Chapter 6 Consider It

Calista smiled faintly as she accepted the bouquet Alaric had personally arranged, pretending not to notice his nervousness. That day, she captured a photo of his profile against the sunset as they headed to a candlelit dinner. It was also the night their relationship truly began, as husband and wife. Her once-calm marriage gained ripples of sweetness, stirring gentle waves in her heart. But now, as her phone displayed his profile repeatedly with the call attempting to connect, the screen’s radiating white lines faded into nothingness. No one answered. Calista tried again, but the automated message repeatedly informed her that the number was unreachable. Her heart sank as she switched to Alaric’s assistant’s number. This time, the response was immediate. "Hello, Mrs. Frost?" "Rhydian, do you know where Alaric is right now? I’ve been trying to call him, but he’s not answering." Rhydian hesitated briefly, his tone tinged with panic. "Mr. Frost is in a very important meeting right now. Is there something urgent? I can pass the message along after the meeting." Calista’s delicate brows knitted slightly. A meeting? Alaric had never missed her calls, no matter how important the meeting. Even when she had urged him to prioritize work over her calls, he had always reassured her that she came first. Today, though, maybe it truly was an extraordinary meeting. After a moment’s thought, Calista decided not to mention Daxton’s surgery. She replied evenly, "All right, let him know I called and ask him to get back to me when he’s free. I have something important to tell him." "Of course, Mrs. Frost! I’ll make sure to let him know right away," Rhydian assured her, hurriedly ending the call. In the brief exchange, Calista couldn’t ignore the chaotic background noises on his end—the distinct sounds of hospital gurney wheels, urgent call bells, and overlapping voices. Having spent half her life in hospitals, especially emergency wards, Calista was all too familiar with those sounds. Rhydian was lying. He wasn’t at the office. He was at a hospital. Forcing herself not to delve into why Alaric might be at a hospital, Calista shook her head to clear her thoughts and returned to the surgery ward’s entrance with a steady expression. Meeting Vixen and Amelia’s questioning gazes, she offered a faint smile and reassured them, "I just spoke to Alaric. He’s in a meeting right now but will come as soon as it’s done." Vixen nodded repeatedly, as though Calista’s words had given her much-needed reassurance. Suppressing the ache in her chest, Calista held Vixen’s hand as they both focused on the tightly shut operating room doors. As time dragged on, sweat began to gather in Calista’s palms. For patients with cardiac arrest, prolonged rescue efforts rarely meant good news. As if confirming her fears, the operating room doors swung open, and a young doctor in green scrubs hurried out. His forehead was beaded with sweat, and his eyes immediately sought out the family. Calista stepped forward. "Doctor, I’m the patient’s daughter. How is he?" Without bothering to wipe his brow, the doctor spoke urgently. "The patient suffered a hypertensive crisis leading to cardiac arrest. There’s a significant aortic thrombus that requires immediate surgical intervention." Pausing briefly, he looked directly at Calista. "The situation is critical. We need a family member to sign the surgical consent form and the critical condition notice. A nurse will come to explain the precautions. You can go ahead and pay the surgery fees." Vixen, unable to bear the weight of the news, collapsed into her sister’s arms. Amelia cried out, "Surgery? That sounds so dangerous! Can he even survive such a major operation?" Calista didn’t look back. Her resolve was firm. "Dad’s condition is extremely serious. We need to trust the doctors and do everything we can. I’ll sign the consent forms." Turning to the doctor, she added, "Please, do your best to save my father." The doctor’s face, half-covered by a damp mask, revealed a flicker of admiration in his eyes. Operating room hallways were often places of heartbreak, where trust and family bonds were tested to their limits. Calista had seen families lash out at doctors over medical costs, accusing them of greed even as they tried to save lives. Even when families trusted the doctors, many hesitated when it came to greenlighting high-risk surgeries. But Calista was different. Her gaze was steady, her tone resolute. Still, the doctor felt compelled to caution her. "This surgery carries significant risks. The patient might not survive the operation, and the costs are substantial. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?" Calista shook her head firmly. "I know my father suffered a cardiac arrest. This is a race against time. No matter the cost, we have to try. I’m a doctor, too, and I understand that saving his life means taking this chance. Please, proceed with the surgery." Her determination seemed to inspire the doctor. He nodded solemnly before quickly returning to the operating room. Amelia, standing nearby, fell silent. Noticing the concern in Calista’s eyes as she glanced at Vixen, Amelia said gently, "Don’t worry about your mom. I’ll take care of her. You focus on what you need to do." Grateful, Calista gave Amelia a brief nod before hurrying toward the payment desk. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, the amount on the bill still made her heart race. She calculated quickly. Her savings would just barely cover it, though part of her funds were tied up in investments that couldn’t be liquidated immediately.