Chapter 120 Isla Discovers the Truth
Juniper watched Isabella's anxiety spike and felt a dark satisfaction twist inside her. She let out a deliberate sigh and shook her head.
Isabella's heart lurched into her throat.
"What happened to my mother? Did the surgery fail? Tell me what's going on."
The uncertainty was tearing Isabella apart.
Juniper moved to the bedside, an idea crystallizing in her mind—she needed Isla to know that Isabella had donated the kidney.
More than that, she needed Isabella to say it out loud. Isla had to hear it from her own daughter's lips. That would be the killing blow.
She arranged her features into a grave expression and sighed again.
"The surgery was successful, but… the doctor said her body is showing signs of rejection. It's possible that…"
She let the sentence hang deliberately, watching Isabella's panic build.
People made their worst decisions when they were desperate.
"Possible what? Just tell me!"
"The doctor said there could be life-threatening complications. The situation is complex. You should go ask him yourself."
Isabella threw back the covers and forced herself upright, ignoring the pain radiating through her body. She braced herself against the wall and shuffled toward the doctor's office, one agonizing step at a time.
Juniper spun on her heel and hurried back to the VIP room. Isla was awake now, on the phone reassuring friends and family.
Benjamin sat beside her, wearing a smile that had been absent for weeks. After everything they'd been through, Isla's condition had finally stabilized. And the person he was most grateful to was Isabella.
Without her kidney, he would have lost the woman he loved.
"Godfather, I bought so many things for Godmother, but they're too heavy to carry. My car's in the underground garage—could you help me bring them up?"
Juniper had been playing the devoted goddaughter perfectly. Ever since Isla's hospitalization, she'd been running errands constantly, bringing gifts and supplies.
Isla's face softened with affection. "Juniper, you're spoiling me. I'm stuck in this bed—I can't use any of it right now."
"I just want everything ready for when you recover. Godfather, would you mind?"
Isla waved Benjamin toward the door. "Don't just sit there. Go help her."
Benjamin was in good spirits. He stood immediately. "Of course. I'll be right back."
The moment Benjamin left, Juniper poured a glass of water and handed it to Isla.
"Godmother, your color looks so much better. I'm really happy for you."
"I feel better than I have in ages. I owe everything to whoever donated that kidney—they saved my life. I wanted to thank them personally, but the hospital said they requested anonymity. All I could do was have the staff pass along my gratitude."
Juniper's brow creased with manufactured concern. "I walked past the doctor's office just now, and I think I saw the donor. I heard someone asking about your condition, but I couldn't see their face clearly. I'm not even sure it was really them."
Isla's eyes lit up. "The donor is here? Juniper, take me to them. I have to thank them in person."
Juniper shook her head. "Godmother, if they wanted to remain anonymous, maybe you should respect that. Oh—wait, I just realized I forgot to give Godfather my car keys. He's going to get down there for nothing. Stay here, I'll go find him."
She made a show of looking flustered, then grabbed the keys and jogged out before Isla could respond.
She had no intention of bringing Isla anywhere. It would be far more satisfying if Isla discovered the truth on her own.
She knew Isla too well—the woman's curiosity was insatiable. Once she knew the donor was nearby, she wouldn't be able to resist.
Juniper tucked herself around a corner in the hallway and waited. Sure enough, less than two minutes later, Isla emerged from her room, steadying herself against the wall.
Juniper could barely contain her anticipation. She couldn't wait to see Isla's face when she realized the donor was Isabella.
Isla's heart overflowed with gratitude. She'd already decided that when she met this person, she wouldn't just thank them—she'd give them money. A substantial amount.
After all, they'd given up a kidney. That would affect their health for the rest of their life.
She approached the doctor's office and heard voices inside. She reached for the door handle, but froze when she recognized one of the voices.
It sent ice down her spine.
"Doctor, are you absolutely sure my mother is okay? If that kidney doesn't work, I can donate my other one too."
"Ms. Tudor, your devotion to your mother is truly moving. But I assure you, the surgery was a complete success. Your mother's body isn't rejecting the kidney you donated. After a week of recovery, she'll be able to go home."
The words exploded in Isla's mind.
She couldn't process what she was hearing. The donor was Isabella?
The person she despised most in the world—the daughter she hated—had given her a kidney.
Isla's eyes went wide. The hallway tilted sickeningly. She couldn't accept this. It was impossible.
Her chest tightened and she struggled to breathe. She clutched at her heart and coughed up blood. Her weakened body gave out, and she collapsed.
The people inside heard the commotion and rushed out. The doctor took one look at Isla and barked at a nurse, "Get her back to her room. Now."
Isabella emerged slowly from the office. When she saw who had collapsed, every muscle in her body locked.
No. This couldn't be happening.
Why was Isla here? Why now?
She'd heard everything. Every word Isabella had said to the doctor.
This was a nightmare far worse than any horror movie Isabella had ever seen.
Benjamin arrived just as the nurses were helping his wife back to her room. "What happened? I was only gone for a few minutes—how did she collapse?"
The nurse looked uncertain. "She fainted outside the doctor's office. It seems like she overheard something that upset her."
"Overheard something?" Benjamin turned and spotted Isabella at the end of the hallway. Understanding crashed over him.
The doctor arrived to examine Isla. Fortunately, it was just emotional shock—not a medical complication.
Benjamin grabbed the doctor's arm. "What happened? What did you and my daughter talk about that made my wife collapse?"
The doctor's expression was heavy. "Your daughter was worried about her mother's post-surgical condition. She came to ask me about it. She said she'd be willing to donate her other kidney if necessary. Your wife overheard the conversation."
Benjamin's shoulders sagged. This was fate's cruelest joke.
Isabella hadn't done anything wrong. She'd been terrified for her mother. No one had told her the surgery went well, so she'd gone to the doctor herself. She'd even offered her remaining kidney. How could he possibly blame her for that?
The doctor shook his head. "You shouldn't have let her leave her bed. She's extremely agitated. When she wakes up, you'll need to keep her calm."
Benjamin didn't want to imagine the storm that would break when she regained consciousness.
They'd been so careful to hide the truth from her. And now she'd heard it with her own ears.
Juniper returned to the room and took in the scene with wide, innocent eyes. "Godfather, what's going on?"
Benjamin exhaled heavily. "Something terrible just happened."