LOGINDoctors and nurses moved in and out of Evelyn's ward.Vanessa had to wait for a long time before she could enter. Adrian waited outside as well, intent on using Evelyn to tie Vanessa down. No matter what, he couldn't let Vanessa marry someone of unknown origin like Cameron.Vanessa emerged in less than twenty minutes."Why didn't you stay a little longer?" Adrian stepped forward. "Mom misses you a lot."Vanessa showed no emotion. Even with Evelyn in that state, she remained stone-hearted. "Cameron is alone. He can't be without someone by his side.""Is that man more important than the mother who raised you?"Vanessa looked at Adrian, bewildered. "Yes, Cameron is my future husband, more important than Aunt Evelyn. Does that satisfy you?"It was just a door away.Evelyn could hear her words, but she didn't care.She knew returning would bring a lot of trouble; it was expected. But Vanessa hadn't anticipated Adrian being so utterly unreasonable. Pushing him aside, she descended the stair
Even with his own injuries, Cameron's deepest concern remained Vanessa. Incapable of caring for himself, he still fixed his gaze on her, his eyes soft and tender."Is it because of me that you fought with your big brother?""He's not my brother."No brother in this world would ever wish death upon his sister, abandon her life, choosing instead to save his beloved.Cameron's face was a ghostly pale, haggard. Already frail, prone to sickness and calamity, he had now suffered a sudden misfortune. The strength to speak was barely a strained whisper, his slender frame making him appear even more sickly.Harvey once said he grew up practically living in a medicine jar, and his health had only just begun to improve in recent years. As a child, both traditional Eastern and Western doctors had subtly hinted he wouldn't live to see thirty-five."No matter what, this all started because of me," Cameron rasped, unable to shake the self-blame. He coughed, bending and hunching over, the violent spa
He sat in the car, not entering the hospital.He finished half a pack of cigarettes before Vanessa's silhouette finally appeared in the twilight. Adrian was with her. Her wrist was slender, looking as if it might snap. She stumbled when he yanked her down the steps, her knee scraping and bleeding.Julian watched it all from his car, his fingertips clenching. He almost couldn't stop himself from rushing over.Vanessa got to her feet on her own. Her eyes were dry, bloodshot from exhaustion. She cast a deeply contemptuous glance at Adrian, then, without a single wasted word, turned to leave.Cameron was still in the hospital.He was unfamiliar with M City, and couldn't be left alone.Vanessa turned to go, but Adrian grabbed her again. "Where are you going? Mom's in the hospital too. Why aren't you this eager to come back and see her?""Let go." Vanessa didn't argue with such a person; it was pointless.In the years since they'd parted, Adrian felt Vanessa had grown much more estranged, e
After leaving the hospital where he'd visited Evelyn, Cameron immediately called Vanessa back. Evelyn's condition was quite severe; when he went to see her, she was delirious, mumbling Vanessa's name. Anyone witnessing it would feel a pang of deep sympathy."Mr. Voss wasn't lying. It's true." Cameron chose his words carefully, his tone hesitant. "I can tell you have a very close bond with your foster mother. When I was there, she kept calling your name.""It's... not good." Vanessa couldn't forget Evelyn's inaction when she was sent away. But later, she'd come to understand: Evelyn wasn't her biological mother, so her actions were somewhat excusable. Yet, if she wasn't her biological daughter, why miss her so intensely? It seemed far too contradictory. Over the past three years, Vanessa had finally pieced it together. Evelyn had likely treated her as a substitute for her own biological daughter, pouring all her heart and soul into her because of that.Regardless, after years of a moth
The hospital was bustling with people. A multi-car pileup had just occurred downtown, and stretchers carrying severely injured patients were being wheeled in one after another. Evelyn's admission was sudden, and Adrian stayed by her side.Monica was also there."How is Aunt Evelyn?"Adrian closed the door behind him and motioned for Monica to be quiet. Evelyn had been ill for a long time, previously only taking medication without proper treatment. This time, for Vanessa's sake, she had finally been admitted to the hospital.Adrian took a picture of Evelyn lying miserably pale in her hospital bed.Monica stood behind him. "Why not just let Aunt Evelyn call Vanessa directly? Will she believe a photo?""Mom wouldn't truly bring herself to deceive Vanessa. Her willingness to enter the hospital for treatment is already a huge help. Letting her call would only make things worse."This matter required caution. Adrian dared not take any risks; a single photo would be enough to gauge Vanessa's
The news reached Julian through Jerry.Night fell. Julian leaned back in his chair, a neatly folded paper plane in his hand. His fingertips pressed against the white paper, as if lost in thought, before he finally spoke, "How could she suddenly fall critically ill and be hospitalized, especially at this critical juncture?""That's unclear, but Aunt Evelyn should be at the hospital right now.""It shouldn't be."Over the years, Evelyn had often fallen ill from longing for Vanessa, but being critically ill and hospitalized at this specific time felt far too coincidental.Suddenly recalling something, Julian looked up, a shadow crossing his brows. "Where's Harvey? Why haven't I seen him lately?"Jerry paused, "He...""Did he go back?""I'm not sure. I haven't been keeping track of his whereabouts lately."It was a lapse in Jerry's duty, and he had no words. Julian didn't blame him. "It's alright, you can go. If there's any
"What exactly do you mean?"Adrian wasn't stupid. He exhaled smoke, scrutinizing and contemplating, then chuckled after a moment. "Julian, you're quite something. You couldn't stand her back then, and now you're suddenly smitten?"This wasn't a big deal."What, do you need me to fetch her to ease y
But without a trace of extra emotion, she turned slightly, avoiding the glaring and ambiguous scene. Facing the sunlight, she continued to carefully wipe the body of the violin. That profile was more indifferent than a hundred rejections and evasions.Julian suppressed his anger and went downstairs
Julian was just that kind of person, meticulous, rigid, with a set of high standards for himself deep down, even Ivy, he didn't think she was qualified to be his wife, only treated her as a favored woman."You know, I hate these giggling women the most.""Are you referring to Vanessa?"Julian was s
Few of these women had any kindness towards her.She knew it.These humiliations and abuses were something she couldn't resist. Rather than struggling in pain, it was better to accept them willingly, to suffer a little less torment."What else can I do? My grandfather is very enlightened," Rose cur







