CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: EMERGENCY ROOM

Ivana Monroe hugged Timmy, fleeing from the old Kane family residence. As she got into the taxi, she kept holding Timmy tightly in her arms. Smelling the unique milky scent that only a little boy could have, she felt as if something lost had been recovered.

"Mommy, I’m sorry." The little boy sensed Ivana’s body trembling slightly as she hugged him, so he bowed his head and took the initiative to admit his mistake.

Ivana’s eyes grew warm, and crystalline tears rolled down her cheeks.

The little boy had always been sensible. When they were abroad, Ivana would take him to her design work, and he would always behave very well, never causing a fuss. When he got bored, he played with toys, and when he got sleepy, he’d nap on the edge of her design table.

He would never run off recklessly.

With such a sensible and well-behaved child, Ivana couldn’t bear to scold him. She gently stroked his soft hair and said, "It’s Mommy’s fault for leaving Timmy alone at home."

When Ivana said this, Timmy felt even worse.

Mommy was always so gentle with him, shouldering anything alone on her frail shoulders.

Timmy wanted to protect Mommy, to prevent her from being bullied, but he was too young and didn’t have the ability to protect her. Thinking of Leon, he ran to ask him for help.

His intent was to help Mommy, but he didn’t expect to end up worrying her instead.

"Mommy, I won’t run off ever again." A thought he added silently: never worry Mommy again.

Before Ivana could respond, the driver in the front seat spoke.

"Ma’am, you’re really fortunate to have raised such a sensible son," the driver said enviously.

Ivana returned home with Timmy Monroe. After charging her phone for a little while, a familiar landline number called in.

It was the landline number from Grandpa’s old residence.

Ivana unplugged the charging cable from her phone and answered the call. It was from Butler Chaucer by Grandpa’s side.

"Miss, the Master suddenly fainted and is now in the hospital emergency room. Please come to Riverbend Hospital urgently."

Butler Chaucer’s voice was anxious over the phone.

Ivana’s hand trembled and she couldn’t hold the phone steady; it slipped from her palm and fell to the ground, shattering the screen.

"Mommy, what’s wrong?"

Timmy Monroe saw Ivana stunned, still holding the phone. Her whole hand was trembling incessantly. He ran to her side, bending down to pick up the phone from the ground.

Ivana hugged him tightly and said in a shaky voice, "Go to the hospital with Mommy, to see your great-grandfather."

Timmy nodded obediently, not asking more questions, and followed Ivana out.

Riverbend Hospital.

Ivana rushed to the emergency room, finding the area outside packed with people. Her father Caleb Monroe’s family was there, as well as the family of the second uncle. Even Ivana’s two aunts were there, standing near the door with reddened eyes, weeping.

"Miss, you finally made it; hurry in and see the Master!"

Butler Chaucer looked somewhat off, a sight that made Ivana’s heart sink. Holding Timmy’s small hand, she trembled slightly. Her legs felt unbearably heavy as she used all her strength to cover the short distance into the emergency room.

"Butler Chaucer, what do you mean? Isn’t the Master being rescued? Why can she go in? Why can’t we?" Adelaide Monroe, wife of the second uncle Julian Monroe and Ivana’s second aunt, reacted most strongly on hearing Butler Chaucer’s words.

She pulled Miles Monroe over, pushing him towards Butler Chaucer: "If you’re not letting us in, fine, but you must let Lucas in. He’s the Master’s only grandson."

"Sorry, Madam, I cannot fulfill your request. The Master only instructed me to bring Miss inside," Butler Chaucer coldly refused.

Ivana dazedly walked toward the emergency room door, which was opened wide enough for only one person. She heard Adelaide’s clamor but couldn’t muster the energy to pay attention to what she was specifically complaining about.

Holding Timmy’s hand, Ivana entered the emergency room. The door slowly closed as she saw Gavin Monroe lying on the emergency bed with an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth. Her eyes instantly turned red, and tears streamed out silently.

"Doctor, my grandfather..."

With blurred vision from tears, Ivana looked at several doctors in white coats, urgently wanting to know how her grandfather’s condition was.

Having asked, she feared what the doctor might say that would be unbearable to hear.

A middle-aged doctor approached her, speaking softly, "Hello, Ms. Monroe, I’m Dr. Hale, your grandfather’s lead surgeon."

"Try persuading the old gentleman. The lung tumor needs to be surgically removed for there to be a chance of recovery. He refuses to undergo surgery, choosing to believe in traditional Chinese medicine practitioners instead. If this continues, he might not hold on for much longer."

Lung tumor?

Ivana urgently questioned the lead surgeon, "Are you saying there’s a chance of recovery for my grandfather? So his lung tumor... is benign?"

The lead surgeon nodded, then raised another concern to Ivana, "Even though it’s benign, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. As his younger family members, you ought to pay more attention to the Master’s health rather than angering him to the point of fainting. Sigh..."

"Ivana..." The old gentleman’s fragile voice came through.

The lead surgeon stepped aside and repeated his advice to Ivana again, urging her to counsel the old gentleman.

"Grandpa, Ivana is here." Ivana knelt half-squatting in front of the grandfather’s emergency bed, reaching out to hold his skeletal hand. She sniffled, forcing a smile on her face: "Grandpa, look who I’ve brought to see you?"

"Hello, Great-Grandfather, my name is Timmy, Mommy’s good son," the boy’s tender voice was clear, his handsome little face radiating like a small sun in the sky.

Gavin looked at the innocent little boy and a gentle smile spread across his face: "Tim...Timmy..."

Gavin’s finger twitched, trying to lift it towards the little boy, but because his body was too weak, he could only lift it halfway before it started shaking vigorously.

Seeing this, Ivana held Timmy in her arms, gently placing Gavin’s frail finger on Timmy’s youthful face.

The little boy giggled, "Great-Grandfather, you’ve got to get better soon! Timmy likes you a lot; Timmy wants Great-Grandfather to get better so we can play together."

Touched, Gavin smiled through tears welling up at the corners of his eyes. The child was just like Ivana when she was young: so understanding and always saying such thoughtful things.

Gavin, moved by Timmy, wanted more time to spend with this child.

"Alright, Great-Grandfather promises you."

Gavin rested his hand again, gazing lovingly at Ivana, expressing some guilt, "Ivana, your father fiercely protects those two women. Grandfather isn’t capable of much, but I did manage to secure fifty percent of the shares in your mother’s company for you."

Hearing this from Gavin, the tears Ivana had just managed to hold back began to flow uncontrollably again. She shook her head, saying, "Grandpa, don’t say that. None of that’s important. Ivana just wants you to get better soon. As long as you recover, Ivana doesn’t need anything else."