Billionaire, Let's Divorce!

ANASTASIA

The process of the stem infusion was quicker than expected. Turned out there was no need for surgery. The stem cell from Justin was infused in Amie just like they would a blood transfusion. After the transfusion, the doctor asked to talk with Kevin and I.

"Now that the transfusion is done, the next stage is the recovery stage and the stage where we wait for the infused stem cells to travel to her bone marrow and begin to produce healthy blood cells. This is called engraftment and it normally occurs within 2-4 weeks. These stages are critical because, though we hope not, there might be complications. So she'll remain in the hospital until the engraftment is complete."

"So," Dennis drawled, "She'd still be here for another month?"

"Yes," the doctor nodded. "While she's here we'll carry out regular blood tests to check for engraftment and complications where we'll keep an eye out for signs of infections, bleeding, or GVHD, graft-versus-host disease." "Wow," was all I could breathe. I seriously thought the hardest phase was the stem cell transfusion.

For the next few days, we rotated shifts between us. Dennis would stay at the hospital while I go home to prepare our needs and return with them the next day. Then it would be my turn to stay with Amie while Dennis would go home.

The first week was hopeful, Amie was weak but she occassionally smiled, ate and told us how excited she was to go home. We were also instructed to wear gloves, gowns and nose masks before we could enter her ward.

In the second week, much to our dismay, she grew more fatigued. Rashes appeared on every inch of her skin, she developed a sore mouth and occasionally experienced nosebleed. All of these happened in a week but it felt like months. We were restricted from entering her room and only spoke through a barrier.

My heart painfully squeezed in my chest each time she cried that she was scared.Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.

She'd often cry in a croaky voice, "It's so lonely in here, dad. I'm scared."

The next weeks were amazing. The doctor announced that engraftment had begun and there was less risk of infection, so we were allowed back in her ward but still with the precautions of gloves, gowns and nose masks.

During this time, Amie would say amidst mouthfuls of meal, "I now feel strong, mom. Let's go home."

It had been my turn to go home. When I returned the next day, a special bag filled with the chicken fillet that Amie had requested in my grip, I had been forced to a stop when I saw the commotion in the hospital. Nurses ran helter skelter while doctors yelled orders.

I stood there, confused until I saw a stretcher rolled out of the hallway that led to Amie's ward. On top of the stretcher, Amie laid unconscious and beside her were nurses and Dennis.

"You'll be fine, baby, stay strong," I heard Dennis say as everything in my hands clattered to the floor and I ran toward him.

"Amie. Amie? What happened?" I turned to face Dennis. "Dennis, what happened?"

"Babe," Dennis breathed as he pulled me to him and hugged me. I felt him tremble as he placed a kiss on my forehead and stopped me from going after the nurses wheeling my daughter away.

"What happened, Dennis. Where are the taking her?" I cried, unable to stop my tears from soaking his shirt.

"There's a complication," he began breathlessly, still holding me. "She suddenly developed a fever yesterday, just after you left. The conditioning therapy weakened her intestinal lining and there was a leakage in her abdominal cavity and she needs immediate treatment locate and repair the damage.

An hour later, the doctor stepped out with a relieved smile. "The surgery went well, and we've done everything we can. Now it's up to Amie."

He also said that she was still in a critical condition, so she was admitted in the ICU.

Over the next few days, I didn't continue our rotation as I refused to leave the hospital.

Eventually, she started to show signs of improvement. The doctor assured us that the transplanted stem cells have began to engraft.

Her recovery accelerated and after a couple of weeks, she was confirmed safe to be discharged but not without several precautions that we needed to stick to.

Our family was the happiest as we

all went home that day. Amie cooed

how net

at Justin throughout the whole repeatedly commenting on pretty he was, which would be followed by, "Are you sure he's a boy, mom?"

All the while, Justin just stared up at his sister, fascinated.

ton

"We should throw a party," I suggested as we all cuddled on the bed that night.

"Yay! A party!"

After Justin and Amie slept off, I asked Dennis. "Shouldn't we inform Aiden?"

He frowned as he dragged his gaze from Amie. "Of course, we should. I thought you'd have texted him or something."

"Oh. I haven't. I'll do so now." I was really glad that he was cool with it.

The next day, as I welcomed the invited guests who were so happy to see Amie, I got a text from Aiden.

"Oh no," I muttered as I read his message.

A couple of minutes later, I stood awkwardly behind Dennis as he adjusted Amie's necktie that she had insisted to wear on her frock just because Justin also had a necktie on

Amie smiled up at me and waved. I wore a smile for her sake and waved back.

"Umm, Dennis?"

He turned his face to look at me, smiling. "What's up?" He returned his gaze to the tie he was adjusting.

"Aiden just texted. He said he's coming to the party," I said then I quickly added. "With Sharon."

He had been okay with him knowing about Amie's recovery, I'm not sure he'll buy the idea of him showing up in person. Especially when he was around.

“Oh," he murmured. There was a

moment of silence before he half

shrugged, "Okay." He looked back up at me and smiled. "Let's seek the permission of the host too."

Then he turned to Amie. "Amie baby, would you like Aiden at your party?"

She bobbed her head. "Yes! Finally, I'll meet his daughter."

I frowned at that, but I said nothing.

Dennis gave me a thumbs up with a wide ridiculous grin that made Amie burst into a fit of laughter. "They can come."