Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 81: A Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 81: A Glimmer of Hope

Leander opened the door and Viviana was surprised to see Doctor Nathan. The moment Leander’s eyes ended up on Nathaniel, he knelt down. Katerina was standing behind him and not knowing what was happening, she covered her mouth with her hands.

"What did you do?" she slapped Nathaniel’s back as tears formed in her eyes. "What did you do, son?"

"Ma, it’s...nothing. I just have to tell Leander something," Nathaniel tried to placate his mother.

But Katerina did not think it was nothing. No one kneels in front of Leander to tell him something. They kneel to die.

"Why? You’re my only son... Why did you..."

Leander sighed seeing Katerina sobbing leaning on the wall. "Is that the medications she asked for?" he got the tray Katerina was holding. "Nathaniel, get inside." He walked inside the room not minding the sobbing Katerina.

Viviana took a deep breath seeing the drama in front of her. She didn’t know why Nathaniel is kneeling.

Nathaniel stepped in and Leander closed the door. Seeing Viviana on the bed, Nathaniel nodded at her.

"What?" Leander asked in a bland, unenthusiastic voice.

He could guess why Nathaniel came to visit him the day after he got married. He now knows for sure that she is infertile. He was ferociously mad at Nathaniel for not telling him that much of an important detail.

"About Miss..." Nathaniel gulped. "About the lady...about..."

"She’s Minerva Kastello. You can call her ...," Leander looked at Viviana. "Madonna."

[Madonna means ’My Lady’ in Italian.]

"NO!" Viviana immediately refused.

She would never be called Madonna. Madonna represents the Blessed Mother, the mother of Christ. She will never have that title. That’s blasphemous.

Leander’s lips curved to a smirk. Again, she proved that she had an emotional connection with Catholicism. "Signora, then," he looked at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel nodded. "I... After careful assessment of the MRI of Signora and her bloodwork, I concluded that~"

"It took you this long?" Leander asked.

Nathaniel looked at him with shock. But then he relaxed as he took a glance at Viviana. She must have told him. It gave him a little hope. But did she tell him before or after the wedding?

Viviana made the connection. The doctor didn’t tell him about her infertility. She understood him. There was no need for him to tell Leander about her fertility issues. Leander only wanted to make her suffer. To have revenge for what she did to his brother.

So, what could he possibly do with that detail?

But when she looked at the stiff shoulders of Leander, she could sense that Leander was mad. She didn’t know why though. Even if the doctor didn’t tell him about it, she did. He knew she was infertile even before the "wedding" and mocked her for it.

So, why?

"Endometriosis," Viviana decided to do the explaining partly to turn Leander’s attention toward her. She didn’t want a repeat of what happened with the hairdresser to happen with the doctor. She vaguely remembered the doctor mentioning kids.

Leander’s attention did turn to her. He walked toward her. His eyes were distant and cold.

"I’ve known that I have this condition for a long time. I get irregular periods and severe cramps. Since I have an acute case, it caused infertility. The cause is unknown, but the doctors guessed it might have been the result of an accident I was in when I was a child," she explained mechanically.

"Treatment?" he turned to look at Nathaniel.

The medical advancements are great. She might not have tried to find a cure because of her stupid vendetta or because she didn’t have money. But he has all the money in the world.

"I visited almost seven different doctors and five of them suggested the surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries. One suggested removing the endometrial tissues with surgery but added that the condition will surely return, another suggested living with the pain, and that’s what I am doing," Viviana shrugged.

Well, one suggested that she has a child when she turned twenty because the condition will worsen with age. She wanted a family. But she didn’t like the idea of marrying just for a child. And where was she going to find a man who’d accept the risk with her? That suggestion went out of the window.

She is 28 now, with no hopes of having a child, and left with excruciating pain. That pain is the only thing that reminds her that she still is a woman. And that’s why she refused to do a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. And at her age, removing her uterus and ovaries will cause other complications too, so the doctors told her.

Leander looked at Nathaniel to check if he had something more to add. He knew this woman overreacted and lied to him. But Nathaniel had nothing to add and nodded agreeing with her.

The treatment is to remove her uterus.

Leander didn’t know much. He never attended science classes or wondered about the human reproductive system. But even he knew a woman would need her uterus to have a child. The baby grows in the uterus of the mother.

So, without treatment she is infertile, and with treatment, she will still be infertile.

What kind of illness does she have? The treatment and the illness are one and the same...?

But then he realized as he looked at her. She was clutching her abdomen, twisting her toes in pain.

Without treatment, she will be in pain. With treatment, she won’t suffer anymore.

And it was obvious why she chose to suffer for the rest of her life. She must be stupid or a masochist who loves to self-flagellate.

Figures!

"There is the conservative surgery option," Nathaniel said, turning Leander’s attention

With a skip of his heartbeat, hope sprung in his heart. There must be a middle ground. For every problem, there is a middle ground. He loves the middle ground.

Leander’s gaze landed on Viviana, hoping she was grasping this newfound hope too. But she was looking carefree and detached.

Her attitude angered him so much.

"With that...?" Leander questioned Nathaniel.

If there is an option, he can leave Nathaniel alive. And if she can be healed, then he can give his grandfather what he wants.

"Will that conservative surgery help her?" Leander asked again.