Stuck With A Stubborn Wife

Helena Wright was set to be married today.

However, her fiance, Kellan Pearson, was nowhere to be found. Rumor had it that he had gone to be with another woman.

At the City Hall, where couples were awaiting their marriage registration, Helena found herself completing the formalities by herself.

"Mrs. Pearson, I apologize. Mr. Pearson had an urgent matter to attend to..." A middle-aged man tried to explain to Helena, though he seemed doubtful of his own words.

"Joaquin, it's alright. I'm aware that Mr. Pearson has lots of commitments," Helena replied with a gentle smile.

After all, anyone who was forced to abandon the love of their life to marry someone they didn't care for would be resentful.

Both she and Kellan were pushed into this marriage.

"Mrs. Pearson, Mr. Miguel Pearson suggests you move into Mr. Kellan Pearson's residence. Given that you two haven't met, now, as a married couple, it's time you get to know each other," Joaquin said.

"I understand." Helena agreed, knowing she couldn't return to her original home.

The Wrights had originally planned for her younger sister, Daniela Wright, to wed Kellan. But Helena's grandfather, Lachlan Wright, had made a call before he died, to Miguel, Kellan's grandfather, and then Miguel insisted that Kellan marry Helena, who grew up in the countryside. Her own family treated her like an outcast.

At least now, she had a place to stay in.

"Please get in the car, Mrs. Pearson." Joaquin opened the car door.

Upon arrival at the grandiose mansion, Helena couldn't help but notice its imposing solitude, which she found strangely peaceful.

Once Joaquin had assisted Helena in settling down, he promptly returned to report to Miguel. Then, Helena's phone rang.

"Leena, the surgery is scheduled for three o'clock tomorrow afternoon." The caller on the other end of the line was Phillip Simpson, a cardiologist at Wellness Hospital and Helena's former senior during their university days.

Helena, renowned globally as one of the foremost experts in heart disease treatment, went by the professional alias of Leena. Besides her marriage, Helena had another reason for her return to Flison this time. Phillip had requested her expertise to perform a crucial heart transplant surgery.

"Have you found a suitable heart for the patient?" Helena asked.

"The patient found this donor. We've conducted tests, and it's a perfect match," Phillip explained.

"Alright, I've reviewed the medical records. I'll head to the hospital tomorrow morning." After chatting for a while, Helena hung up the phone.

In the morning of the next day, Helena rose early and descended the staircase. The villa remained eerily quiet, just as she had anticipated. Kellan had yet to return, likely still in the company of the woman he loved.

He despised this marriage to the core, and his resentment toward her was understandable. It would be unusual if he were to return. She was just glad he wasn't there.

Upon reaching the hospital, Helena found Phillip already waiting for her at the entrance.

"You haven't had breakfast yet, have you?" Phillip had thoughtfully prepared a hearty breakfast for her.

Helena didn't decline. She accepted the breakfast and proceeded to review the patient's file. The patient, Alyssa Collins, had suffered heart damage in an accident three years prior, and needed a heart transplant.

Helena quickly finished reading the patient's file and finished her breakfast.

"Has the heart been delivered?" Helena asked nonchalantly.

"Well..." Despite having something to say at first, Phillip decided to hold his tongue after giving it some thought.

Helena lifted her head and turned to face Phillip, sensing a problem.

"Phillip, what's wrong?" Helena asked.

"The donor's still alive."

"Alive? And this person has consented to this transplant?" Helena raised her voice. This seemed beyond cruelty. Typically, a living individual wouldn't donate their organs unless facing imminent death.

Seeing Phillip's unease, Helena quickly deduced the situation. She stood up, demanding, "Phillip, take me to see the patient now." Helena went straight out of the office and Phillip followed immediately.

"Kellan, I'm terrified. Is this doctor competent?" Alyssa was in the ward with tear-filled eyes and a worried look on her face.

"Alyssa, don't be afraid. Leena is the best doctor in this field. She's excellent." The man consoled Alyssa. He had gone to great lengths to secure Leena for Alyssa's operation, using all of his connections.

Helena pushed the door open, and the man and woman in the room turned to look at her upon hearing the noise.

When Helena caught sight of the man's strikingly handsome face, she was dumbfounded!

In the hospital room, a well-dressed man in a finely tailored black suit was gently feeding water to the woman resting on the bed. If people didn't know better, they'd mistake them for a couple.

Helena took a deep breath. The man in front of her was Kellan, her newlywed husband, who hadn't even made the time to meet her before they got married.

"Mr. Pearson, this is Leena." Phillip swiftly introduced Helena to Kellan, customarily addressing her as Leena in public settings.

Standing in front of Kellan, Helena was clad in a surgical mask and a pristine white coat. Her radiant eyes shimmered.

"Hello, Dr. Leena." Upon uttering this, Kellan gracefully made space for her beside the bed.

"Are you truly Dr. Leena?" A hint of skepticism laced Alyssa's voice. She had assumed a physician of such renown would be older, but here...

"Yes, I am Leena. The patient's surgery is scheduled for three this afternoon. I'm here for a preliminary check," Helena said, her gaze critically assessing the various medical instruments attached to Alyssa.

"Leena, can you guarantee the operation's success?" Alyssa pressed, her doubts evident. She couldn't shake the feeling that such a young doctor might lack experience.

"All surgeries carry risks. It's important to grasp this," Helena said.

At a loss for words, Alyssa could only nod. What Helena mentioned was undeniably true. Kellan cast another glance in Helena's direction. Frankly, he had not anticipated the leading expert in cardiac treatments to be so young!

"Everything seems in order," Helena said. "Ensure she remains calm. Sir, may I ask your relationship to her?" Helena asked that question in a professional tone.

