?Chapter 90:
Katelyn looked behind her, unaware.
Sharon, swathed in the hospital’s pale green attire, was being wheeled slowly from the operating room. The rhythmic beeping of the infusion device punctuated herbored journey. Her face, drawn and pained, spoke volumes about the severity of her recent surgery.
Lise’s eyes widened in rm as she spotted her mother.
“Mom!”
Rushing to the stretcher, Lise looked utterly anxious. She grabbed the arm of the nearest doctor, tears brimming in her eyes as she asked, “Doctor, how is my mother? When will she wake up?”
The doctor’s tone was steady but carried a note of gravity. “The operation went well, but her condition is still very serious. It’s essential that she stays calm during her recovery. Don’t upset her again. Any additional stress could jeopardize her recovery, and we might not have another chance.”
Katelyn, observing the scene, felt a flicker of doubt. A subtle unease crept over her, hinting that there might be more to the doctor’s words than met the eye. They had to make sure Sharon was always calm, and no one could upset her?
Determined, Katelyn moved closer to Sharon’s side and examined her closely. Despite her pale skin, Sharon’s lips held a faint blush of color.
At this close range, Katelyn noticed the slight movement of Sharon’s eyshes—a clear sign of someone pretending.
When she realized the charade, Katelyn’s expression tightened.
She saw through Lise’s borate setup and understood that the doctor’s warnings were part of a carefully crafted n.
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Lise carefully dabbed at her eyes with an overly dramatic gesture before casting a nce at Katelyn.
“Katelyn, could you stay here and wait for Mom to wake up? It would really make her day if she saw you here when she opens her eyes.”
“Make her day?”
Katelyn repeated, her toneced with disbelief, “Doesn’t that sound ridiculous? Lise was indeed shameless. She was willing to say anything to get what she wanted.”
With a sigh that seemed to drain her of all hope, Lise added, “There’s been so much misunderstanding between you and Mom. A mother and daughter shouldn’t hold grudges. If you two could just talk things over, everything would be fine. I’ve been trying to find the right moment for you both to make up, and now seems perfect.”
Her eyes were resolute. She couldn’t let Katelyn walk away today. If she did, all her efforts would be in vain. Unbeknownst to her, Katelyn had already given up on leaving. Her interest was piqued, and she was eager to see what would happen next.
Without a word, Katelyn followed the stretcher into the nearby ward. Inside, advanced medical equipment surrounded Sharon, each machine quietly monitoring her condition. The screen disyed stable, healthy readings.
Katelyn’s lips twisted into a wry smile. She thought to herself that they were deluded, wrapped up in their own borate thinking, thinking she wouldn’t notice anything. Did they really believe she couldn’t see through their act? To enhance their deception, they’d even gone so far as to use medical equipment, making themselves appear absurd in the process.
Lise followed Katelyn into the ward, still ying her part. “I wonder when Mom will wake up,” Lise said, her voiceden with insincere sympathy.
Katelyn took a seat in silence, her eyes fixed intently on Sharon. She was waiting for the moment when Sharon’s ruse would unravel.
Lise, irritated by Katelyn’s indifference, bit her lip, trying to keep her frustration in check. It wasn’t the right time for Sharon to wake up; they needed at least another half hour to make their n stick.
Katelyn, with a purposeful nce, reached into her bag and pulled out a keychain with a fluffy toy—a little fox with a big bushy tail. She moved to Sharon’s bedside, holding the toy.
Lise watched, unsure of Katelyn’s next move. With a sly smile, Katelyn brushed the fox’s tail across Sharon’s nose.
In a split second, Sharon’s eyes shot open, and she sneezed, shattering the pretense.
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