Chapter 124 Thank You, I Love You
Angelo got a bit excited: "So, Joanna's answer is yes?"
Joanna thought carefully before answering seriously: "I think, deep down, I am willing. I don't dislike you, and your help does make my heart flutter. I'm twenty-seven now—I can tell the difference between gratitude and affection. Angelo, I'm sorry I haven't given you a clear answer until now. If there's anyone who could give me the courage to enter marriage again after getting out of that terrible one, I think that person would be you."
At this point, it was hard to tell who was actually confessing to whom.
All of Angelo's worries melted away. Without asking anything more, he said directly and confidently: "Then starting today, we're boyfriend and girlfriend. Joanna, if you're worried I might become like Chris, you can extend my trial period as your boyfriend as long as you need. When you feel secure enough, then we can talk about marriage."
Neither of them was at an age to date casually anymore. Choosing to be together definitely meant preparing to walk down the aisle.
Joanna was absolutely certain of this. She smiled so widely her eyes curved: "I trust you, Angelo. You won't become like him."
Joanna had actually seen what kind of person Chris was even before they got married.
But Angelo was different.
He would absolutely, absolutely never become someone like Chris.
Angelo was a bit surprised by Joanna's trust in him, but also very happy.
He reached out and ruffled Joanna's hair: "Eat your breakfast quickly. I'll drive you to the hospital for work in a bit."
"Okay!" Joanna quickly lowered her head, a bit shy about making direct eye contact now that they'd confirmed their relationship.
Having just confirmed they were dating, she still felt a sense of unreality.
But thinking about it carefully, Angelo had already seen her embarrassed, awkward, drunk, and nervous—so what was there left to be afraid of?
On the way to the hospital, Joanna got a call from Victor.
"Sorry to bother you at this hour, Miss Jones. I left Austin City last time without saying goodbye. Did you get a chance to ask Dr. Bruce about my visit?"
Joanna was a bit surprised: "I thought you going back home meant you'd given up on treatment, so I didn't ask. If you need me to, I can ask Dr. Bruce now."
"I also thought there was no chance for treatment, but these past few days back home, my father's condition has been really bad. He keeps trying to run outside. He seems to be looking for someone. Today he saw a photo of you all on Luke's phone and suddenly got excited and pointed at it—otherwise I wouldn't have known my father wanted to see you so badly." Victor gave a bitter laugh.
He had no way to deal with Idris's current condition and could only go along with what Idris wanted. After all, at his age, he shouldn't have to die with regrets.
Joanna remembered how Idris used to come to the hospital looking for her when they were in Austin City.
Although she wasn't clear why, she couldn't bear to refuse an old man like that.
"So are you thinking of bringing Idris back to the country for treatment?"
Victor hesitated: "I want to discuss my father's condition with Dr. Bruce first. If he can receive treatment, I'll arrange the procedures to return as soon as possible. So, I'd appreciate it if you could ask Dr. Bruce for me, Miss Jones."
"Okay, I'll call you back in about an hour."
After that, Joanna hung up.
She looked through her contacts for Dr. Bruce and sent over Victor's request.
Remembering that the nursing home was also Angelo's business, she looked up at the man in the driver's seat.
"By the way, Angelo, is the nursing home able to take patients right now? It seems like your private nursing home—there aren't many outside patients."
From the fact that Sandra had been hospitalized for so long without any new patients, Joanna had guessed the nursing home was for Angelo's private use.
And Angelo's answer confirmed this: "It is indeed private. Usually only friends or relatives of elders get recommended to Dr. Bruce. But now you're my girlfriend, so your friends can come here for treatment too—as long as they pay Dr. Bruce's medical fees."
Joanna smiled: "Don't worry, Victor's not short on money. Plus, the research institute we're bringing in new drugs through was actually set up by Victor to save his father. In a way, he's also my mom's lifesaver."
Angelo knew about Victor's background.
After all, Grace General Hospital had recently hosted Victor as part of an observation group visit.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly in a good mood: "Sounds like this is also a way of helping me maintain our partnership?"
Joanna hadn't actually done things like this in a long time.
Hearing this suddenly gave her a strange sense of familiar unfamiliarity.
"Would Angelo hate me doing these things?" Joanna asked.
Angelo thought for a moment, then answered seriously as he parked: "More than whether I like it or not, what I want to know is—do you like doing these things? Joanna, with your abilities, I don't think you need to be anyone's appendage. You think you're helping me maintain partnerships, but I'd rather you turn the connections I have into your own, and use your own methods to reach higher places."
The car entered the darkness of the parking garage, but this darkness made it easier to hear one's inner voice.
Her heart was racing wildly!
Joanna pressed her hand to her chest, then heard that magnetic voice by her ear saying: "You can use me as a chess piece or a stepping stone. I'd be honored to witness you reaching the top, shining brightly."
"Thank you, Angelo!" Joanna's emotions couldn't be expressed by excitement alone.
It was a kind of resonance that seemed to come from her very chest, making her physically and mentally joyful, making her want to fall in love with Angelo in that instant.
In this moment, she was absolutely certain that her decision to be with Angelo was the most correct one!
Angelo was wonderful and deserving of love.
Angelo didn't realize what a huge impact his words had on Joanna. He just joked: "I'm tired of hearing thank yous. From now on, when you want to say thank you, just say 'I love you' instead."
Joanna's face turned bright red, and after the car was parked, she fled as if escaping, even forgetting to say goodbye.
Even after reaching her office, those words Angelo said kept echoing in her ears.
This was something she hadn't experienced with Chris—the feeling of pure, genuine romance.
Her phone kept getting messages, but Joanna didn't dare look, afraid it was Angelo teasing her.
Only after her burning cheeks cooled down did she take out her phone to look.
It turned out to be Dr. Bruce replying: [Miss Jones, I'm very interested in this patient Idris's condition. Please give me Victor's contact information. After we communicate, if it's suitable, I'll accept this patient.]