Love My Friends with Benefits novel Chapter 37

I turned to look at the nurse who was speaking. She didn't notice and continued, "Her family's rich enough, but she has a terrible son. He actually allowed his wife to make his mother end up in the hospital."

The woman next to her lamented over this.

The nurse downed her coffee, stood up, and shook her head. "Based on what I've seen, she only has a couple of months left."

My heart sank. Without a second thought, I stood up and stopped the nurse. "Wait a minute!"

"What's wrong?"

Startled, she looked at me in confusion.

I licked my lips, unable to dispel the bitterness in my mouth. "I'm that patient's granddaughter. Please, can you tell me what's wrong with my grandmother?"

The nurse's eyes took on a sympathetic look and said, "She's too old and she has a history of health problems. She can't even be operated on."

Grandma's health was already so poor?

My heart twisted painfully and I asked, "Is there... is there really no other way? There has to be, right?"

I couldn't even bring myself to believe that.

The nurse started to lose patience. "Why would I lie to you? What's in it for me?"

...

I thanked her despondently and walked back over to my seat.

Grandma was really done for...

I lowered my head as my tears flowed and fell into my coffee.

In the Jones family, the only people who truly treated me well were Grandma and Aunt Nancy. And now, Grandma was going to leave me...

I didn't know how long I sat there.

Suddenly, the clock rang thrice.

I was shaken out of my reverie and jumped to my feet as if I'd been shocked by electricity.

It was finally three o'clock.

I hurriedly grabbed my bag and flew towards the hospital's elevators. On my way there, I bumped into several people.

I wasn't even in the mood to apologise to them. I bulldozed my way to the ICU.

In the ward, Aunt Nancy was all alone with Grandma.

Aunt Nancy looked haggard and exhausted. She waved a hand at me. "Queena, come and have a seat."

Grandma lay on the hospital bed with her eyes closed, deeply asleep.

I forced my tears back and sat down next to Aunt Nancy.

"Your father and Gail just left. Apparently, Leonard wanted to see them." Aunt Nancy held my hand. "They've just left. I wanted to give you a call, but you showed up on your own."

...

I nodded guiltily.

"By the way, Queena, what are you doing here? Did you know that they would be leaving?" Aunt Nancy asked.

I shook my head and denied it without hesitation. "No."

There was no way I could tell her that Leonard had gotten them to leave because of me.

The truth was much too dirty and complicated.

I couldn't even imagine what Aunt Nancy would say if she were to find out about it.

Aunt Nancy didn't even suspect a thing. "I guess not. How would you know about something like that? Oh, I need you to take over for me for now, Queena." She rubbed her temples. "I was afraid something would happen yesterday and I waited in the corridor the whole time. I haven't even had the time to sleep yet."

I moved my mouth, wanting to tell her about the nurses' conversation, but I didn't know what to say. All I could say was, "Okay, you get some sleep."

There was a small cot in the ward. It was meant for patients' family members.

Aunt Nancy lay down on it and soon fell asleep.

I sat by the bed on my own and looked at Grandma's pasty, wrinkled face. I couldn't hold my tears back any longer.

On this day, Grandma stayed asleep. She hadn't even woken up by the time I left.

I couldn't help replaying the nurses' words in my mind as I sobbed uncontrollably.

When I got home, I found that Leonard was already waiting for me there.

He waved a hand at me. "Come here."

His gesture was no different from someone who was calling out to their pet.

I ignored him, put my bag and coat away, and got myself some tissues to wipe my face.