angel baby (heavy editing)

31.0

         Lia hurriedly met Lena and in the hallway, they embraced tightly. Lia felt the tears before she could stop it.
"I'm sorry. I'm ruining your shirt", her voice
"It's okay. Let it all out"
A minute or so later, they pulled from the hug still holding unto each other.
"Thanks for being here" she said.
"Of course"
Lia felt uneasy asking the question so she waited. She would speak first.
"I asked Jessica for help"
Lia thought as much. In the past, she would have rather die than to ask a Borghese for help but this wasn't about her. At this point, she would do anything to save Kathy. But, wait, Lena hadn't confirmed that she agreed to.
" Yeah?" She asked hesitantly.
"And she's willing to help, only if you agree to the arranged marriage proposition"
If Lia said she was surprised, she would be lying. The issue had been part of her top most thoughts since the night it was suggested. The arranged marriage itself was absurd and barbaric but she wanted her son (Chris) to have a good life. She was willing to go through any means to see that Chris didn't suffer the way she did. But she couldn't bear the thought of Oliver being stripped of his rights. He had grown up thinking he would be the successor. She couldn't take that away.
"Okay", she finally replied.
The look that fell on Lena's face showed that she wasn't expecting that reply. This was her son's future. For others, she wouldn't recommend.
"Are you sure? How do you think Chris would feel about it?"
Lia wanted to say she knew but she really didn't know. She didn't get Chris, much to her embarrassment but Kathy did and the priority right now was to save Kathy's life.
"I love Kathy with everything in me but if anything happens to her, if she-" she couldn't say it. She couldn't bear the thought. " I would lose Chris too. And I can't lose him"
Lena's facial features soften.
"Are you sure?"
She wasn't. She might as well have been selling her soul.
"This is my only shot"
" Okay, I'll call her now"
Lena brought out her phone from her purse. Lia looked up and looked behind to see the woman in question walking towards them.
" No need, she's here"
" What?" Lena turned to see her boss.
" I didn't know she would come"
Lia didn't know how to feel about Jessica's presence as she neared.
Finally, she stood in front of them.
"Mrs Cameron"
Lia didn't reply. She eyed the woman skeptically.
"I trust my assistant has delivered the news"
Lia managed a nod.
"And what do you say?"
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Oliver interrupted her before she could give a reply.
She moved and stood in front of him before hugging him. Why?
"I tried your number all day. I was worried sick"
"My battery died"
She pulled out of the hug and turned to face Lia again.
"How is she?" Jessica seemed genuinely worried now. But what did Lia know?
"I don't know. We aren't allowed to. I can't-"
The hospital policy wouldn't let them see her until they had paid a reasonable amount. Lia wanted to scream when the nurse told her. It didn't make any sense. The universe was playing ball with her.
"Leave everything to me", she then moved closer to Lia, close enough to whisper into her ear. Lia wondered how much her perfume cost.
"I trust you have agreed and I hope you know you can't go back on your word"
Lia, at that moment, deliberated if agreeing was a good idea at all. Of course it wasn't but she had come this far. She nodded again.  Words seemed to elude her in her presence.
"I'll take care of everything" Jessica said after she took a step back.
      And true to her words, less than ten minutes after, they were finally allowed to see her but only two at a time. Lia and Chris went first, obviously. They were also informed the surgery would start in three hours.
Thank God for rich and influential people.
When Lia stepped into Kathy's room with Chris, she almost took a step back not believing her eyes.
She was fine this morning. I dropped her off at school.
Kathy had different machines and tubes connected to her. This wasn't real. When Lia became more aware of her surroundings, she realized Chris was already by her side, his hand in hers. He wasn't supposed to do that. The doctors warned them Kathy was even more susceptible to infections but she didn't stop him. He deserved that. He didn't say anything. All he did was stare at her. At least he wasn't crying again. Lia also moved closer but listened to the doctor's warnings.
They stayed there for a while until it was time to leave. Kathy was to be prepared for surgery. Lia had never felt as numb as she did since her mother died but Kathy wouldn't die. Kathy was 15 and the best thing to happen to Chris. Chris. Was he okay? Would he be okay?
          The surgery started at the time they said it would and would last for 10 hours or more. Oliver left with his mother and after many pleadings from Lena, Lia reluctantly left the hospital for a few hours for a change of clothes and maybe food. It was even harder convincing Chris but he agreed though he still wouldn't eat. They returned to the hospital a few hours later and Lena didn't leave their side for a second, neither did Derek. Andrew showed up. Lia couldn't find the strength to be mad at him and considering she discovered on one date night, that ended with them almost breaking up, that Lena was related to him(they're cousins)*, she decided she would get along with him.
            Time went by. Nobody knew anything. No one was saying anything until they did. Everyone stood up as soon as they sighted a doctor walking towards them. 
           "Kathy has had a heart failure and she'll need a donor to save her life"
Hell was real and Lia was living in it.

(A/N:  *: I think I mentioned one time Lena and Drew are siblings. I've decided they're cousins. Enough coincidences in this book, dfkm!!!  So it might be a common thing to update more than once per day)