Chapter 135 Matters of the Heart
Chapter 135 Matters of the Heart
Under Gabriel's guidance and with Mia driving an SUV, they arrived at the destination: Celestial Restaurant.
Stella's eyes lit up as she caught sight of it. She'd been here with Gabriel before, and she remembered the mouthwatering cheese pasta.
As they settled in, Ava couldn't hide her dissatisfaction. She said, pouting, "Gabriel, this is where you take us for dinner? Is this a kind of compensation or payback?"
"You know nothing. Only places like this offer the most authentic and delectable cuisine!"
Gabriel wasted no time defending his choice. A daughter of a wealthy family knew little about the of the street markets.
And he decided he needed to teach her a lesson.
Ava was about to protest further when Stella chimed in, "The food here is genuinely fantastic; I've been here with Gabriel before."
Ava's jealousy flared, and she couldn't resist a taunt. "Seems like you two have a lot of memories together, huh, Mr. Scumbag?"
Gabriel was at a loss for words. Why was she suddenly getting jealous?
He quickly moved ahead and called out to the bustling Marvin, "Marvin, we'll have five orders of cheese pasta, and let Susan whip up a few dishes!"
Marvin turned to see Gabriel, his face lighting up. "You haven't been around for quite some time, kid. I've missed our little chats. It gets a bit lonely without you."
As he spoke, he noticed the four stunning women accompanying Gabriel.
His face showed surprise, and he stumbled over his words, "Th... these are all your friends?"
Gabriel chuckled heartily, confirming, "That's right, Marvin. So, you're going to give us a discount, right?"
Marvin had offered Stella a free meal on her last visit.
Now with four additional beauties this time, Gabriel expected an even more generous discount. NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
"It's going to cost me a pretty penny with these four... I might end up paying extra!" Marvin remarked with a hint of envy at Gabriel's good fortune.
He couldn't fathom how Gabriel had managed to find himself in the company of these four incredibly beautiful women.
After savoring the flavors of the humble eatery, everyone, except Stella, who had been here before, marveled at the dishes.
Gabriel was right; sometimes, the best food was found in these unassuming places.
Even Ava, initially reluctant, couldn't resist indulging.
After settling the bill and exchanging a few more jokes with Marvin, Gabriel departed with four girls.
As they were about to get into the car, Gabriel's phone rang.
"Hello?"
His expression shifted dramatically after answering the call.
Half an hour later, Gabriel arrived at Westwood Hospital alone.
He hurried into the hospital room and saw Zoe lying on the bed, receiving an IV drip.
Christopher sat in a chair, looking anxious.
Even Blind John was there, huddled in a corner.
"How are you feeling, Zoe?" Gabriel asked, his heart aching as he gazed at her pale, frail form.
"I'm okay, Gabriel," Zoe replied with a faint smile, knowing she had once again caused Gabriel to worry.
Gabriel furrowed his brow deeply as he turned to Christopher. "Chris, Zoe has been taking her medication regularly. Why did she faint again today?"
Ever since he had the means, Gabriel had been in charge of Zoe's medication, ensuring a constant supply.
Zoe's sudden fainting spell had him worried.
Christopher stammered, his eyes reddening before he could utter a word.
At that moment, Dr. Louis, Zoe's attending physician, entered the room.
Dr. Louis explained, "Zoe's condition deteriorated suddenly. If we don't operate soon, it could be very dangerous."
Dr. Louis's words deepened Gabriel's frown.
Anxious, he asked, "Dr. Louis, it's been quite a while. Still no matching organ donor?"
A while back, he had offered a 200-thousand-dollar reward for organ donation.
However, there had been no leads so far.
Just as he finished his words, Dr. Louis smiled and, in an excited tone, replied, "I was just about to tell you! It's incredible timing. This morning, in the Yuriston Province, a brain-dead individual with Panda Blood, and a heart with a very high compatibility rate with Zoe's, has been offered as a donor. The family has agreed to donate it, free of charge. We can have the heart here tomorrow. As long as the final matching process goes smoothly, we can proceed with Zoe's surgery!"
Dr. Louis's words eased Gabriel's tense expression.
Christopher, along with Blind John in the corner, also became elated.
"Dr. Louis, thank you so much! We're deeply grateful!" Gabriel exclaimed, shaking Dr. Louis's hand vigorously.
This news was the happiest he had been in three years.
"Of course!" Dr. Louis replied with a smile.
Only then did Gabriel release Dr. Louis's hand.
Taking in the crowded hospital room, he added, "Dr. Louis, please help me transfer Zoe to the best room available; money is not an issue!"
Dr. Louis nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll arrange that for her."
After Dr. Louis left, Gabriel couldn't contain his excitement, dancing around like a child.
His jubilance was infectious.
"Gabriel, thank you so much!" Zoe said with a heartfelt smile as she watched him dance.
Meeting Gabriel was the greatest blessing of her life.
Gabriel approached her bedside and adjusted her blanket. "Sure thing, Zoe. Just a few more days, and after the surgery, you'll be completely well. Then, we can go anywhere you want, eat anything you like. I'll take care of it all!"
Zoe nodded firmly.
At that moment, Christopher pulled Gabriel aside, looking somewhat awkward. "Gabriel, the surgery will require a lot of money, and we..."
Blind John, who was nearby, rolled his eyes. "You can stop worrying. This kid has no shortage of money these days. Besides, he's already arranged for Zoe to have a better room. Need I remind you?"
Gabriel didn't argue with Blind John. Instead, he reassured Christopher, "Chris, don't worry about the money. I've got it covered. Zoe will get well, I promise, because she's an angel!"
That moment, Christopher finally felt at ease.
A warm smile appeared on his honest face.
They moved Zoe to a private room, which was much more spacious.
While Blind John wandered around, Gabriel and Christopher took turns caring for Zoe.
The following day, the much-anticipated heart arrived at the hospital.
Gabriel and Christopher were on edge because the final matching process was crucial.
They had to wait, and the time seemed to drag on endlessly.
When seeing the smile on Dr. Louis' face, Gabriel instinctively clenched his fist, overwhelmed with excitement.
It seemed to be a successful match.
Sure enough, Dr. Louis said to them, "It's a successful match. We'll conduct all the necessary pre- surgery checks for Zoe tomorrow, and the surgery can be scheduled for the day after tomorrow!"
At that moment, the excited Gabriel gave Christopher a heartfelt hug.
On the third day, Gabriel and Christopher accompanied Zoe through a series of examinations, all of which went smoothly, meeting all the surgery requirements.
Just one more night, and Zoe could have the surgery.
At half-past ten in the evening, Gabriel sat on the edge of the bed, watching Zoe sleep peacefully. He couldn't find a trace of sleepiness within himself.
As he gazed at Zoe's delicate face, his eyes were filled with tenderness.
If fate were to take away such a kind and intelligent girl, then surely, fate was blind.
Just as he was lost in thought, the phone rang. He quickly silenced it and got up, careful not to disturb Zoe.
After checking that she was still asleep, he quietly left the hospital room.
"Hello, Mr. Santos. Why are you calling me so late?" Gabriel asked when he reached the elevator.
Standing at the elevator, Gabriel called Mr. Santos back.
Mr. Santos' voice was grave as he said, "Gabriel, there's trouble about the Blood Scripture."