Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

AT AINSLEY HOSPITAL

Ian pulled up in front of the hospital where a man in uniform directed him to park in to the driveway. He stopped the car and got out to help Ria but she was already out before he came to her side. Now how can he lead her into the hospital when she doesn’t want him to touch her? Ian mused not knowing what to do while Ria stood waiting for him to make a move to help her.

Ian wasn’t sure of how to lead her in. “Why aren’t we going in?” She asked him.

Ian swallowed hard. “I don’t know if you want me to hold you.” He confessed.

Ria already knew he would have to touch her because she doesn’t know the area. “It is fine.” She said in a low tone.

“Okay.” Ian moved closer and put his arm in hers that Ria had to lean closer to him. Ian felt her trembled a bit and then she relaxed. “Are you okay?” He asked.

Ria cleared her throat. “Yes.. yes.. yes.. I am fine.” She stuttered.

They moved to the glass entrance and walked into the hospital. Ian was welcomed by Doctor Hawn who was waiting at the reception.

“Good morning, CEO Ian.” Doctor Hawn greeted.

“Good morning, Doctor Hawn.” Ian replied.

Doctor Hawn gaze flickered on Ria who was leaning closely to Ian. “Good morning, Miss.”

Ria forced a smile on her face. “Ria Robert.” She said.

“Doctor Hawn-”

“Well Sir Ian, the optician is waiting at the eye centre.” Doctor Hawn informed him.

“What gender is she?” Ian mouthed trying not to let Ria hear his words.

“Pardon?” Doctor Hawn raised his eyebrows in confusion.

Ian cleared his throat. “I mean.. can we get a female optician instead of a male?” He doesn’t want Ria to feel comfortable during test.

“Don’t worry, the optician is a female.” Doctor Hawn answered.

“Okay.” Ian nodded.

“Please come with me, Doctor Alisa is waiting for you.” Doctor Hawn led them to the eye centre.

After passing through several hallways and wards, they reached the section with a tag eye center and Doctor Hawn stopped in front of a door. He knocked and twisted the door knob after hearing a command to come in.

“Mr Ian meet Doctor Alisa.” Doctor Hawn introduced.

The female doctor smiled and they exchanged pleasantries. “Ian Bryant and she is Ria Robert.” Ian said.

“Good to have you here. Please take a seat.” Doctor Alisa gestured to the chairs.

Ian helped Ria settle in the chair facing the doctor directly. “Firstly, miss Ria I would like to know your eye conditions. If you have been going for check ups then you should know the defects.” Doctor Alisa said.

“I was born blind.” Ria replied.

“What’s the cause?” Doctor Alisa questioned.

“Cataracts.” Ria answered.

“And when last did you check in to an eye centre?” Doctor Alisa jolted down in a file.

“It has been a while.” Ria responded.

“Doctor Alisa, please can you tell me what cataracts means? It feels like I am hearing a different language.” Ian was confused.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The doctors laughed at the look on his face. “Mr Ian, Cataracts is a condition in which a part of the eye called the lens becomes cloudy.” She explained.

“Miss Ria, can you see anything?” Doctor Hawn asked as he moved closer to his colleague.

“Just.. darkness.” Ria mumbled.

“So doctor what’s actually the cause of the cataract?” Ian asked.

“It is a result of tissues breakdown and protein clumping. Cataract affects the centre of the lens that’s why you can see the patch on her lenses.” Doctor Alisa responded.

“Do we get an eye test done today?” Ian looked at Ria who just sat down and stared into space.

“Not really since we already know the cause. Now we just have to discuss the solutions and run test later.” Doctor Alisa wrote something down again.

“So what’s the remedy?”

Doctor Alisa clicked on the keyboard to check out the remedies of cataract. “Surgery is the only means to treating cataracts. We have to extract the cloudy lenses and replace them with artificial lenses called the intraocular lens and after that she will continue using eye drops containing Lanosterol to clean the vision.”

Ian leaned forward. “Aside extracting the cataracts and fixing in artificial lenses, what other options do we have? We need a permanent solution so she doesn’t have to change lenses all the time.”

Doctor Alisa exchanged glances with Doctor Hawn. “Mr Ian, there is another way but it is expensive and too experimental.” She replied.

“Doctor Alisa, I really don’t mind the price of the surgery. We can go for it if there is an assurance that she will see again.” Ian said with a serious look on his face.

“Okay. Stem cell transplant is the best solution.” Doctor Hawn looked straight at Ria.

“And how does that works?” Ian requested.

“Cataracts can be cured by using a patients own stem cells to regrow a living lens in their eye, restoring sight in just three months or before that time. Holoclar is currently the only clinically approved stem cell treatment for the eye. It restores vision to patients with damaged Corneas which is the clear uttermost part of the eyes by transplanting lab grown limbal stem cells into the areas of the eye lacking cells. This surgery could cure certain types of blindness and it is the latest surgery done in Asia. But for now, it is advisable to get the surgery done in China.” Doctor Alisa gave a clear explanation of the surgery.

“We have to travel to China?” Ian repeated.

“Yes Mr Ian.” Doctor Hawn replied.

“So how much will the surgery cost?” Ian asked.

“The surgery will cost eighty thousand dollars.” Doctor Alisa answered.

“What?! That’s a whole lot of money.” Ria said loudly.

“Yes, the surgery is expensive but I recommend it for you, miss Ria. It is a permanent solution if the surgery is a success.” Doctor Alisa expounded.

“So how do we go about it?” Ian questioned after stealing a look at Ria.

