The Terrible Pain

Joe walked back and forth in front of Briana's room. The doctor who examined Briana had been in there for almost an hour. The doctor didn't come out and managed to make him feel anxious.

Then he saw the door in front of him open. The doctor, a man of considerable age and graying hair, walked out with shaky steps. He had a sad look in his eyes as he looked at Joe.

"How is Briana, Doc?"

The doctor shook his head resignedly. "I seem to have found something wrong with her heart. It has a slight problem and is not working properly," the doctor explained.

"All this time she seems fine. No problems with her heart," Joe replied.

"Maybe he's trying to endure the pain so that others think he's okay." The doctor continued. "You'd better take him to the hospital immediately for further treatment. There he will undergo a series of tests. That way we will know the cause of his heart problem." The doctor excused himself and left Joe's house.

After the doctor left, Joe didn't see Briana right away. He decided to calm down in his own room. Right now he needed time to think about making a decision regarding Briana's current condition.

***

"I need to take Briana to the hospital," Joe told Antonio an hour later.

"Isn't that too dangerous?" asked Antonio. "I'm afraid this opportunity is being used by Chris to take Briana away."

"Can you explain what you really mean?" asked Joe curiously.

"While in the hospital Briana needs close supervision. I'm worried that the hospital won't cooperate and allow any number of bodyguards to stand guard in front of Briana's room," explained Antonio.

Joe pondered for a while. Everything Antonio said was true. But, on the one hand, he was also thinking about Briana's health. He couldn't let Briana endure the pain because of her heart problem.

"I'll still take Briana to the hospital," Joe decided. "Later I'll contact one of the authorities at the hospital. I'll get his approval so that we can have some bodyguards posted in Briana's room."

"Okay, boss. Then I'll tell my friends about it," Antonio replied.

"Thank you. Now I want to see Briana." Joe turned around and walked with long strides towards Briana's room.

***

"How are you?" asked Joe once he was in Briana's room. Briana's face looked deathly pale. Her lips were turning blue.

"I'm doing much better than before," Briana replied shortly. "But I still have pain in my chest." Briana winced, fighting back the pain.

"I'm taking you to the hospital soon. You'll have to do a series of tests to find out the cause of your illness," Joe told Briana.

Beads of moisture began to run down both of Briana's cheeks. From Joe's words, she seemed to get a hint that she was not doing well. Her illness was probably very severe judging by the look on Joe's face that was very worried about her.

"Will you tell me my real illness?" pleaded Briana in a sad voice.

Joe took a deep breath. It felt very heavy to tell Briana about Briana's heart condition now. Briana must feel sad after knowing her true health condition.

"There's a problem with your heart. But the doctor doesn't know the cause of your illness yet," Joe said after a moment of silence.

Briana's mouth opened wide after hearing Joe's explanation. She immediately closed her open mouth. This made her tears flow even harder. She was stunned and her body shook violently. Now she felt she was being hit with a very large and very painful stone.

After that Joe went back into his room. He glanced briefly at Briana, making sure she ate the food he had given her earlier. From behind the door, he saw Briana really enjoying her food.

Feeling that she was being watched, Briat turned her head. Unexpectedly, her eyes met the eyes of Joe who was staring straight at her. Joe had no intention of avoiding Briana's gaze. Without blinking, Joe seemed to be preparing to pounce on Briana's fragile body.

Suddenly Briana felt her chest ache. The bad memories came back. Did Joe still remember what he had done to his father? It was unlikely that Joe had forgotten about it. Then, why did Joe pretend as if nothing had happened between the two of them?

"But you don't need to worry. The doctor has promised to cure your illness," Joe assured Diana Briana. "He will try to make sure you get well and don't get sick again."

Briana flashed a faint smile. She was trying to look strong. Even though she was currently sick, she didn't want to make other people worry about her. Including Joe himself.

"Thank you for always being by my side. I don't know what would have happened if I didn't have you by my side," Briana said as she bowed her head. She didn't dare to look at Joe directly.

Joe approached Briana. He pulled Briana's body into his arms. He slowly patted Briana's back.

"You don't have to worry I will always be by your side until you are completely healed and no longer sick," Joe said trying to strengthen Briana's heart.

Briana did not reply to Joe's words. She hugged Joe tightly. Right now she could only rely on Joe because she had no one in this world.

***

The next day. Joe took Briana to see a doctor at the hospital. The doctor told Briana to take a medical test. With the help of two nurses Briana went to a special room. She had a scan done on her body. Not only that. The officer also took her blood.

"I'm sure you'll be fine after this," Joe said soothingly while squeezing Briana's sweat-soaked hand.

Briana only smiled slightly. Then she leaned her head on Joe's shoulder. While waiting for the results of the examination she tried to close her eyes. Her eyes felt heavy to open.

I don't know how long Briana fell asleep. Suddenly she felt someone gently pat her cheek. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, then she managed to open her eyes wide.

"The doctor is calling us to come into his room," Joe whispered softly in Briana's ear.

Briana nodded. She quickly stood up and grabbed Joe's hand for support. Jo took her hand, working her way into the doctor's room.

"I've read the test results. From the examination I learned that your heart was damaged by the cyanide poison," I told them both.

Briana's eyes immediately widened. She never expected her heart to be damaged after she drank the cyanide poison that time. She thought she was fine after that. Turns out she was wrong.

"I advise you to have surgery immediately," the doctor continued. "Before it's too late and it gets worse."

Briana turned to Joe. Her eyes were full of fear. She grasped Joe's hand for strength.

"Take it easy. As the doctor suggested, you'd better do the operation as soon as possible," Joe decided.

***

John dashed into Chris' room. His breath caught in his throat as he arrived in front of Kris. His mouth opened and then closed again. It was as if he was having trouble speaking.

"I've got something to tell you, Boss," John said after gaining control of himself.

"Say it quickly!"

"Briana is currently in the hospital. Maybe this is our chance to get her out of there."

Chris grinned. Then he burst out laughing. Time was finally on his side. Now was the time for revenge.