Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 231 "Sebas." Joseph's voice came from inside the office. Sebastian froze. He was still staring in the direction where Valeria had disappeared. "Ts there anything you need, Dr. Gardner?" "The hospital has contacted a few city media outlets for interviews. You and Ruby are our hospital's public representatives. You two need to cooperate well for this publicity opportunity." Sebastian barely registered Joseph's words. He frowned, his gaze still fixed on the place Valeria had left.

"The patient who was just here, what's wrong with her?" Joseph was surprised, He hadn't expected Sebastian to ask about a patient. Given Sebastian's character , he wasn't the type to meddle in others' business. "Do you know her?" "Not really." Valeria pulled a wet tissue from her bag, wiped her face, and smoothed her hair. She forced a smile. Holding Margaret's arm, she said gently, "It's not serious. 'The doctor said it's just a small surgery." ---- "Surgery? We don't have to waste money. I'm fine." "Surgeries don't cost much now.

After insurance reimbursement, it won't cost much." Valeria's tone was light. "And now that Lenny's on summer break, we'll just stay in the city for a while." Margaret still didn't want surgery, insisting that she could just take some medicine. But Valeria stood firm. Margaret had been unwell for a year or two already. She was always pushing through. Back home, Valeria packed a few clothes into a bag. Selena came running over, asking about Margaret's check-up. Valeria hugged her daughter. "She's very healthy.

She just needs a small surgery." Selena reached up and wiped at Valeria's eyes, whispering, " Mommy, you're lying." Valeria hugged her tighter. "I'm not lying. Great -Grandma will definitely be healthy." The bedroom door was open. Valeria was afraid Margaret would see her crying. She wiped her eyes quickly, told her daughter to do her homework, and then hurried to finish packing daily necessities. The next day, when she brought Margaret back to the hospital , Margaret was still muttering about her concerns .

---- She was worried about how, if they stayed in the city so long, who would take care of the two dogs at home. Valeria laughed and said there were new train lines now, so it was easy to go back. She could return every few days, or ask Taylor to help feed them. A few more admissions , tests, and hours of waiting went by, and several days later the surgery was finally scheduled. Margaret was put in a four-bed ward, but only two beds were occupied. The other patient, about Margaret's age, had undergone a thoracotomy. Tubes were attached everywhere, family members constantly by her side.

Seeing this, Margaret grew scared and clutched Valeria's arm. "Will I have to do that kind of surgery too?" Valeria bent down, holding Margaret's hand. "Grandma, I'll always be here with you." Valeria was terrified too, but she told herself she couldn't be afraid. When the patient in the other bed woke up, the doctor came to check and told the family, "Dr. Gardner personally performed the surgery. It's very successful. You can be at ease." Valeria felt relieved for them. She whispered to Margaret , 'See. The success rate is high." She could feel Margaret's hand trembling in hers.

Valeria held ---- it tighter. "Grandma, you still have to help me take care of Lenny. She loves your cooking. She won't eat mine. She says my cooking is the worst." "Your cooking really is average." Margaret chuckled, her mood lightening. "If Ican't get back to the kitchen right after surgery, we'll all be stuck eating your food." Valeria muttered, "It's not that bad." Valeria stepped out of the cardiothoracic inpatient ward. Her husband's surgery had gone smoothly, leaving only a small, minimally invasive incision. The nurse said he could be discharged in three days.

Valeria brought a few smoothies and a fruit platter for the nurses' station. "Is Dr. Grant here?" She wanted to thank him in person. "Yes, he's in the break room." The nurse pointed. "Straight ahead, turn left, Lounge 3." "Thank you." Valeria figured someone as cool and aloof as Sebastian probably didn't like smoothies, so she brought hima fruit platter instead. Carrying it, she walked to Lounge 3 and knocked. Sebastian was seated at the desk, staring at Margaret's CT scan report, frowning.

---- At the knock, he spoke without thinking , his voice hoarse." Come in." Seeing the woman who entered, Sebastian remembered her. Three days ago, she accompanied her husband to his clinic. Just two hours ago, he had finished that man's surgery. "What is it?" "Dr. Grant, thank you for operating on my husband. I brought some fruit." Sebastian recalled that this was Eddie Rae's wife. He looked at the fruit box she held out. He didn't take it and only said, "Leave it at the nurses' statiot "}'m Valeria Wood. You probably don't remember me. We're in neighboring classes in high school.

I don't mean anything else. I just wanted to thank you." Awhite flash seemed to explode in Sebastian's mind. His vision wavered. "You're... Valeria Wood?" "Yes." She nodded. We even met once before at Class B's reunion. You came into our room for a moment." Back then, it was just a fleeting glance. She continued, "I used to sit at your desk. You remember Jane Carlson, right? I often hung out with her, and with Taylor Walker. We were always in the corridor outside your classroom." ---- Sebastian's voice was low and hoarse, each word deliberate.

"" You're saying, your name is Valeria Wood?" She nodded hesitantly , confused as to why he kept asking her name. "D-Dr. Grant, what's wrong?" She looked nervous. Why did he keep asking her name? She looked at the man in front of her. His chest rose and fell, his expression so still that it was frightening. Sebastian suddenly stood. On the desk lay a black fountain pen, its cap loose. As his coat brushed past, it toppled to the floor. The nib struck and split. Ink splattered everywhere. Sebastian froze, staring at the broken pen as if the world had stopped.

It was Valeria who bent down and picked it up out of pity. 'The nib was ruined and broken.