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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

I don’t say anything, although her reaction doesn’t surprise me.

I don’t know much about Alexis’s mother, other than what I found out when I decided to help her get rid of the charges by hiring Matheus, but one thing is clear: no one goes through what she has—from losing her daughter’s father to the rest of her family, spending years searching for her child without success, and then being imprisoned—without being incredibly strong.

Her expression is as defiant as her daughter’s, and a strange sense of déjà vu hits me. At first, I think it’s because looking at Marla Gillis is like seeing a copy of Alexis. But a few seconds pass, and the feeling intensifies.

“Have we met before?” I ask, even though I feel like an idiot the moment the words slip out.

Her expression softens. “Not that I remember. Why?”

“I don’t know. I had this weird feeling.”

“Your partner said the same thing.”

“What?”

“I think his name is Dr. Athanasios, right? He told me the same thing when we met at the hospital entrance the other day—that my face looked familiar. But I don’t remember either of you.

Now please, tell me about my Alexis, since we skipped the pleasantries and you already know I’m not exactly your biggest fan. ”

If I cared about what people thought of me, I might try to explain my situation and why I didn’t look for her daughter in the past two years. But here’s the truth: I’ve changed a lot, but not when it comes to disliking humans. And I certainly don’t care what they think of me.

Besides, my relationship with Alexis is none of her business.

“The surgery was a success. Recovery time after a procedure of this scale can vary depending on the patient’s overall health and individual healing capacity, but based on Alexis’s exams, aside from the heart issue, she’s healthy.”

“Yes, she’s never been sick. She hid from me that she’d been feeling tired for a while, but the pain only started a few months ago.”

I nod, letting her know I understand. “In general, the initial recovery period after surgery can last anywhere from a few days to weeks. During the first days, she’ll stay in the intensive care unit for close monitoring and immediate access to emergency medication and care, in case of any adverse reaction. ”

“Will she be in pain?”

“She likely will, but we’ll control it with IV medication. Once she’s cleared to move to a regular room, the hospital stay may range from five to ten days, again depending on her body’s ability to recover.”

“Alexis is strong,” she says, as if trying to convince herself, but I hear the tremble in her voice and see the tears welling in her eyes.

“She’ll need some time for full recovery.

Several weeks, even months, to regain her full strength.

She’ll be advised on physical activity, medications, and will have follow-up exams and consultations to ensure a complete recovery,” I go on, narrating the standard procedure typically explained to patients’ families by my assistants.

What I don’t say is that I plan to keep an eye on her.

A very close one.

“It’s essential that Alexis follow all post-op instructions.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, doctor.

I won’t take my eyes off her for even a minute,” she says, forgetting she already called me by my first name and fully stepping into her role as mother.

“I won’t lie. I’m angry at you for breaking my daughter’s heart.

But at the same time, I won’t live long enough to thank you for saving her life. ”

Before I can stop myself, I find myself saying, “I would have performed the surgery with the same commitment for any patient. But Alexis . . . she’s important to me.”

Important to me?

I’ve never been shaken in any surgery I’ve ever performed—not even as an assistant back in med school or as head surgeon since I took the lead role at our hospital—yet I can feel my heart pounding even now, nearly an hour after finishing the procedure.

Her face, which had softened, tightens again after what I said. “Hard to believe that, but I’m a firm believer that couples—whether past or present—should settle their own issues.”

“I thought you’d come with your husband,” I say, trying to redirect the conversation, because there’s something I want from her.

“How do you know I’m married? Actually, we live together. We were planning to get married soon, but right now, Alexis’s health is my top priority.”

“I spoke to him on the phone once.”

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

“When was that?”

“Almost two years ago.”

She looks at me, visibly puzzled. “Anyway, regarding your question about my boyfriend, he’s staying at a hotel.”

I frown, confused. From the brief conversation I had with the man, he seemed extremely protective of the two of them. Why wouldn’t he come to the hospital?

“There’s something else I wanted to talk about,” I say, steering the conversation back to my objective: keeping Alexis nearby. “I have several apartments in Manhattan. One of them is very close to the hospital. I’d like to offer it to you for your stay.”

Her face tenses as she protests, “She’ll never accept that, and?—”

“I’ll talk to her. Alexis won’t be in any condition to stay in a hotel.”

“We can afford an apartment,” she says, proud.

“I don’t doubt that, but certainly not one as close as this. Can you back me on this, at least?” I’ve never asked anyone for help, but my intuition tells me Marla is the best ally I could ask for.

“Why do you care?”

“Because I made a mistake in the past.”

“You didn’t make a mistake. You lied to her.”

“What?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing. Like I said, I won’t interfere.

When my daughter is strong enough, you two can talk.

As for the apartment, I’ll try to convince her.

It makes perfect sense. But there’s one more thing we need to talk about.

” She sounds awkward. “I was so nervous to get to you and hear the news that I didn’t realize we never discussed payment. ”

“Don’t worry about that.”

“I won’t accept charity.”

“It’s not charity. I’ll talk to my partners. Everything will be on us.”

“But—”

“Pick your battles, Marla. I’m not an easy opponent.”