He said to my husband, “What? Are you bullying an orphan and a widow?”
I recognized him, it was Simon Callahan.
He had been a close friend of my father for decades and had been a senior executive in my father's company.
Simon placed the nutritional supplements at the head of my bed, looked at me, his eyes red with discomfort and then closed the door of the ward.
My husband did not go to see Simon. He cleared his throat and said to me, “Deanna has something important to tell you.”
Deanna took out an exquisite handbag and pulled out a stack of documents from it.
She handed the document to me with a cautious expression and said softly, “Althea, I hope you won’t take this the wrong way.
“I’ve read about situations like this online—people donate their marrow to help someone, only to be abandoned when they fall ill themselves.
“To avoid any misunderstandings and to give us both peace of mind, could you sign an agreement? It would state that if I need another marrow donation in the future, you’ll continue to help me.”
My mother was so angry that she started coughing violently.
Simon could not stand it anymore, so he pushed my husband and told him to get out.
But I smiled and said, “It's okay, I 'll sign. I'm doing this voluntarily.”
Simon froze there.
My mother shed tears of despair and cursed, “If I died with your father, I would not be so sad now.”
Hearing this, my heart sank.
But I still wrote down my name firmly: Althea.
My husband's face lit up and he took out another document before saying, “Althea, you definitely do not have the energy to take care of the company during this period. How about this, let me be in charge of the company's affairs.”
Simon reached out and pressed the document firmly on the table.
His chest heaved violently and he said to me angrily, “Althea, I came here today specifically to talk to you about this matter.
“This guy has been transferring the company's assets recently. The business your father left behind is almost being emptied out by him.
“If you sign this document, the company will probably be left with nothing. It means he wants to wipe out the whole family.”
I smiled and shook my head, then took the document and said, “Simon, you misunderstood my husband.
“I love him and he loves me, so how could he hurt me? Is it not the same whether the inheritance is in his hand or in mine?”
I wrote my name lightly.
Simon squatted on the ground and cried aggrievedly, “Mr. Pollard, I'm sorry. I did not help you protect the family business.”
After my husband got the documents, he immediately opened the door and walked out.
In the cold breeze, I heard him say to the doctor, “Start the operation immediately.”
The doctor said softly, “But Miss Pollard's body is still a little…."
The husband grabbed her by the collar, “I said, do the surgery right away! If she dies, it's my fault, do you understand?”
I went through the surgery in a coma.
After returning to the ward, I never saw my husband again.
Half a month later, I was able to be discharged from the hospital. While my mother was helping me with the discharge procedures, I sneaked back home.
When I walked into the house, I was stunned.
My husband was holding Deanna and sitting on the sofa watching TV.
When my husband saw me come in, he frowned immediately, as if I was an uninvited guest.
“Why are you back?” my husband said impatiently.
I smiled and said, “I missed you.”
My husband looked annoyed when he asked, “Did you not call ahead?”
Deanna hugged my husband's arm and said, “Oh, do not be angry. It's good that Althea is back. I like the kelp soup she makes the most.”
