Chapter 197
Martin's face grew darker and darker. Gripping her wrist, he sneered, "Mrs. Gonzalez, if you're smart, you'll find a way to wake her up right now! Otherwise, you, your husband, and the entire Gonzalez family will pay a heavy price!"
"Martin!" Aria shouted. He was her son-in-law, yet he spoke to her with such disrespect, not showing an ounce of courtesy.
If he wasn't an ungrateful wretch, what was he?
How could Aria not be furious?
Martin suddenly released her wrist. She fell against the edge of the operating table and nearly collapsed, but Brian caught her just in time.
Aria knew Brian was Martin's man and showed him no kindness either. She shook off Brian's hand, refusing to let him touch her.
"When Victoria wakes up, I'll resume your husband's treatment! Otherwise, you can prepare for the Gonzalez family to hold two funerals at once!" Martin shot Aria a cold look, then turned and walked out of the operating room.
Brian glanced uneasily at Aria and Victoria lying on the operating table. He had no other options.
Getting Aria involved was the only way now.
Though this method seemed ridiculous and unreliable.
But things had reached this point—they had to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless.
Brian followed Martin out of the operating room.
The operating room door closed with a heavy thud.
Aria covered her mouth, her voice trembling as burning tears fell onto Victoria's pale face.
This was her precious daughter, her only baby girl.
For over twenty years, they had carefully protected Victoria, never speaking a harsh word to her. So Victoria was innocent, purer than others her age, unaware of life's hardships and cruelty.
Aria had been raised the same way by her family, like a flower in a greenhouse.
She never thought there was anything wrong with it. She and Hayden never expected Victoria to achieve anything great, because Hayden had already achieved financial freedom.
He already had power and influence.
They had enough money to ensure Victoria would never lack anything in her entire life.
But now Aria regretted it. She regretted spoiling Victoria too much. If someone has no street knowledge, they'll be used by poor boys as a stepping stone.
If Victoria had listened to her back then and married someone from an equally wealthy family, she might not be blissfully happy, but she certainly wouldn't be like this now.
Aria looked at Victoria, who now looked like a corpse. Hayden had become like this, and now Victoria too.
Hot tears fell onto Victoria's body one by one.
Aria took a breath and reached out with trembling fingers to touch her face. Victoria's face had almost no warmth left.
"Victoria, it's Mom, it's Mom. Mom's here to see you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Mom was so worried about your father that I forgot to care about you. I didn't know what you went through to end up like this. Victoria, my good daughter, stop sleeping, wake up, please wake up, okay?"
Aria sobbed, her tone almost pleading, "The Gonzalez family is already like this, and Dad and Mom only had you. You know your father's condition. If you both die, how can Mom go on living? Mom won't be able to live. Your grandparents died early, so Mom only has you and your father as family."
"Baby girl, can you hear Mom talking? Victoria, silly child, why would you do something so foolish? Human life is precious. Once you're dead, you're really dead, you have nothing, no chance to turn things around. Martin said that as long as you wake up, your father's treatment will resume. Terry said your father is recovering well. Once treatment resumes, he'll wake up soon."
"Victoria, did you hear that? Please, wake up."
"Stop sleeping. There's no difficulty we can't overcome. Victoria."
Aria cried her heart out, nearly fainting.
She saw Victoria's fingers trembling slightly.
"Victoria, you heard Mom talking, didn't you? Victoria, Mom knew you could hear! Open your eyes and look at Mom, okay?"
"Let's wait for Dad to wake up together, and we'll be a happy family of three again!"
"Victoria, don't be stubborn anymore. Even though we're facing difficulties, there are still people in this world who love you. Mom loves you so much. Mom and Dad love you more than anyone else in the world. If someone has to die, Mom would rather trade her life for yours."
"Because my Victoria is still young, only twenty-three. It doesn't matter if Mom dies, but Victoria can't die. Victoria, Mom can't hold on much longer. Something happened to you, and Mom is really finished, the Gonzalez family is falling apart too. Do you know? You're Mom's hope. The reason Mom could endure and make it to today is because I still have a precious daughter in this world!"
"Victoria, if you're hearing Mom's words, open your eyes and look at this world. The world is so beautiful, you must not want to leave us either."
Victoria's consciousness became clearer and clearer.
She heard Aria's voice, heard Aria crying.
And she heard Aria saying in her ear that if she woke up, Hayden's treatment would resume.
The Gonzalez family wouldn't collapse.
She couldn't die. She couldn't die so selfishly.
If she died, she wouldn't have to deal with the world anymore, but what about the Gonzalez family? What about Hayden and the others?
The Gonzalez family had become like this because of her. She couldn't be willful anymore.
Aria was right. She still had people she cared about.
She still wanted to see Hayden wake up and say goodbye to him in person.
What kind of ending would it be if she just died like this?
Victoria wanted to open her eyelids, wanted to open her arms and hug Aria, but her eyelids felt like they had lead weights on them, so heavy she couldn't open them.
With great effort, she finally opened her eyes.
She saw Aria holding her and crying in the operating room.
Victoria didn't know why, but when she entered the operating room, she had been determined to walk out alive, yet her mind suddenly became foggy and she uncontrollably fell asleep.
Then she heard Aria crying and calling her name in her sleep.
"Mom." Victoria's throat was very dry and painful. Swallowing felt like swallowing razor blades.
Aria froze, tears still on her eyelashes, forgetting to fall.
Then she pulled Victoria into her arms and cried out loud, "Victoria, my Victoria, my precious daughter, you finally woke up! You scared Mom to death, do you know that? He thought you were dead and was going to send you to the funeral home!"
When Victoria heard the word "he," she frowned. This "he" must refer to Martin. She wasn't even dead yet, and he was going to send her to the funeral home?
Martin, I've disappointed you again. You were excited for nothing. Your wish fell through again.