“I will refer her to the eye centre in China. Doctor Hawn can help in contacting a doctor friend of his at the eye centre. Doctor Lui, he is the stem cell specialist and director of the eye centre.” Doctor Alisa answered.

“Then we just have to prepare for the flight and medical bills.” Ian sighed.

“Yes.” Doctor Alisa nodded.

“No, I will go for the artificial lens surgery since it is not expensive.” Ria declined.

“Listen Ria, we don’t have to go for a temporary solution. Let us go for the permanent one.” Ian turned sideways to talk to her.

“It is expensive. I can get the artificial lenses here and live with it but talking of going to China for a surgery, the flight, the medical bills and other things would cost a lot of money.” Ria reasoned.

Ian Bryant leaned in closely to talk to her while the doctors checked out remedies on the system. “Ria, this is not too much. This is about your health so let us take care of it once and for all. Remember I agreed to pay the bills and I am not changing my mind about it.” He whispered.

Ria didn’t say a word after his words. She knew saying no won’t change anything at that moment.

When she didn’t say anything, Ian cleared his throat to get the doctors attention. “So doctor what else do we have to do?”

“A check up for a day or two so I can be able to mail her result to the eye centre in China.” Doctor Alisa answered.

“When can we leave for China after all that is done?” Ian asked.

“I will let you know.” Doctor Hawn replied.

“I don’t know if I should ask this question but what are the side effects of the treatment?” Ian itched the bridge of his nose.

“She will go through conditioning treatment which may include chemotherapy/ radiation, mouth sore, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, dry mouth, hair loss and breathing problems. But she can scale through all of that if she heals fast.” Doctor Alisa explained.

“I suggest we do a check up today, tomorrow and the next so probably you should be able to leave the country by Saturday or next week Monday.” Doctor Hawn suggested.

“Okay.” We’ll do it.” Ian nodded in agreement.

“I’ll be right back.” Doctor Alisa excused herself and exited the office.

“I will go to my office and put a call through to Doctor Lui.” Doctor Hawn left the room too.

“Are you alright?” Ian asked in a soft tone.

“Yes I am fine but.. I think we need to talk.” Ria replied.

“You don’t have have to worry the side effects. I want to believe that you won’t go through all that the doctor mentioned. And I know the surgery will be a success.” Ian sounded so optimistic about this surgery.

“It is not about the side effects. I am talking about the bills.” Ria countered.

“I will take care of it.” Ian coaxed.

“Well initially, I planned to the a loan from the bank next week. So I will refund your money.. just like I loaned it.”

Ian shook his head in disagreement. “No Ria, I don’t want you to refund it. I am offering to help you without a pay back.”

Ria furrowed her eyebrow. “I am sorry but I can’t let you do that to me. And like they say, life is about give and take.” She mumbled.

“No Ria, life is not always about give and take. I am doing this because I want to and I won’t ask for anything in return. I want to do it because.. I care.” Ian said the last two words in a low tone.

“You care?” Ria was confused at his words.

Ian realized that he shouldn’t have said the last two words but he can’t take it back. He meant everything he has been saying to her. “Yes I care and I also feel concerned that’s why I want to help. Ria, you are skillful and no one will believe someone like you can do a work normal people can do. I find it extraordinary and I like that fact about you that’s why I want to help.” He meant every word.

“Thank you. But I don’t think it is a good idea for you to pay all the bills.” Ria tried to stand up.

Ian held her wrist. “Listen Ria, please let me do this for you. I have more than enough to pay for the whole expenses.” He felt her trembling under his touch so he had to let her go immediately.

“Mr Ian, I will refund your money and I am not changing my mind.” Ria muttered.

One thing he just realized about this woman today is the fact that she is stubborn. “Just call me Ian.” He sounded so resigned but he wasn’t going to give up.

The door opened and doctor Alisa walked into the office. “Sorry for keeping you waiting.” she apologized.

“No, it’s alright.” Ian looked up at her.

“Miss Ria can do the eye test at the lab now. Please come with me.” Doctor Alisa went back to the door.

“Okay.” Ian helped Ria to the lab.

******************

TWO HOURS LATER

“I am sorry it took longer than expected.” Doctor Alisa apologized as she walked to her desk.

“No problem. So what’s her eye condition now?”

“According to the results, her sight is terribly damaged so I don’t think artificial lenses is suitable for her eyes. I would suggest that she go for the stem cell transplant which will heal every damaged cell of the eyes.” Doctor Alisa replied.

“Can we make it to China in three days time?” Ian asked.

“Yes, if you are ready and payment has been made. For us, we already know what the problem is so you have to bring her to the hospital tomorrow afternoon.” Doctor Alisa gave him the test result.

“Thank you, Doctor Alisa.” Ian said.

“You are welcome.” Ian helped Ria up and he shook hands with Doctor Alisa before walking out with Ria.

“We are not done with our discussion.” Ria said when they settled in the car. “I want to refund whatever you will spend on this surgery.” She added.

Ian tried not to roll his eyes. “How do you intend to pay it back?”

Ria thought for some seconds. “Mr Ian, if I can have my sight back everything will work out fine for me. I am sure of that.” This time it was her sounding highly optimistic.

“Okay. If that’s what you want then I will prepare the paperwork on how you will payback the money.” Ian replied.

“Thank you.” Ria sighed in relief that she won’t feel indebted to him.

Ian doesn’t want a refund but since Ria is insisting then he has to accept it. Her reason for wanting to payback is best known to her and there is absolutely no way on how to convince Ria since her mind was made up.