Chapter 24
Ariel checked the time as she left the neighborhood–it was already 2:00 pm. It would take about 40 minutes to get to the hospital, so she’d arrive just in time.
She took some medication after getting into the car. The side effects were intense, and she had been feeling extremely dizzy and exhausted lately. She needed to consult the doctor again for a new treatment plan.
Ariel rested for a moment before driving away.
As soon as she left, Renee walked down from upstairs. She wasn’t planning to greet Ariel.
Ariel used to ask her about Jayson’s habits and preferences, and she’d worry about Renee wearing skirts without leggings in the winter. She’d even care about Renee’s grades, as if she was capable of tutoring Renee.
Renee found her annoying, so she often avoided Ariel. Ariel would never refuse her whenever she needed anything
anyway.
Georgia was about to deliver the insulated lunch boxes to the Larkin Manor.
Renee stepped forward while humming happily. “Let me deliver them instead.”
Georgia figured that she was heading back to the Larkin Manor and handed them over without much thought. 1
Ariel chose to get treatment from the best private hospital in Eldoria, as the medical services were better. Leonard was also staying in this hospital’s nursing home, which made it more reputable. However, the cost was equally high.
In the three years Ariel was married to Jayson, she gained nothing except for a position in the PR department, where she had worked hard to get a decent salary.
She had managed to get by all these years.
Now that Ariel was in Faye Technologies, Chad and Janice offered her even better treatment by giving her shares. Once her projects were completed, her annual dividends would at least be 70 to 80 million dollars.
That way, even if her treatment failed, she could still leave a large sum of money for Katie and Leonard’s later years.
That was the reason Ariel was eager to pick up her past dreams. On one hand, she didn’t want to live in regrets, and on another, she wanted to provide security for Katie and Leonard.
Her attending physician was an expert in the hospital. Howard Bolt, who was in his 50s, recommended that she be re–examined.
Ariel didn’t find it pathetic to walk around with a stack of test results. She had grown accustomed to being on her own, and the repeated disappointments she’d experienced only made her stronger.
Her test results remained as bad as expected.
Howard frowned as he studied them for some time. “With your current condition, medication is having little effect. You need to consider chemotherapy and surgery now, Ms. Walker.”
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Ariel remained silent.
Howard continued, “Where is your family? Do you need to discuss this with your husband or parents?”
Ariel lowered her gaze and shook her head. “It’s fine. I can decide for myself.”
She no longer wanted her husband, and her parents were as good as dead.
“What is the success rate if I undergo chemotherapy and surgery? And how long is the recovery period?” Ariel
asked.
Howard replied, “Chemotherapy has significant side effects. It might affect your entire system and daily life. As for surgery, with your condition, the success rate for tumor surgery is about 40%. The recovery period is uncertain.”
Ariel’s lips went pale, and her usually calm demeanor appeared lost.
This was what she had been most worried about–what if she lost the gamble?
If Ariel’s results weren’t as hoped, and her condition worsened after surgery or chemotherapy, she wouldn’t be able to continue working. At that point, not only would her life be at risk, but she might also lose her means to earn a living.
“There’s also something important that you have to consider, Ms. Walker.” Howard looked at her seriously to convey the graveness of the situation. “You might not be able to conceive anymore if you undergo surgery.”
Ariel fell silent for the longest time. She was lost in thought as she stared at the test results in her hands.
She actually loved children.
When Ariel first married into the Larkin family, Renee was only in her teens. She was adorable and would occasionally cling to Ariel and act coquettishly, which made Ariel imagine what her child with Jayson might look like.
But Nancy appeared later, and Renee began to act out and despised her.
Now, Ariel was about to get a divorce.
She looked up and said softly, “I’ll give up on conceiving if the treatment works.”
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