"Does it have anything to do with the surgery?" Kellan asked.

"Mr. Pearson, before we proceed with surgery, Miss Collins requires a family member's signature. Certain procedures and risks must be explained to close family," Phillip elucidated.

"I'll provide the signature," Kellan declared.

"Understood. Ensure she refrains from eating and is prepped for the surgery," Helena instructed.

"Dr. Simpson, let's go to see the donor." Helena chose not to speak further to Kellan. After all, they were essentially strangers, and he had the freedom to sign for anyone.

"Very well. Mr. Pearson, we shall take our leave." Phillip bade Kellan farewell.

As Kellan watched Helena's retreating figure, he sensed that she behaved oddly toward him.

Venturing downstairs, Helena and Phillip arrived at a secluded building, whose entrance was flanked by multiple men in dark attire.

As the duo approached, the guards granted them entrance. Helena was perplexed. Hadn't the donor willingly offered to do this? It didn't look like it at all.

Upon entering the room, she noticed a petite woman in a hospital gown standing by the window. Even though she heard the door open, the woman didn't turn around.

There was only some time left in her life, but she felt powerless to escape her situation.

"Are you Jane Collins?" Helena glanced at the donor's name in surprise.

The donor had the same last name as the patient. Could they be sisters?

Slowly, Jane turned to face Helena, her large eyes devoid of life.

"Yeah." Jane lay on the bed compliantly for her examination.

"All vital signs appear normal," Phillip noted. However, the enigma remained. Why would a perfectly healthy individual willingly offer her heart?

"Phillip, I left my stethoscope in the office. Could you fetch it for me?" Helena asked.

"Okay, I'll go get it," Phillip replied, offering Helena a quick glance before departing.

"Are you Alyssa's sister? Why, at such a young age, would you choose to make such a sacrifice?" Helena inquired, her gaze intently fixed on Jane's pallid visage.

Jane lowered her head, concealing the hatred in her eyes. She desired to live, deeply so, but what was the point?

"I'm only living to die anyway, right?"

"If you want to live, I can help you," Helena said.

Jane's eyes sparkled momentarily, only to fade quickly.

"She won't survive without an appropriate heart. The Collins family won't let her die." This was because Kellan, whom the Collins family sought to build ties with, deeply cherished Alyssa.

Helena gazed at the desperate woman before her. As a physician, she couldn't let anyone rob another of life. Thus, she chose to rescue Jane.

Upon hearing that her heart transplant was called off and only a repair would be done, Alyssa cried out.

"Kellan, what does this mean? I've secured a compatible heart. How can Dr. Leena declare it unfit for transplant? Is this some kind of joke?"

Kellan was also taken aback, but he tried to comfort Alyssa nonetheless.

"Alyssa, please relax. Stay here, I'll find out what's going on."

Kellan exited the ward and made his way to Helena's office.

"Why isn't the surgery happening?" Kellan inquired with evident displeasure.

He intently observed the woman before him, who had her mask on and eyes averted. Her expression was inscrutable.

After going through the medical records, Helena set aside the documents and met Kellan's gaze.

He truly was striking. Helena had been taken aback when she first spotted his picture in Joaquin's hand.

Seeing him in person, she realized he was even more dashing than the photograph suggested.

"Mr. Pearson, I'm Alyssa's attending doctor. I've reviewed her medical history. Though her heart was injured three years ago, there has been significant recovery during her treatments over the past years. There are still sections that need mending. After a thorough evaluation, I chose to repair her heart rather than transplant a new one. A heart transplant carries major risks, and the replacement might not function as well as her natural heart."

Helena kept her explanation straightforward, recognizing Kellan might not grasp medical jargon.

"Can you guarantee her safety?" Kellan pondered for a moment before posing the question.

"I believe she can live several more decades, but I can't promise there won't be any unforeseen events in the coming years," Helena replied, trying to gauge Kellan's thoughts through his eyes, but his expression remained unreadable.

"Fine, I'll trust you this once. If the procedure fails, I'll ensure you face death alongside her!" With that, Kellan turned sharply and departed.

He wanted her to die with Alyssa? Helena internally scoffed. Had she not been confident, she wouldn't have made the decision. Clearly, Kellan had underestimated her.

Eight hours later, Helena emerged from the operating room, surprised by the outcome of the surgery.

The actual condition of Alyssa's heart differed from the report. Its damage was far less severe than indicated! A transplant was wholly unnecessary. Was it a doctor's oversight or...

"How's Alyssa?" Kellan, who had been anxiously waiting outside the operation room, immediately approached the visibly exhausted Helena.

"The surgery was successful," Helena replied, her voice wavering with fatigue. Having only eaten breakfast and having been adjusting Alyssa's surgical plan while doing the surgery, Helena was drained.

Her legs gave way, and she started to fall, but Kellan acted swiftly, catching her in his arms.

"Dr. Leena, watch out!"

"Thank you," Helena murmured, regaining her composure and quickly stepping back.

"I should be thanking you for saving Alyssa's life," Kellan replied.

Helena looked at him briefly. "It's my responsibility as a doctor to save lives. You can now visit Alyssa." Then Helena left.

With the knowledge that Alyssa was alright, a weight lifted off Kellan's shoulders. The remorse he had harbored for three years seemed to dissipate.

Later that evening, Helena returned to Kellan's villa. The vastness of the place accentuated her solitude, her footsteps echoing in the emptiness. She fetched ingredients from the refrigerator and prepared dinner for herself.

Just as she settled down to eat, the rumble of a car engine reached her ears. Could Kellan be back home? Wasn't he staying with Alyssa at the hospital?