Page 38 of Dr. Billionaire's Fake Marriage

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” I say as we both get out of the car.

I smile at Troy, grateful that he sees me as his patient's relative today instead of one of his employees. I walk straight to Mother's room.

The monitor at her side beeps subtly, and she opens her eyes just when my hand touches her hair. She is awake from the anesthetic. I think back to the time before the dreaded surgery.

"Your surgery is in an hour," I said. "You will be fine." I took a piece of Mother's crocheted bunny from my bag. It is one of my favorite gifts from Mom. She had made it for my sixth birthday. I placed the bunny by her bed, and she smiled as she takes it up to her chest.

“You loved it so much you wouldn’t go anywhere without your bunny,” Mother reminded me. I chuckle at the memory. "I loved it because it was different from other kids', and they envied me for it."

Two nurses walked into the room; it was an hour already. I stood up and watched them prepare her for her surgery. I followed them as they push her through the hallway into the operating room. I stopped at the door, as requested, and watched from this point of demarcation. Troy looked at me intently. His eyes met mine, and he nodded before turning around. The rest of the team members were in the room except me.

I must have been standing for a few minutes when I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I turned to see that it is Amelia; she took my hand in hers and promised, "She will be fine."

I rested my head on her shoulder. Amelia’s presence made it all better. She pushed me to take a break from staring at the doctors opening up my dear mother. I sighed; she was right. Mother's surgery would take hours - at least ten. I gave in to Amelia's advice of taking a break. We took the elevator to the cafeteria; my heart raced when I saw Mrs. Robinson walking toward us. She held her gaze on me as she walked past us.

“What is Mrs. Robinson doing in the hospital?” Amelia whispered when we were sure she was long gone.

"What is she doing in her son's hospital?" I asked Amelia. But Amelia thought seeing Mrs. Robinson on the same day Mother was having her surgery was a bit weird.

I shook my head to say, "There is no way she knows about it, is there?" I asked, "Will she hate me less if she finds out, or will she think I am using her son?"

Amelia scoffed, "For all it's worth, her son is the one using you." You should bother less about what she thinks and make sure you get what you want from the marriage contract."

I flinched and said, “Do you think she can fire me?”

Amelia nodded but thought Mrs. Robinson knew it was unwise to fire me because I could always go to the media with the family secret.

I sighed, happy that Mrs. Robinson dare not fire me for the next six months.

"You should go home," I told Amelia when it grew darker. "Henry will be waiting for you at the house."

“Just so you know, I would have stayed with you till the surgery ended if not for the wedding preparation,” Amelia uttered, and I kissed her goodbye on the cheek. “Tell your mom I can’t wait to see her.” She said as she took the next exit.

I paced around the hospital, breaking the hospital’s rule of no loitering. I knew the security was letting it slide because I was a doctor there. I finally sat on the bench outside the hallway leading to the operating room and drifted off to sleep.

I felt a hand tap my arm; when I woke up, one of the nurses on the team informed me that Mother was out of surgery. I tried not to run as I took the elevator down to the recovery area.

Mother was sleeping when I get there, and I saw Troy walking into her room a few seconds later. I stood across the bed, looking at her sleeping peacefully. "You should go home now," Troy advised, but I refused.

“I want to be there when she wakes up,” I replied. “I will go home when she wakes up.”

"I thought you would say that," Troy replied as he left the room. I sat by Mother's bed, my stomach turning from hunger, but I could still hold on until the anesthesia wore off.

“Camile,” Mother’s soft voice calls me.

"Mom!" I cry, looking at her as she forces herself to smile. I hold her hand and tell her she is going to be fine. She falls asleep once again.

Mother's nurse is back in the room. "You look like a mess," she jokes. "You should go home now; your mother will be fine. “I grin and look back at Mother, who is sleeping again. "I will tell her you have gone home."

I thank her as I leave the hospital. Troy's car is not parked outside, which means he is still at our house or Henry's house.

Troy has been staying clear of his mother's house since the night he told her about his secret marriage. I am sure the grudge will last even longer.

I am right about Troy being at the house, but he has a surprise waiting for me. The house is different from the bachelor pad I left a few hours ago.

A decoration team is putting up a few homey items. I see Troy sitting next to Henry by the pool; he raises his head when he notices a shadow hovering over him.

"Hi Camile," Henry says to me. I smile at him, and Troy stands up to walk me back into the house.

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