# Chapter 342: A Mother's Desperate Gamble
Hello, dear readers! It's your favorite narrator, back again to walk with you through another gripping chapter of "The Untouchable Ex Wife." Today, we find ourselves in the sterile, tension-filled corridors of a hospital where life, love, and destiny hang by the thinnest of threads. So grab a warm cup of tea, settle into your coziest chair, and let me guide you through this heart-wrenching chapter that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about love, superstition, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child.
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The hospital air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and anxiety as Francine stood before the surgeon, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs. When the doctor confirmed that the surgery could proceed as planned, a wave of relief washed over her features—but it was quickly replaced by a burning curiosity.
"Good, the surgery can proceed as planned then. Where is he?" Francine asked, her eyes darting around the corridor as if searching for her son.
Elijah glanced toward the imposing doors of the operating room, his expression unreadable. "Oh, he..." He paused, a hint of surprise coloring his voice. "He entered the room using a staff card. I think the surgery has already started."
The words hit Francine like a thunderbolt. "What? It's already started?"
Her composure crumbled in an instant. She pressed her palms together, her lips moving in desperate, silent prayer. Her eyes squeezed shut as she implored the heavens above. "God, please protect him, I beg you... As long as he's safe, I'll do my best to separate him from Renee!"
The declaration hung in the air like a dark omen. Elijah's forehead creased with confusion, his brows knitting together as he struggled to comprehend the woman standing before him. "Madam, why do you want to break up the couple after you agreed to the surgery? Didn't you say that you wouldn't meddle in his life anymore, and you'll let him make his own decisions?"
There was a tremor in Francine's voice as she confessed, "I did say that, but a fortune teller told me that they're incompatible, and they'll be in serious trouble if they get together. So, I've got to be the villain here to keep them safe."
The words tumbled from her lips with the weight of a mother's desperate love. Yet even as she spoke, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. It wasn't that she wanted to destroy her son's happiness—but rather, she feared that his happiness would destroy him.
"Madam, when did you become so superstitious?" Elijah asked, genuine amusement threading through his otherwise serious demeanor.
He remembered a different Francine from years past—a fiery young woman whose love life had been as dramatic and turbulent as any novel. Back then, she had been the embodiment of conviction that everyone was the master of their own destiny. She had scoffed at fortune tellers and mocked those who surrendered their choices to fate. But time had a way of reshaping even the most stubborn beliefs, and now here she was, clutching at omens and prophecies like a drowning woman grasping at driftwood.
If Francine was willing to tear Stefan and Renee apart based solely on the words of a fortune teller, Elijah truly didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth to protest further, but another voice cut through the tension.
"I think Madam Francine is right."
Both Elijah and Francine turned to see Seraphina standing nearby, her features arranged in an expression of mock concern. There was something calculating gleaming behind her eyes as she continued, "Think about it—didn't Stefan always get into trouble when he was with Renee? When they were together, he lost his sight and was on the verge of death, so maybe they really are incompatible."
She paused dramatically, letting her words sink in before adding with feigned wisdom, "Separating them might be good, as the fortune teller said. A lot of celebrities believe in fortune tellers now, you know..."
Elijah's jaw tightened. He could see through Seraphina's carefully constructed facade—her eagerness to destroy any possibility of Stefan and Renee reuniting was almost palpable. Her words weren't born from concern for Stefan's safety, but from her own selfish desires.
"We'll talk about it later. Maybe he won't be so obsessed with Renee even if he remembers who she is. We'll just have to see how the surgery turns out..." Elijah said curtly, forcing a neutral tone to keep the increasingly agitated woman at bay.
The words served their purpose. Francine straightened her shoulders, the storm of conflict momentarily calming in her eyes. "Yes, you're right. His safety is the most important thing right now."
And so, all other concerns were pushed aside. The only thing that mattered now was whether Stefan would survive the knife.
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The hours crawled by with agonizing slowness. The fluorescent lights of the hospital corridor cast harsh shadows on the walls, and the silence was broken only by the occasional squeak of rubber-soled shoes or the distant beep of monitors. Still, the door to the operating room remained stubbornly shut, its unyielding surface offering no clue about the battle unfolding within.
Francine paced back and forth, her footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. She checked her watch incessantly, each minute feeling like an eternity. What was taking so long? Was something going wrong?
"Why isn't it over yet? Did something happen?" she burst out finally, unable to contain her anxiety any longer.
Elijah placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, though his own confidence was waning. "No, don't worry. This surgery is very difficult since it involves the brain. I'm sure it's going well since it's taking this long."
He tried to infuse his voice with reassurance, but even as the words left his lips, doubt gnawed at him. Brain surgery was the most complicated procedure known to medicine—a delicate dance where even the slightest mistake could have catastrophic consequences. Every nerve fiber, every blood vessel was a potential disaster waiting to happen. The prolonged duration could mean the surgeons were being thorough, or it could mean complications had arisen.
Elijah swallowed hard, forcing himself to maintain a calm exterior. He couldn't let Francine see the fear lurking beneath his composed facade. Not now. Not when she needed strength the most.
The seconds stretched into what felt like hours. Francine resumed her prayer, her lips moving soundlessly as she clutched the small cross hanging around her neck. Seraphina stood off to the side, her eyes fixed on the operating room door with an intensity that betrayed her true investment in the outcome.
And then—
After what seemed like an eternity, the door to the operating room finally creaked open...
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## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
Oh my goodness, what a nerve-wracking chapter! The tension in this hospital waiting room is absolutely palpable. I found myself holding my breath right along with Francine, desperately hoping for good news while simultaneously wanting to shake some sense into her. The irony of her situation is heartbreaking—she's praying for her son's survival while simultaneously plotting to destroy his chance at happiness. And Seraphina! That woman's manipulative nature knows no bounds. Seizing on Francine's superstition to further her own agenda is just despicable. But my heart truly goes out to Elijah, who seems to be the only voice of reason caught between these scheming women.
That cliffhanger ending has me on the edge of my seat! What will the surgeons reveal? Will Stefan remember Renee once he wakes up? And can anyone talk some sense into Francine before she makes a terrible mistake?
### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.7 / 5 Stars
## Next Chapter Prediction
Based on that dramatic ending, I predict the next chapter will reveal the surgery's outcome. Will Stefan finally regain his memories of Renee? If the surgery is successful, we might witness an emotional reunion—but Francine's resolve to separate them could throw a wrench into everything. And knowing Seraphina, she'll be lurking in the shadows, ready to exploit any opportunity to drive Stefan and Renee apart forever. One thing's for certain: the real battle is only just beginning.
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