The Runaway Groom
Chapter 12

Henry had already put a plan together, and it took Moneypenny a whileto get it.

“Is that why you asked me to replace a heart donor—" said Moneypenny.He had barely finished when Irene stepped out of the restroom with thefirst aid kit.

Moneypenny promptly turned silent. Henry leaned against his cane torise to his feet and told Irene, "Come with me."

He was heading to his study, and Irene put the first aid kit on a tablebefore following him.

Henry sat at the desk in the study, and sadness showed in his eyes ashe told her, "Isaac's father passed away very early. While I raised him,he always lived away from home since he studied at a boarding school.He moved out right after graduating from university to take over thecompany. He is so busy that he basically never comes home."

Henry's voice was low. Isaac's father was his eldest son, and no matterhow long he had passed, Henry still felt miserable about his passing.He also knew that Isaac had his reason for not coming home, and hecould foresee what Isaac would do to his uncle's family after his death.In fact, Isaac held back this long because he still respected Henry, andhe needed a woman to help him learn how to feel again...

So that he would give up on hatred.

Henry thought they were all his flesh and blood, and he did not wantthem to slaughter each other.

"Well..." Irene murmured, unsure of how to reassure him.

There was no question that Henry had been good to her. Even thoughshe was forced to marry into this family because of Lionel's greed,Henry never held her in contempt.

Raising his hand, signaling for Irene not to worry about him, hecontinued, "The reason I agreed to let you marry Isaac is that I knowthat you are a good child, just as your grandfather had been loyal andkind. You are his granddaughter, and his blood runs in your veins—thatis why I wanted you to stay with Isaac and care for him."

"I believe that it would be ideal for him if he has someone he loves withhim instead..." Irene said from within.

From Henry's perspective, however, she seemed to be giving up andmaking excuses to leave Isaac.

Since he had lived this long, was there any situation he had notencountered?

He knew that it was actually easy to convince her.

“I understand that you have your difficulties,” he said as he drew out adocument from his drawer and handed it to her. “Your mother is ill, andshe requires a donor match for a heart transplant. I happened to havefound a match, and I've spoken to the right people. Sign thisagreement, and the surgery is a go—I will pay for everything, includingthe surgical cost as well as any other medical fees involved."

Irene was at first delighted, though she soon thought to herself thatthings would never be that simple.

Scanning through the agreement, she realized that it was a contract tokeep her from divorcing Isaac.

And the old man certainly knew how to hold leverage against her sothat she would stay with Isaac.

“I heard that your mother's condition is worsening and that she wouldbe beyond saving if the transplant is delayed any further. Heart donorsare not that easily found even with money which you don't have.”Irene's fingers clenched on the paper in her hands, and she felt at aloss for what she should do.

Still, the real reason Henry called her here now dawned upon her."Why do you think I can care for him?" asked Irene.

"Like I said—you're Tim's granddaughter. I trust you."

Irene tried to stay calm, but she was too flustered to do so.

It was true that her mother’s illness could not wait and would have abetter chance of survival with early surgery.

Since she was married to Isaac anyway, Irene agreed to it for the sakeof her mother's survival. "I will sign it."

"Good. Trust me—my judge in character is right, and you'll definitelymake Isaac happy.” A smile finally appeared on Henry's solemn face.Even so, Irene kept her lips tightly pursed and stayed silent, convincedthat Henry was wrong—that Whitney was the one who could give Isaachappiness.

Not her.

After she signed the paper, Henry picked up the phone, saying. “I'llcontact the hospital right now and tell them to perform the transplant foryour mother soon."

Irene stood there expectantly and nervously.

After Henry finished his call, she asked, "May I go to the hospital too?"It was a daughter's care and concern for her sick mother, so he allowedit. "Of course. Go on."

He could not help sighing as well since he knew that there was no wayIsaac would let Irene into his room after the mess just now.

"Thank you." Irene was earnestly grateful.

Henry waved her off and told the butler who was waiting outside thedoor, "Moneypenny, get a car for her."

"Please come with me, Mrs. Jefferson,” the butler told Irene, and sheleft with him.

On the way to the hospital, Irene felt like she was in a dream—everything had happened so quickly that it actually felt unreal.Nonetheless, when she arrived and saw that Henry had arrangedeverything perfectly, she realized that this was reality—it was no dream.Her mother was really getting a transplant!

Soon, after a night of near misses, the transplant was a success.Although there would be a long period of observation and rehabilitationafterward, relief could be seen on Irene’s face.

Though her mother was lying in a ward for post-surgery observation,her mother's life was saved.

Having gone sleepless for the entire night, she headed straight to herclinic when someone called out to her.

"Dr. Spencer?”

She turned to replace Ms. Diaz, a nurse from her department, coming upand telling her, "It was fortunate that you left early last night—Dr. Coxwas so full of herself. She could not stop boasting now that she has abacker.”

Irene averted her gaze—she was not eager to comment on Whitney."Honestly, she's not even as beautiful as you are, Dr. Spencer. Whatdoes Isaac Jefferson even like about her?"

Seeing that Ms. Diaz was going to keep gossiping, Irene becamereluctant to stay. "But she's beautiful, and there must be somethingabout her that is attractive to Mr. Jefferson. Let's not gossip so muchbehind their backs," said Irene.

Ms. Diaz seemed not to hear her and was actually pouting. "They call ita farewell party, but it's more like a party for her to brag about herself.Everyone knew that the internship spot was supposed to be yours—""Sorry, Ms. Diaz, but I have something to attend to." Irene cut her short—it would not do if anyone overheard them, and it could easily cause amisunderstanding.

Finally sensing her reluctance to gossip, Ms. Diaz stopped, and theyeach returned to their respective posts.

Mornings were the busiest time for hospitals anyway, and there wasalready a long row of patients waiting to take a number at theregistration counter.

Irene had two surgeries in the morning, and she took a two-hour breakbefore performing.

After that, her lack of sleep left her exhausted, but just as she tried tonap during her lunch break, a nurse came to her.

“The chief is asking for you in his office.”

“Is it urgent?” she asked—she would go later if it was not.

“I don't know." The nurse smiled. “I'm just the messenger. Guess you'llreplace out if you head over.”

"Fine, I'll be right there," Irene replied and headed to the chief's office.She knocked on the door and opened it only after she heard aresponse inside.

"Sir."

The chief was sitting at his desk. Seeing Irene, he put aside his task.He stayed silent for a moment, seemingly having trouble starting, buthe knew he had to.

"Dr. Spencer... Did you somehow offend Mr. Jefferson?"