Everyone in the conference hall was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. While everyone seemed happy and was congratulating Brix and Cris, Lenny was trying her best not to let others see her sour face.

  It was a struggle because Lenny of all people could not expect what her son had just done. She was still not ready to accept Cris.

  "Congratulations!" She heard the officers and board members greet her and she mustered enough skill to keep a poker face and smile as she said, "Thank you."

  She couldn't take it anymore so she excused herself. She balled her fist and gritted her teeth in fury as soon as she was out of the conference hall. But she suddenly stopped when she felt a pain in her chest and she grabbed it.

  "Ahhh…" she gasped for air as the pain in her chest became intolerable. Her knees gave out from beneath her and she slumped to the ground. The employees in the hallway who saw it immediately rushed to her assistance. Someone called the emergency hotline while some others rushed back inside the conference hall to inform Brix of what had happened.

  Lenny's eyes closed as she heard her son calling her, "Mom! Mom! Please hang in there…"

  Brix was hysterical as he carried his mother out of the building. Cris looked towards Kenzie who nodded and Cris went with Brix and they rushed his mother to the hospital.

  Meanwhile, Kenzie heaved a sigh as she looked at Cris' and Brix's retreating back. She then looked at Daryl and said, "I will just wrap things up here."

  Daryl nodded and followed his wife back into the conference hall. He could tell that the incident might cause a negative impact, a rumor most likely that Brix's mother was not in favor of the said proposal.

  "Alright, everyone can now return to their work. I am grateful that you all joined us for the inauguration of our new Vice-President and I hope everyone will cooperate well with our new officer.

  Also, I would like to request everyone to refrain from starting any false rumors about the incident, because my Aunt, as we all know, has heart problems, and this kind of accident could have happened at any time. Please respect the family's privacy. Any false rumor that is heard about this incident, will be dealt with accordingly.

  Again, thank you for your presence." Kenzie announced before she stepped down from the stage. Everyone left the room except for Daryl and Kenzie. Both were waiting for news from Cris.

  "You should go, Baby. I will take care of things here," Daryl said with a smile. Kenzie hugged him and kissed his lips before she said, "Alright. Work hard and come home as soon as you can. I will give you? one of my relaxing massages."

  Daryl chuckled and he held Kenzie's hand as he walked her out to the car. Kenzie was good at giving massages. Daryl felt so relaxed after that he would often get hard and they always ended up making love.

  Kenzie's mobile phone rang as they were walking to the car.

  "How are things at the hospital?" Kenzie asked.

  "Brix's mother was rushed to the operating room for an emergency surgery as soon as we reached here," Cris informed Kenzie.

  "Alright. I will be there soon. You must stay with Brix and not leave his side, okay. My husband will handle things at the office," Kenzie said before she ended the call. She heaved a long sigh and whispered, "How come we've been visiting hospitals so much lately. Good thing Harry will be discharged soon, but now aunt Lenny will replace him."

  Meanwhile, at the Yang Globals hospital, Brix and Cris were sitting on chairs in the waiting area. Cris looked at Brix, who was sitting with his head down. She grabbed his hand and felt his hand tightened around hers. She could feel him trembling and so she held his hand in both of hers.

  "Do you think she will be alright, Cris? I'm scared to think that I might lose her like this, while she still has hatred in her heart," Cris heard Brix whispered.

  She stood up and pulled Brix's head to rest on her chest as she whispered, "I'm sure your Mom will be fine, Brix. You know how strong she is."

  Cris would be a hypocrite if she would say that she had no worries about the current situation because she did. What would happen if Brix's mother used her health to sway Brix to do her bidding once again? Cris had her worries but she never wished for Brix's mother not to overcome this trial. She would like to see her well and work a good relationship with her son.

  "I don't want her to leave like this either, Cris. I want her to be a better person and appreciate the good life she has now. I want her to realize that she is far more blessed than most. She has such a good brother-in-law who supports her and a doting son, even if she is someone who is not deserving of either. She can't just leave like this, Cris. She has to survive and redeem herself first."

  Brix could not keep his tears from falling from his eyes. He loved his mother a lot even if she had a dishonest personality. He was not yet ready to lose hope that his mother would change if she would just open her eyes and heart to the goodness of people around her.

  Cris caressed and stroked his air as she whispered, "I know Brix. I'm sure she will survive this. Just be strong and remember that I'm always here for you."

  Soon Kenzie arrived and checked on the two in the waiting room. The surgery took hours and after some time the door to the operating room opened and the doctors came outside.

  "How is Aunty?" Kenzie asked the doctors.

  "I am sorry…" the doctor whispered and Brix felt his knees weaken so that he had to hold on to Cris for support.

  The door opened and a woman in a scrub suit panted, "Doc, the patient's pulse is back…… please come back inside and check it!"

  Instantly the doctors went back into the operating room while Kenzie, Brix, and Cris looked at each other with confusion about what was happening.

  "What's going on?" Brix whispered urgently.

  A man in a scrub suit came out and said, "They are checking the patient once more. Her heart had stopped beating and Doctor Chen had proclaimed her dead, but when we were preparing to wrap up her body, the pulse came back… Please continue to pray, the doctors are doing their best to stabilize her vitals."

  "Oh God, please give her another chance," Brix cried. Cris pulled Brix into her arms and tried to comfort him.