Chapter 7

After that, Hendrick spoke very little.

Every day, he spent his time either drafting designs or staring blankly out the window.

With only ten days remaining, he simply counted down the days, feeling no remaining attachments to anything before him.

Lexie dropped all her work to stay at the hospital and took Hendrick back and forth for various medical examinations.

Hendrick endured blood draws, medication, and countless needles piercing his arms until his skin was covered in marks, yet he never once complained.

That endless silence made her feel increasingly uneasy.

As Hendrick passed Cameron's ward, Adrian's expression turned complex, and he demanded, "What on earth are you up to? Is it really necessary to undergo so many tests for a simple cold? Are you deliberately putting on a show for all of us, hoping to make us feel sorry for you?"

Hendrick offered no explanation.

His face had grown increasingly pale over the past few days, and his whole body had thinned down drastically. He never turned to look at Adrian once.

Rage bubbled up inside Adrian. "Ever since you were a child, you were never like Cameron. You're calculating and malicious. Doing all this will only make us hate you more. If you had any sense, you'd check out of the hospital and disappear from our sight!"

As he spoke, Adrian gave Hendrick a violent shove.

Hendrick's already frail frame couldn't hold its balance. He stumbled and fell to the floor as the medical reports in his arms scattered everywhere.

Adrian was taken aback. "Stop acting! I barely nudged you! Are you trying to pull a scam on your own father now?"

Hendrick said nothing. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he leaned down to gather the scattered pages. They were all his medical reports.

Adrian glanced at them and casually picked up a sheet. "Why are you getting an echocardiogram?"

Just as he was about to inspect the remaining sheets, Cameron's voice echoed from behind, "Dad."

He pushed his wheelchair forward, looking weak as he tugged on Adrian's sleeve. "Dad, please don't be mad at Hendrick. He just wants you to show him a little more care and attention.

"You've been by my side for so long, so it's only natural for him to feel unhappy. You should keep him company. I'll be fine."

Even as he spoke, Cameron weakly clutched his chest and began to gasp for breath.

Seeing this, Adrian immediately tossed aside the medical report.

"Silly, you're already this weak! As your older brother, he doesn't think about helping out and instead fakes being sick to fight for attention. Why are you speaking up for him? Besides, if it weren't for him, would you have been born with this condition in the first place?"

What a touching picture of a loving father and a devoted son.

Hendrick's feelings had long gone entirely numb.

Behind them, Lexie emerged from the report room. Her face turned pale as she witnessed the scene.

Taking quick strides forward, she snatched up the report sheets, then dragged Hendrick back to the ward without saying another word.

The moment they stepped through the door, a stack of medical reports came flying at him.

Lexie's tone was heavy and accusing. "Did you do that on purpose? Did you deliberately drop these medical reports in front of Cameron so he would read what was on them, feel guilty, and refuse the surgery? Hendrick, you're absolutely vicious!"

Those icy words fell like a sledgehammer onto his heart.

Hendrick lowered his head and let out a sorrowful smile. "If you say so, then fine."

Nothing he said would make a difference anyway.

Whenever it came to Cameron, Lexie would lose all sense of logic.

His family, his wife, and even his daughter only ever believed Cameron. Any explanation he offered would be completely in vain.

Returning to the bed in silence, Hendrick asked, "Is there anything else you need?"

Lexie fell silent for a moment.

Her gaze then drifted toward the nightstand, landing on the sketchbook that Blake had ruined.

"Before Cameron goes into surgery, he has one last wish. He wants to appear on the runway as a fashion designer. You're supposed to participate in next year's fashion showcase, right? Give your slot to Cameron."