The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 258

Chapter 258: Money

Vivian crossed the room in three long strides, dropping to her knees beside Maya's bed so she could pull the little girl into the tightest, most relieved embrace imaginable. She buried her face in Maya's soft curls as tears streamed freely down her cheeks, warm saltwater mingling with the flecks of drying blood speckled across her skin.

"Thank God, thank God you're okay..." Vivian murmured fervently, cradling the back of Maya's head tenderly. Her body slumped, as if every ounce of tension was finally being

exhaled. They had made it against all odds.

Maya shifted in her arms, tilting her head back to regard her aunt with concern. "You got some ouches, Auntie Viv," she remarked plainly, raising a tiny hand to dab at a tear trailing down Vivian's jaw,

"I'm just so happy to see you, baby," Vivian managed in a cracked whisper. "So, so happy."

She held Maya for several more long moments, soaking in the simple act of watching the girl's chest rising and falling steadily with each breath. This same little girl who had been in and out of hospital beds, hooked up to IVs and monitoring equipment ever since the first signs of her renal failure had been detected at age two. Vivian silently renewed her vow to ensure this would be the last time she had to endure this sterile, frightening environment as a patient.

At last, she pulled back and did her utmost to plaster on a reassuring smile, gently brushing, Maya's unruly curls away from her forehead.

"Are you scared at all for your surgery, sweetheart?" Her voice was tender, soothing. "It's totally okay if you are. Being brave doesn't mean you can't be a little scared too."

To Vivian's surprise, the cherubic little girl's face scrunched up matter-of-factly as she shook her head adamantly. "Nope! Not scared one bit. The doctors tol' me they're gonna make me all better. And then I get a new ninja kidney!"

She giggled, clearly envisioning some sort of small assassin organ working its way into her tiny body. Vivian couldn't help but laugh wetly at her niece's pure, childlike wonder and imagination. Even now, surrounded by the cold realities of life-saving medical procedures and recovery wards, Maya somehow retained that spark of youthful joy.

pressing

the whole time, okay? You

the room. Vivian stood smoothly, stepping back to allow the nurse to

it's time for your big adventure," the

Chapter 258: Money

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for putting young patients at ease. "We're going to give you some sleepy medicine first so you don't feel

into her IV line. Within minutes,

began wheeling the bed toward the

her gaze away.

down the hallway. "Nobody gets in or out of this

screaming to continue shadowing Maya's gurney like a protective lioness. She wanted to be right there, keeping watch over her beloved niece every second of

she knew that wasn't feasible, no matter how badly her heart twisted at being forced to separate. Her place would

the earlier attack. More than one set of eyes raked over her in confusion and muted horror before

to blink away the restless

four hours now," Joe responded levelly from where he stood sentry beside her chair. " Transplant procedures can take a while

hung in the balance of the surgeons' skilled and patient hands right now. Wallowing in anxiety and fatigue would only prove disrespectful to the immense care she was receiving.

Chapter 258: Money

face this terrifying gauntlet with childlike calm and wonder, then the absolute least Vivian

skyline. Morning had given way to midday, lazy golden warmth spilling across the room's linoleum floors in gilded geometric shapes. Then, just as she settled into an almost meditative

members strode out, already unsnapping the loop of his face mask as a tired yet relieved