Chapter 104
My heart suddenly sank, and an ominous feeling crept over me like creeping vines.
"I want a promise from you." His deep voice was low and firm, leaving no room for argument. "Stay by my side and continue being Mrs. Smith."
I looked up and met his unfathomable gaze. The emotions churning in his eyes both startled and infuriated me—it all seemed utterly ridiculous.
"James." I heard my own voice trembling, whether from anger or disbelief, I couldn't tell. "Have you lost your mind? Or do you find it amusing to toy with me like this?"
He clearly didn't like me, yet he insisted on forcing me to stay by his side.
We couldn't stand each other—what did he gain from this?
"I'm not crazy." He reached out, as if to touch my cheek, but I turned my head away.
His hand hung in mid-air, slowly curling into a fist before withdrawing.
James's voice dropped, carrying a hint of confusion I'd never heard before. "Sophia, I've told you more than once—I don't want a divorce."
"But I do!" I practically growled, all the pent-up frustration from recent days, the disgust from what I'd just witnessed, and the anger at his absurd demand erupting all at once.
"James, we're done! It's been over between us for a long time!"
James's brow furrowed tightly, anger creeping into his tone. "We're not done. As long as I say it's not over, it won't be over."
"James, I'm not your dog who only obeys your commands. I'm a person with my own thoughts."
James stared at me intently, his chest heaving, those usually calm and composed eyes now churning with raging fury.
The office fell deathly silent, filled only with our heavy breathing.
After a long moment, James looked away first and walked to the window, turning his back to me.
"Except for this promise, I don't want anything else."
So, if I didn't agree, he wouldn't ask Conrad to save Eleanor.
"You're threatening me?" I trembled with anger, digging my nails deep into my palms to barely suppress my rage.
"Think whatever you want." He turned around, his face returning to its usual coldness.
He was absolutely threatening me!
I didn't want to agree, but Eleanor's pale face and Sidney's desperate, bloodshot eyes kept flashing before me.
This was a living, breathing human life.
And I could save Eleanor—could I really just stand by and do nothing?
I bit my lower lip hard until I tasted the metallic tang of blood.
That taste brought clarity and deepened my hatred for James.
"Fine." I heard my own voice, terrifyingly calm. "I agree."
A spark suddenly lit up in James's eyes, softening his hard features for just a moment.
"But." I continued before he could speak, each word like it had been pulled from an ice cellar. "I have one condition."
"I need to evaluate you for three months. During this time, you can't be too intimate with Amelia, you can't see Amelia or Isabella, and you can't help them."
"No matter what happens, you must trust me unconditionally and take my side."
"Can you do that?"
James frowned. "Three months is too long."
"Three months exactly." I was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. "Not a day, not an hour, not even a second less will do."
"I don't believe you're the only person who can get him to help."
We stared at each other across the few steps between us, like two gamblers facing off at a cliff's edge, neither willing to back down first.
The air filled with silent tension.
Finally, James gave in.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they held only unfathomable darkness.
"Deal."
In the end, I willingly walked into the web he'd carefully woven for me.
James walked over and hugged me. "Sophia, I'll treat you well."
I showed no expression.
If you could trust a man's words, pigs could fly.
"When can I meet Conrad?"
James smiled. "You're so practical."
I snorted coldly. "If it weren't for Conrad, do you think I'd waste my breath talking to you here?"
James's face turned cold. "Get out!"
I couldn't have been happier to leave.
I turned to go, and at the door, deliberately added, "Remember to arrange the meeting soon."
"Just go already!"
I opened the door and came face-to-face with Amelia.
"Sophia..."
I glanced at her without a word and left.
Conrad arrived faster than I'd expected.
He showed up at the hospital where Eleanor was staying with his medical team.
Consultation, examination, and determining the surgical plan—everything proceeded very smoothly.
Conrad was a very young man.
After reviewing all of Eleanor's medical records and test results, and personally conducting several key examinations, he said only one thing to us.
"The surgery can be done. I can't guarantee one hundred percent success, but I'd say there's a ninety percent chance."
"Think it over, then sign. We'll prepare once you decide."
Sidney, eyes red, bowed deeply to Conrad, then turned to me, lips trembling, unable to form a complete sentence.
"I, I... Doctor, thank you..."
"Sophia, I..."
"Save the thanks. If you're not tired of saying it, I'm tired of hearing it."
Sidney swallowed his words.
"Just think carefully about whether to do the surgery."
"Yes, we must do it!"
Conrad had someone bring the surgical consent form. "Sign here."
Without hesitation, Sidney signed his name.
The surgery was scheduled for Friday morning at eight o'clock.
Thursday night, Sidney stayed awake all night, keeping watch outside Eleanor's hospital room.
I stayed with him until midnight before going home to sleep.
On the day of surgery, Sidney sat on the bench, back ramrod straight, hands clasped tightly on his knees, eyes fixed unblinkingly on the operating room.
"Go sleep for a bit." I handed him a cup of hot coffee. "The surgery will take a long time. If you don't rest, how will you take care of your sister when she comes out?"
Sidney's fingertips were ice-cold as he took the coffee.
He shook his head, his voice hoarse. "Can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I have nightmares."
I sat down beside him. "Conrad is excellent, and he said there's a ninety percent chance of success. You need to trust him."
Sidney nodded vigorously.
Time seemed to drag on endlessly.
A nurse came out once during the procedure to inform them that the surgery was ongoing, the situation was complex but under control, and asked them to wait patiently.
Sidney's face went white as paper, but he just nodded mechanically.
After three in the afternoon, more than seven hours since the surgery began.
Sidney finally couldn't hold on—his body swayed.
I quickly caught him and pressed him back onto the bench.
"You look terrible. Go lie down for a bit. I'll watch here."
"No, I'll stay here. I need to see with my own eyes that she comes out safely." Cold sweat had already broken out on his forehead, but he stubbornly insisted on waiting here.