Meeting You Was Fate

The pain failed to recede. Monica rubbed her chest hard. Audrey's face looked serious, and the mask she wore did little to
detract attention from her eyes and eyebrows' beauty. She said in a kind voice, "Don't do that, madam. It will only make things
worse. You'll be fine in a little while. The medicine we injected you with will take effect in about ten minutes."
Monica's head was covered with sweat. She took a deep breath to steady herself as she placed her hands by the bed and
looked at Audrey with trembling eyes.
A nurse was cleaning the equipment nearby. Audrey smiled at Monica. "Don't worry, madam. The heart disease is not that
severe, but please, try not to get too worked up in future. You should keep things light."
Still feeling a little weak, Monica stammered, "When we step out, can you...can you describe my condition to my son as though
it's more serious?"
The doctor frowned. "Why? Do you want your son to worry about you?"
"To some extent, yes. My son has always been obedient. But ever since he started dating this girlfriend of his a few months back,
he's begun to disobey me. He's been annoying me repeatedly of late." Monica stared at Audrey's eyes. She didn't know why, but
she had a gut feeling that this doctor would help her.
"So you want your son to break up with his girlfriend, and that's why you want me to lie?" Audrey smirked as realization dawned
on her.
'Surely, all mothers-in-law are vicious, ' she thought. Staring at the patient, she suddenly remembered her grandmother. Back
then, she had also tried to get her parents to divorce.
"Yes, doctor. Please, do me this favor. That seductress has completely brainwashed my son. He doesn't listen to me anymore. If
it goes on like this, I might die." Frowning, Monica was disgusted at the thought of Fiona's innocent face.
Audrey curled her lips. "But... as doctors, our ethics are important to us. What you're asking of me goes against the code."
Monica's eyes seemed to go blank. Suddenly reaching out, she grabbed Audrey's hand. "Please, doctor. Just tell my son that I'm
seriously ill and can't bear any agitation."
Audrey could not refuse her patient's request. She went against her conscience and decided to play along.
She looked solemn as she accompanied the nurse who wheeled Monica out.

By the time the emergency room doors burst open, Ethon's nerves were already frayed. He walked towards his mother and saw
her lying on the bed with a deathly pallor on her face. Her lips were pursed as if she was unwilling to talk.
Audrey asked that Monica be transferred to a ward as she needed to remain under observation for three more days. Then she
saw Ethon. Calming herself, she asked, "Who is the patient's family?"
Fiona was Mandy's younger sister, and Ethon was Fiona's boyfriend. Audrey had seen them in Adrian's ward before. However,
she hadn't expected that the woman who had been begging her in the operating room would be Ethon's mother.
The woman wanted her son to break up with Fiona. Audrey found it funny. It was like she just accidentally discovered a big
secret. She felt quite excited.
"I am her son," Ethon answered in a tired voice.
"Come with me." Audrey cast an in-depth look at Ethon and then at Fiona.
Fiona met her gaze. 'Isn't she the female doctor that Mandy talked about?' she pondered. She remembered that Mandy had
looked repulsed when she'd talked about the doctor. She imagined that Audrey was not a kind person.
Ethon followed Audrey down the corridor. Worriedly, he asked, "How's my mother doing?"
"Her condition isn't fatal, but the heart disease is quite serious. She can't bear any emotional trauma at this time. As her son, you
have to be more attentive to your mother's moods." Audrey's tone remained serious despite her smile.
Hearing that his mother's illness wasn't fatal, Ethon heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you, doctor. I understand."
"You're welcome. I'm just doing my job. Ensure she takes her pills promptly. Most importantly, she must remain in a good mood
and not get agitated. That will save everyone a lot of trouble," She stressed the phrase "good mood." Her signature smile still
played on her lips.
Ethon merely smiled back since he did not know what else to say.
On the other side, Shyla and Fiona had followed the nurse to Monica's ward. As her condition improved, Shyla acted anxiously
and sat beside the bed. It was the perfect opportunity to win Monica's affection.
"Aunt Monica, how are you feeling now? Are you comfortable?"

"I'm fine. I'm fine. I won't die yet. Someone may be disappointed if I do." With her voice full of resentment, Monica glared at Fiona
through hate-filled eyes.
Fiona clenched her fists and thought, 'I am such a fool! Why did I come inside? Why am I asking for trouble? I'm giving Monica
the chance to mock me, aren't I?'
"Aunt Monica, are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?" Shyla asked after looking at her wristwatch. She realized that
it was time for dinner.
With a satisfied smile plastered on her face, Monica took Shyla's hand fondly. "Yes, I'm a little hungry. I'd like to eat some
porridge."
"Then I'll go buy you some," Shyla volunteered. Her victorious smile was as bright as the warm summer sunshine.
"Okay," Monica answered. It just so happened that she had something to say to Fiona.
Once Shyla left, Fiona felt like an outsider. She mocked herself, 'Why am I still here? Ethon hasn't come back yet, but it'll look
awkward if I leave now. As his girlfriend, it is my responsibility to take care of his mother.'