s wrong? Do you have something to tell me?”
