Chapter 28
After washing up and getting dressed, Jeremy came downstairs to find that Polly had already prepared breakfast. She had made coffee too.
However, he felt no urge to eat. He didn’t even feel the desire to take a bite. He walked straight toward the door.
“Aren’t you going to eat something for breakfast before heading out, Mr. Hansen?” Polly asked.
Without turning back, Jeremy instructed, “Find a chef with skills similar to Joanna’s.”
Polly wasn’t the least bit upset at his criticism. Instead, she felt relieved and quickly agreed.
As soon as Jeremy stepped outside and got into the car, his phone rang again. It was a call from Nadine.
laced
“Jeremy.” As soon as the call connected, there came Nadine’s gentle voice which was la With excitement. “Have you had breakfast yet?”
“What is it?” Jeremy asked, his expression remaining stoic.
Sensing that he seemed unhappy, Nadine’s smile faltered. She sounded a little aggrieved as she asked, “Have you forgotten that you promised to accompany me for the transplant surgery?”
“I didn’t forget,” Jeremy replied with a slight frown. “When’s the surgery? I’ll have my secretary clear my schedule.”
“It’s this afternoon at 2:00 pm.” Nadine’s voice was cautious but full of anticipation. “But I need to check into the hospital this morning for some pre–surgery tests. Can you accompany me?”
“This morning? What time?” Jeremy asked, his frown deepening.
“It’s at 10:00 am. Can I meet you at your office?” Nadine asked even more tentatively.
Jeremy hesitated briefly before responding, “Just go straight to the hospital. We’ll meet there.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you at the hospital,” Nadine replied.
After ending the call, Jeremy pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation as he recalled what Joanna had said to him. She had implied that the source of the uterus intended for Nadine’s transplant was questionable.
The surgery was scheduled for the afternoon. What kind of problem could there possibly be with the source?
TE
Chapter 28
+25 BONUS
In their country
it usually took years before one could get an organ transplant. Sometimes, one wouldn’t even get their turn even after walling that long-
Nadine had only recently returned to the country, and she had managed to find a matching uterus so quickly. This was indeed suspicious.
Even so, Jeremy trusted her character. He believed that she wouldn’t do anything that would harm others.
Suppressing his irritation, Jeremy arrived at the office. He was about to call Kenneth in to ask about Nadine’s transplant when he knocked on the door first.
“What did you find?” Jeremy asked urgently.
“Mr. Hansen, Ms. Slinger’s uterus transplant surgery is scheduled for the afternoon, but she’s using a pseudonym and not her actual identity. Moreover, the source from which she obtained the uterus is indeed illegal,” Kenneth answered cautiously.
Jeremy frowned, his expression grim and questioning. “What do you mean by illegal?”
Kenneth lowered his head. “Ms. Slinger purchased the uterus for 80 thousand dollars from a living donor. However, the donor wasn’t willing to sell it. She was coerced by her family.
“Now, the woman has run away, and her family can’t find her. Ms. Slinger’s surgery this afternoon will likely be canceled.”
Jeremy couldn’t believe that Nadine had bought a uterus from a living donor. What was even more surprising was that the donor was forced into it.
As Kenneth spoke, Jeremy’s expression visibly darkened. He asked, “Are you certain about your findings?”
Just as he finished speaking, his phone rang again–it was Nadine.
Kenneth was about to respond, but Jeremy raised his hand to silence him and answered the
call.
“Jeremy, there’s a bit of a problem with the transplant surgery. It might need to be postponed,” Nadine said. In her sweet voice, she said apologetically, “I’m sorry. I almost made you come for nothing.”
Jeremy’s face remained grim as he asked in a neutral, inscrutable tone. “What kind of problem?”
“The lead surgeon suddenly fell ill, so the surgery has to be rescheduled,” Nadine replied with an excuse that she’d prepared long ago.
“Harvested organs have a limited preservation time,” Jeremy said, his voice cold and measured. “If the lead surgeon is sick, wouldn’t rescheduling the surgery require finding a
2/3
Chapter 28
new donor altogether?”
