Chapter 189 Regrets and Obsessions

Chapter 189 Regrets and Obsessions

Joanna said softly, "I'm sorry, teacher. I never thought that one impulsive decision three years ago would mean I'd never get another chance to discuss medicine with you. I don't dare hope for your forgiveness. All these years I've been avoiding contact with you, afraid you resented me. But you're not well—why didn't you have someone tell me?"

Her voice choked up, and her composure crumbled in an instant.

At this moment, she felt both regret and relief.

Relief that she had chosen to come see him instead of continuing to hide.

Making her teacher wait all this time to see her—that was the most inexcusable thing a student could do.

She had failed him!

Mr. Suss seemed to recognize Joanna's voice. He actually lifted his hand slightly, his voice a bit hoarse, "Joanna, Joanna, very good."

After saying this, he began coughing violently. Mr. Suss's son quickly poured him a glass of water.

After drinking the water, Mr. Suss's condition improved a bit.

He slowly turned his head to look at Joanna, reaching out to touch her features, forcing out a smile, "You haven't let me down. You're still working in the medical field, and that's enough."

Tears fell from Joanna's eyes, landing on Mr. Suss's thin, aged hand.

She actually knew that her teacher, like Linda and Lucas, wouldn't resent her. But it was precisely because she knew this that her guilt felt even heavier, and she could never bring herself to face them.

Now that they had finally met, Joanna didn't want to talk about sad things with her teacher.

She wiped away her tears and calmed her emotions, then spoke in a quiet but hopeful tone about new drug research and discoveries, and how these new drugs had been applied to many surgeries. Some conditions that couldn't be treated before now had bold new treatment options.

She was seeing more and more patients now, gaining more and more surgical experience, and could already lead highly demanding surgeries on her own.

She had the ability to save more people now.

Hearing about his student's achievements, Suss nodded with satisfaction, "You've always been my pride. You're my most outstanding student. In the future... please don't give up this career."

Joanna nodded and made a vow at her teacher's bedside, "Don't worry, teacher. I'll never be like I was three years ago, giving up what I believe in over something trivial. I love medicine, and I'll pass on the knowledge and principles you taught me."

"Good, good!"

Suss coughed for a long time, somewhat agitated.

He didn't have the energy to talk with Joanna anymore, so after saying this, he slowly closed his eyes.

Joanna stepped aside for the doctor who had been standing by.

After some tense treatment, the doctor breathed a sigh of relief.

"We shouldn't have too many people crowding around here. Give Mr. Suss enough space to rest."

Mr. Suss's son immediately stepped forward and ushered everyone out.

He personally led Joanna to a room in the estate.

"Ms. Jones, many years ago, we met once at my father's birthday celebration. You've come all this way, which must have been tiring. There's no need to book a hotel—why don't you stay here at the house?"

Joanna shook her head, her expression somewhat sad, "I've already checked into a hotel. Before I came, I didn't realize my teacher's condition would be this serious."

At this, Mr. Suss's son sighed helplessly, "Actually, before the last conference he hosted, father's illness was already quite serious. But he said he was waiting for someone to appear at the conference. He didn't see that person, and after the conference ended, his mood stayed very low."

"Was he waiting for me?" Though phrased as a question, Joanna already knew the answer in her heart.

Mr. Suss's son neither confirmed nor denied it, which only deepened Joanna's guilt.

"At the time, I didn't dare face my teacher, and I was dealing with some issues, so I avoided it. I never thought it would make his condition worse. I'm truly terrible."

Mr. Suss's son shook his head and comforted her, "Father's illness didn't come on suddenly. This isn't Ms. Jones's fault. It's just unfortunate that you and he haven't seen each other since three years ago, and this became an obsession for him. Although he got to see you today, the regret of these three years hasn't been made up for. Even if he were to pass away now, his heart would probably still feel empty."

"What else can I do?" Joanna asked earnestly.

She knew Mr. Suss didn't have much time left.

So in this limited time, what could she do to make up for these three years of regret? That was the most important thing right now.

Mr. Suss's son was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Perhaps what my father wants to see with his own eyes is you standing on an award stage. If Dr. J hadn't left the medical field three years ago, with your talent and ability, you would surely have already received the highest honors and awards."

Every medical student's greatest desire is to receive lifetime honors, but that's not something easily achieved.

Joanna looked troubled, "But winning awards in the medical field is very difficult. You have to make major contributions. There's too little time now—I can't prepare. It might take another seven or eight years of working in this field before I could win an award. I can work hard for my teacher's sake, but can he really wait that long?"

"He can't." Mr. Suss's son shook his head.

They both knew the answer, but as Mr. Suss's son and student, they couldn't bear to let him leave with regrets.

Joanna lowered her head in frustration, feeling even more guilty about why she had given up her career three years ago because of a man.

Three years as a full-time housewife had cost her so many precious things.

She couldn't leave her teacher with any more regrets.

Joanna bit her lip, making up her mind.

She suggested to Mr. Suss's son, "Maybe we could hold an award ceremony just for Mr. Suss."

Mr. Suss's son looked surprised, "My father spent most of his life in the medical field. Are we going to lie to him? But with his experience, he'd see through it easily. That might hurt him even more."

"We're not lying to him—we're just helping him fulfill a dream. Sometimes a white lie isn't really a lie. Even if he knows we're deceiving him, he'll still feel satisfied because of it." Joanna shook her head and explained earnestly.

Mr. Suss's son hesitated, unable to decide quickly. After thinking it over, he said, "Let me think about it, Ms. Jones. This might take up some of your time—you might need to stay in Valeria for a while."

Joanna shook her head, "That's fine. My mother also came here recently to rest and recover. I can spend time with her too."

Hearing this, Mr. Suss's son felt relieved, "In that case, I won't keep you any longer, Ms. Jones. It's getting late today—you should go back and rest. Over the next few days, I'll probably need you to come to the estate often to keep my father company."

Joanna nodded, "I also hope I can spend his final days with him and make up for some of his regrets."