Page 96 of Surrendering to the Obsession

She frowned slightly, her confusion mixing with disappointment.

Her thoughts broke when Victor lightly patted her shoulder and slipped his arm around her in a comforting half-hug.

“Don’t worry about your mother,” he told her softly. “We’re here for you, okay? Everything is going to be alright, Janet. You look so tense and worried. You need to stay strong.”

Christie leaned forward and caressed Janet’s arm assuringly again and again, her voice protective and gentle.

“Don’t worry. I’m here too. Your mom will be alright. Everything is going to be okay. Don’t stress yourself so much.”

Janet nodded, but she barely heard their words. Her mind was too distracted and heavy. She sat quietly in the waiting room with Victor and Christie, all three of them glancing at the operation theatre again and again with worry and hope.

A few hours later, the red light above the operation theatre finally turned green, and a doctor stepped out.

All three immediately shot up from their seats and rushed toward him.

The doctor looked at them and sighed.

“This heart attack was a big one… but Mrs. Goodwin is stable now.”

Janet’s face brightened for a moment, relief flashing through her eyes. But the doctor continued speaking.

“Her condition is still very critical,” he said gravely. “We need to put a pacemaker in your mother’s heart. It’s a major procedure. Her heart is extremely fragile—she has had arrhythmia for quite a long time. You should take her to a bigger hospital for this surgery. And you need to get the pacemaker implanted as soon as possible otherwise, she may not survive much longer.”

Janet froze. Shock spread across her face. Her body trembled and her knees weakened as if they were about to give out. She almost fell.

But Victor and Christie both caught her at the same time, gripping her arms tightly and helping her stand.

“Don’t worry,” Victor said in a reassuring, quiet voice. “I’m with you. I will take care of you and your mom. You don’t need to be afraid.”

Christie nodded firmly, her hand rubbing Janet’s back.

“Yes. We’ll help with her treatment. We’ll make sure your mom gets home safely with you. Don’t worry, Janet. You’re not alone.”

Victor immediately leaned closer, his voice firm but gentle.

“No matter how much money it takes, we’ll figure it out. Your mom is going to be alright. But if you get weak and fall sick yourself, then your mother will worry about you even more.”

Christie held Janet’s hand. “I have some money saved from my job. I’ve worked hard all these years. I will help you with that. I’ll also ask my family for the savings we kept aside.”

But Janet’s hands trembled uncontrollably. Her voice cracked as she whispered,

“No… it’s not going to be enough. The operation is very difficult. We need to go to a bigger hospital, and that’s going to cost a lot. Thousands and thousands…”

She swallowed hard.

“Just like last time… it’s going to take so much money. People like us can’t just come up with that much.”

Christie and Victor exchanged a worried glance. Christie gently guided Janet back toward the chairs.

“Sit for a moment… your face is so white,” she whispered, helping her down. “Everything is going to be alright, Janet. Just breathe.”

But Janet couldn’t hear anything anymore. Her mind kept racing. ‘Even after leaving my job and ending that contract... is itreally possible that I have to sign it again? Do I have to sacrifice my life all over again for my mom’s medical expenses? Do I have to stay beside Alexander my entire life in exchange for money?’

Her chest tightened painfully.

‘I already spent so many years beside him at parties, in public, everywhere… because I needed the money back then. I signed his contract once. Do I really have to do it again?’

The thoughts spun faster and faster in her mind.