Chapter 119 A Kidney for Mom
Juniper knew this whole affair had planted a seed in William's mind. She would find a way to claim him entirely.
As for Isabella, she needed to vanish.
But Juniper would not need to lift a finger. Someone else would take care of it for her.
"William, you are here too. I am keeping Isabella company while we wait for the results."
William noticed Isabella was not attacking Juniper the way she usually did, and he felt a flicker of relief. If she dared cause a scene now, he would make her regret it.
He gave a curt nod and looked away.
Juniper's fists clenched at her sides. Ever since William had been led to believe they had slept together, he had not grown closer to her. If anything, he had pulled back.
Even when they were alone, he kept his distance.
Why did he burn so hot for Isabella while treating her like she was made of ice? Was she not attractive enough?
She could not understand what Isabella had that she did not.
The test results came back. Isabella's levels had improved enough. All that suffering this past week had been worth it.
Benjamin took the report and gripped her hand, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Isabella, your mother is going to make it."
Isabella's smile was brighter than his. "Thank God..."
But Benjamin's expression darkened. "This can never get back to your mother. Not ever. She cannot know you were the one who saved her. Given how she feels about you, she would refuse the kidney entirely. She would be furious."
If Benjamin could have found another donor, he never would have come to Isabella.
He knew his wife too well. She would rather die than accept help from Isabella.
If Isla found out Isabella had donated, she might do something drastic.
Isabella's chest tightened. Did her mother really hate her that much? Was she truly that repulsive to her?
"I understand. All that matters is that Mom recovers. Nothing else."
Benjamin sighed. "We owe you more than we can ever repay. The doctor says you need to be admitted today. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow."
Isabella nodded. "Okay. Whatever the doctor says."
Juniper bowed deeply, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "Isabella, thank you for saving Godmother. I will never forget what you have done. I will find a way to repay you."
She spoke as if Isabella were a stranger doing them a favor.
William's jaw tightened at the words. "She is doing what any daughter should do. There is nothing to thank her for."
Isabella did not respond. She did not care what they thought. All she wanted was to save her mother. Everything else was noise.
She was admitted to a hospital room, and the doctor gave her strict instructions: no food from now on, no water after evening. She needed to be ready for surgery in the morning.
She lay quietly in the hospital bed, waiting for tomorrow to come.
William entered the room and watched her lying there so compliant, so eager. The sight irritated him.
"You think this will make her forgive you, do you not? You think she will take you back after this?"
Isabella turned her head to look at him. She could not deny she had had that thought, buried deep. A foolish hope that maybe Isla would soften.
"Do not kid yourself. Isla hates you more than anyone else on this earth. She would rather die than let you save her. So if you breathe a word of this to her, I will destroy you."
William had come to say this privately because he knew Isabella was calculating enough to use this as leverage.
Isabella felt a wave of shame wash over her. He was right. If Isla ever found out, it would break her.
"I will not tell her. I promise."
"You had better not. If this blows up, I will make you wish you had never been born."
Isabella understood perfectly. This secret had to stay buried forever.
The next morning, the moment arrived. Mother and daughter were wheeled into surgery one after the other.
When William's gaze landed on Isabella, something flickered in his eyes. Something he did not recognize. Something that looked almost like worry.
Juniper's teeth ground together. He claimed he was here for Isla, but he was watching Isabella.
She forced her voice into something sweet and reassuring. "William, do not worry. The doctor said the success rate is very high. Isabella is healthy enough now. She will be fine."
William snapped back to himself. "Whether she is fine or not is none of my concern. I am here for Ms. York."
"Still, Isabella is saving Godmother. I am grateful to her. You should stop being so cruel to her."
She hoped he would keep lying to himself. As long as he did not realize he cared about Isabella, she still had a chance.
"As long as she stops going after you, I could not care less what happens to her."
The surgical lights blazed to life. William's palms were damp. He told himself he was only worried about Isla's procedure. Isabella's safety meant nothing to him.
Time dragged on. Benjamin paced outside the operating room, his hands clenched into fists.
The two people on those tables were the most important in his world. He prayed over and over for them both to survive.
Juniper gently touched his arm. "Godfather, Godmother is going to be fine. Isabella too. Try not to worry."
Juniper had been at Isla's side through all of this, keeping her calm and cared for. Benjamin was deeply grateful. "Juniper, I do not know what we would have done without you."
"Godfather, please. I love Godmother too. I just want her to be safe."
Benjamin felt a warmth in his chest. Though his eldest daughter was gone, Juniper had filled some of that emptiness.
Three hours later, the surgical lights finally went dark.
Everyone rushed forward.
The lead surgeon emerged with good news.
"The procedures went perfectly. Both patients are stable. The nurses will bring them out shortly."
Benjamin's knees nearly buckled with relief.
"Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much."
"You are lucky you found a donor in time. Without that, your wife would not have made it."
No amount of skill could save a patient without a viable organ.
The nurses wheeled Isla out first. She was covered in sterile drapes, her face pale but her breathing steady.
Then came Isabella. She looked even paler than Isla, her lips drained of all life, needle marks dotting her thin wrists.
William moved forward almost without thinking, his eyes locked on Isabella's lifeless face. He stopped himself just before his hand reached for the blanket, forcing his arm back to his side.
Juniper hurried to catch up, her voice pitched with perfect concern. "Doctor, Isabella is all right, is she not?"
The doctor nodded. "She lost a significant amount of blood. She will need time to recover. Both patients are past the critical stage. Now it is just a matter of post-operative care."
William arranged for Isla to have the best VIP suite in the hospital. Isabella was placed in a standard room.
That night, when the anesthesia wore off, Isabella woke.
Her first thought was of Isla. Had the surgery worked? She tried to sit up, and the movement sent a bolt of agony through her abdomen. She nearly blacked out.
She needed to know. She reached for her phone, desperate to call Benjamin.
Before she could find it, the door swung open. Juniper stepped inside, her expression grave.
Isabella forgot everything else. "How is Mom? Did the surgery go well?"