Chapter 11

After Bradley left the ward, he instructed the doctor, "Conduct a comprehensive check on Esther tomorrow. Nothing can go wrong during Felix's surgery." "Yes, Mr. Warner." Esther's legs gave way, and she slid to the floor after Bradley's departure. With difficulty, she climbed back onto the bed and reached for her phone to read about acute leukemia. Each case terrified her, and she read with a pounding heart. She had undergone the first check at the hospital tonight, and the results would be available tomorrow. Only then could she proceed with the second detailed check. If the second one turned out well, she could donate her bone marrow to Tinkerbell. Esther studied the information, memorizing everything she found about leukemia, including aftercare. As she read, she gradually fell asleep. Bradley returned to Felix's ward, where the boy and Liliane were drawing with oil pastels. "Daddy," Felix greeted him crisply. Remembering that Felix had helped Esther deceive the bodyguard, Bradley's expression darkened. "Who allowed you to see her?" he asked. Felix was frightened by Bradley's anger and stiffened, not daring to speak. Liliane quickly stood in front of Felix and explained, "Brad, don't blame Felix. Maybe he overheard me talking to the nurses. You know how kind-hearted he is..." Bradley sat before Felix and asked gently, "Felix, how did you know they're at Sunflower Welfare?" "I took him there for charity before," Liliane sobbed, her eyes red. "After Felix was diagnosed, I wanted to do more charity work, so I took him to the welfare home a few times. He probably met them during those visits." Felix looked up. "Daddy, is the pretty lady really Pixie and Tinkerbell's mommy?" Bradley stroked his son's hair and replied softly, "Yes." Felix's eyes, identical to Bradley's, crinkled when he smiled. "That's great. Pixie and Tinkerbell have their own mommy, too..." Liliane's heart sank as she observed the happy boy. Was this what they meant by a bond through blood? How could Felix feel so close to Esther and her daughters? It seemed that becoming Mrs. Warner needed to be expedited; the longer it took, the more complications arose! "Felix, do you like the pretty lady who's donating her bone marrow to you?" Liliane forced a friendly smile, but inwardly, she cursed him for being ungrateful. She had taken care of him for over four years, yet he liked Esther the first time he saw her. Felix gleefully answered, "Yes! But I love Mommy the most in this world." Liliane felt slightly reassured as she pinched Felix's cheek and said enviously, "I thought I was raising an ungrateful brat..." Felix furrowed his brows and asked Bradley in confusion, "Daddy, what's an ungrateful brat?" Bradley shot Liliane a warning look, and her heart clenched. She almost revealed her true thoughts! Quickly changing the subject, Liliane asked, "Felix, what are you drawing?" Felix approached Bradley and explained his drawing earnestly. "This is Daddy, this is Mommy, this is me, and this is my little sister..." As Felix spoke, a drop of blood fell from his nose, landing on the drawing paper. Liliane exclaimed, "Felix is bleeding!" Bradley grabbed some tissue to wipe Felix's nose, but the bleeding wouldn't stop. Liliane pressed the emergency bell, and the doctor and nurses rushed in. "Mr. Warner, please step aside." Felix was taken away for immediate care. Looking at the lost Liliane, Bradley hoarsely said, "Stay here." "Brad, I'm scared..." Liliane panicked and turned pale. Bradley gave her a long look before heading to Esther's ward and forcefully kicking the door open. "Who is it?" Esther was startled from her sleep. Ignoring her question, Bradley dragged her out of bed. "Bradley, what's wrong?" Esther asked anxiously. "What happened?" Bradley didn't answer but took her to see the doctor. "Run the second test on her immediately and schedule the surgery as soon as the results are out." Bradley had wanted to give Esther a week of rest, but seeing Felix's critical condition, he couldn't wait. He hoped his son would recover, even if it meant sacrificing Esther's life. The doctor followed his orders and conducted the second, more comprehensive test on Esther. She lay still like a puppet while the doctor and nurses performed various tests. After the examinations, she was sent back to her room. The nurse told her softly, "If the second test is a match, the surgery will start immediately. You can't eat or drink for the time being." Esther bit her lip and nodded. "I understand." The nurse then explained some precautions to Esther, which she took note of. Felix's emergency care concluded, and the exhausted doctor approached Bradley and Liliane. "Mr. Warner, Ms. Anstey, Mr. Felix's condition has suddenly worsened. If there's no compatible bone marrow for the transplant, he'll..." The doctor didn't finish, but Liliane understood what he meant. She looked at Bradley in despair. "Brad, what do we do about Felix!?" Though weighed down by worry, Bradley managed to console Liliane. "Don't worry. I've already requested the second round of tests for Esther. Once the results match, the surgery can begin anytime." Fretfully, Liliane asked, "But what if... What if they aren't compatible?" "No 'what if'!" Bradley's gaze turned dark and icy. "Esther's bone marrow will definitely be a match." Liliane tearfully looked at Felix in the ward. She believed it was only natural for Esther's bone marrow to be a match—after all, she was Felix's birth mother! However, Liliane would never let Esther donate her bone marrow to Felix. A glint of malice flickered in Liliane's eyes. 'Esther, oh Esther. Let's see what you'll do when your son and daughter need your bone marrow simultaneously.'