The surgery took nearly three hours.
The doctor stepped out of the operating room. He announced the surgery was a success. But Mrs. Sterling needed 24 hours of post-op observation. That would confirm no other complications or life-threatening issues.
Alexander thanked the doctor.
Eleanor was moved to the ICU for observation.
Alexander wanted to stay. Just in case.
But Audrey and Scarlett insisted they would watch over their mother. Alexander still had a board meeting tomorrow. It was very late now. He should go home and rest.
“Aunt Audrey and Aunt Scarlett have to work,” Evie said. “Let me stay and take care of Mom.”
She was the most dispensable person here. She was also Mrs. Sterling’s daughter-in-law. It was her duty to stay.
“Evie, don’t worry,” Scarlett said. “You’ve only been here a short time. You don’t know Mom’s habits well. Go back with Alexander and rest. Come back tomorrow to help us.”
Alexander took one last look at his mother in the ICU. He didn’t insist. After thanking his sisters, he took Evie and left.
Ethan went back with them.
In the elevator, Evie heard Ethan mutter.
“I don’t know what’s in her heart.”
Alexander stopped Ethan with a deep voice.
“Ethan.”
Ethan pursed his lips and said nothing more.
Evie looked at them, puzzled. But she didn’t ask.
Three of them took two cars home.
Ethan didn’t return to Rose Garden Villa. He followed them back to Sterling Manor.
Alexander told Evie to rest first. Then he followed Ethan into the study.
Evie returned to the bedroom, uneasy. To be honest, she couldn’t sleep now. But she didn’t want to cause trouble for Alexander. So she obediently went to bed.
As soon as she entered the bedroom, she remembered. They hadn’t eaten dinner tonight.
And Alexander had donated so much blood this evening. His face had looked terrible. Now he had to talk to Ethan about things.
Evie finally went downstairs to cook a late-night snack.
When she finished, Ethan came down from upstairs.
“Ethan, have a snack,” Evie said. “Where’s your uncle?”
“Upstairs. I don’t want to eat. You can eat with your uncle.”
“Eat some before you go back to sleep. How can you sleep hungry? I made noodles. Eat first, and I’ll call your uncle.”
Evie stopped Ethan. Then she walked toward the stairs.
Just then, Alexander came down.
“Alexander, it’s late. I made some noodles.”
Alexander nodded. He came downstairs, hugged Evie, and led her into the dining room.
“Eat your fill, then go back,” Alexander said to Ethan.
“I know,” Ethan replied, eating his noodles.
The three of them finished the noodles in silence. Ethan went back to Rose Garden Villa. Evie and Alexander went upstairs to rest.
“Evie, these past few days have been hard,” Alexander said, hugging her. “Taking leave to care for Mom.”
“It’s not hard. It’s my duty. I hope Mom is safe and sound,” Evie replied.
Alexander hummed in agreement and said nothing more.
Now Audrey and Scarlett were guarding their mother in the hospital.
The ICU didn’t require family members to stay. But just in case, if family were present, they could sign decisions immediately.
At the moment, Audrey and Scarlett sat on chairs, watching silently.
Some things were tacit between them.
These 24 hours were the most critical. If Eleanor couldn’t survive them, there would be things to explain. Almost like last words. It related to their future rights and interests. How could they take it lightly?
“Actually, we only need one person to stay and watch,” Scarlett said. “We need someone to watch during the day tomorrow.”
“I think so too,” Audrey replied. “Why don’t you go back and rest first? I’ll watch Mom. You can come back for me tomorrow morning.”
“I’d better watch Mom first. You go back. I have company business tomorrow.”
“I have to go back too. There’s a meeting tomorrow. I can’t miss it.”
In the end, they couldn’t agree. So they just did what they had to do.
The next day, Evie woke up with a start. She found it was already bright.
Alexander wasn’t around. He had obviously gotten up.
Evie got up quickly. She had to go to the hospital to care for her mother-in-law.
She blamed herself for sleeping so long. It felt like she had just closed her eyes. How was it already dawn?
Evie washed up in a hurry. She changed clothes, grabbed her bag, and went downstairs.
“Evie, have breakfast,” Alexander called.
Evie turned her head. Alexander was having breakfast in the dining room.
“Alexander, I thought you had already left.”
“I was waiting for you. Let’s go see Mom first,” Alexander replied.
“How is Mom?”
“I called and asked. The situation is still optimistic,” Alexander said.
“That’s good. Why didn’t you wake me when you got up?” Evie asked, sitting at the table.
“I only got up a short while ago,” Alexander said. He handed a bowl of porridge to Evie.
Evie took it. She didn’t say anything more. She lowered her head and ate breakfast.
Later, she had to go to the hospital to care for her mother-in-law. She needed to eat more to have strength and energy.
On the way to the hospital, Evie called Amy Harper to ask for leave.
Amy didn’t ask why she needed leave. She just told Evie to submit the request in the system.
Evie thanked Amy and hung up.
Alexander had told her to take personal leave. Because Eleanor was still the chairman of the Sterling family. Even if it was only nominal, it related to the family’s rights and interests. Everything they did and said was very important. One move could affect the whole situation. They had to be cautious.
When they arrived at the hospital.
Evie handed Lily Thompson’s breakfast to her aunts. Then she asked about her mother-in-law.
“The doctor said it’s very good,” Audrey said. “There should be no problem.”
“Great,” Evie nodded.
“Yes, Mom is fine,” Scarlett echoed.
“Aunt Audrey, Aunt Scarlett, go have breakfast first,” Evie said. “Alexander and I will watch here.”
“Okay, we’ll leave it to you and little brother,” Scarlett said.
Then she and Audrey went to a chair not far away and ate breakfast.
“I think Mom’s condition is also very good,” Audrey said. “I’m dead tired. I’ll let Evie watch later.”
“Well, Mom’s vitality is tenacious,” Scarlett echoed. There was some sarcasm in her tone.
Audrey raised her head and looked at Scarlett. Scarlett was a bit chatty. She lowered her head and ate breakfast without saying anything more.
Alexander went to the doctor’s duty room to learn about his mother’s condition.
Evie stood outside the ICU ward. She looked through the glass at her mother-in-law lying quietly on the bed.
Nothing was more important than health.