Matilda wasted no time. She handed her father's medical records and all his test reports to Gabriel.
She stood shily by his side, her demeanor shifting instantly to that of a vulnerable little woman.
Gabriel got down to business earnestly.
As a doctor, he didn't take medical matters lightly, and that was any doctor's unwavering principle.
He meticulously examined Jason's medical history and test reports and found that his condition was quite complex.
Aging was a natural process, and it brought along health issues that were practically inevitable. No one could escape this curse.
Jason's condition primarily revolved around cerebrovascular problems with some heart complications.
In his medical view, there were two choices available – using traditional medicine to manage, or modern medicine to treat.
Managing the condition could extend Jason's life by five or six years, but he would still lead a somewhat fragile existence.
On the other hand, treating it would significantly boost his vitality but potentially shorten his remaining years to a mere two or three.
In essence, Jason's body was like an old truck that had been running for over a decade. It was well past its prime.
Gabriel chose not to divulge these intricate details to Matilda.
Knowing these specifics would only bring her distress; it wouldn’t help her much.
His decision was to opt for treatment.
For most elderly people, a life of fragility and suffering was akin to a form of torment.
And to them, time was merely a gauge of how long that torment lasted.
Gabriel's goal was clear–to provide treatment, boost Jason's vitality, and then manage his condition.
The aim was to extend Jason's post-surgery life span without compromising his overall well-being.
The night was restless for Matilda.
She paced back and forth in the hallway. By dawn, her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked all the more gaunt.
Meanwhile, Gabriel had rested soundly in Dr. Smith's office.
He needed to be in the best possible condition for the upcoming surgery.
At exactly nine in the morning, Gabriel awoke.
Dr. Smith had prepared everything for the surgery well in advance, waiting for Gabriel to take the lead.
Matilda anxiously lingered around Gabriel, not daring to rush him and displaying a more docile side.
Seeing this scene, Gabriel couldn't help but smile.
Matilda, while with her regal demeanor, at her core, was but a daughter and a vulnerable girl.
As he donned his surgical gown, Gabriel went to work!
In that very moment, it was as if Gabriel had transformed into a different person.
The sign on the operating room's door shone bright with the words "In Surgery," which was the most dazzling thing Matilda had ever seen in her life.
Pushed to her limits, Matilda leaned against the wall.
Her gaze appeared somewhat vacant as she stared at the operating room door.
The surgery was highly intricate and required the utmost care.
It wasn't until a full three hours later that the operating room door finally swung open.
With a creak, the moment had arrived.
Matilda, who had been nervously pacing back and forth, felt her body shiver.
She spun around abruptly to witness her father being wheeled out of the room.
Seeing her father still unconscious, she rushed forward, her voice trembling as she inquired, "Dr. Smith, how's my father?"
With that, he removed his surgical attire and slowly left.
Matilda gazed at Gabriel's departing figure for a long time. In that moment, his silhouette seemed somewhat akin to Herman's.
She, who rarely shed tears, found herself overcome with emotion at that instant.
"Herman, where are you? I'm barely holding on. I miss you so much!"
In the long corridor, Matilda's graceful figure exuded an inexplicable sense of desolation.
An hour later, Jason woke up.
Seeing his haggard daughter, Jason couldn't help but say, "I’m sorry, my dear!"
"Dad, it's nothing!" Matilda kept shaking her head. "A little hardship on my part is nothing as long as you recover. It's all worth it!"
Her father was a famously ruthless figure in Gumoldur City, and he had carved out a vast territory here with his tenacity and determination. But that ruthlessness had never been directed towards her.
When young, she used to ride on her father's shoulders, grab his beard, and play hide and seek with him.
Her father had given her all his tenderness and love.
That day, father and daughter engaged in a heartfelt conversation.
Matilda told her father about the current state of the Southern Heaven Association and about Gabriel.
Jason, weak but still lucid, said, "Mr. Gabriel is such a myth. He single-handedly dealt a blow to Vicky Barnes, that cunning b*tch."
"Collaborating with him is a good choice. But Matilda, you must be cautious and vigilant at all times. You mustn't allow yourself to be harmed, no matter what."
Gabriel's arrival was an opportunity for the Southern Heaven Association to turn the tide.
Despite the risks involved, it was worth it.
After all, the Southern Heaven Association was on the brink, with no other choices available.
"Don't worry, Dad. I've got it under control," Matilda reassured her father. "I'll take care of the Southern Heaven Association during this time. As for Mr. Gabriel, I won't let him manipulate me!"
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