Semua Bab Halt His Wandering Heart: Bab 61 - Bab 70

Cedric smiled, but the curve of his lips was bitter. "So you'll divorce me… just to marry Jon?""Once the divorce is done, it's none of your concern who I marry."All she wanted was to escape the fatal fate of her past life. As for the future… that could wait.The conversation ended in anger.Cedric slammed the door and stormed out.Only after a long while did Lizzie finally step out of the restroom.When she returned to the table, only Jon remained."They left." His gaze swept over her, pausing at the faint bruise of a kiss on her neck. "You and Cedric… had an argument? He looked upset.""Oh? Really?" Lizzie deflected smoothly, then apologized, "Sorry, my stomach was acting up. I kept you waiting so long.""It's fine." He didn't press her.But her mood had sunk.Through the meal, she forced herself to smile, but the laughter never reached her eyes.When dinner ended, they walked out of the restaurant together."Lizzie, if it's too painful, you don't have to force yourself

Late-stage cancer? The words didn't land. Her mother had been perfectly healthy. This had to be a mistake."I know this is difficult for a family to hear," the doctor said. "But these are the facts. Unless you can search the world for a better, more effective treatment... otherwise..." His voice trailed off as he shook his head. It felt like he was signing Agnes's death warrant.Lizzie fled to a quiet corner of the hallway and broke down in tears.Susan was the real reason her mother's health had failed. Susan was the one who had hounded her mother straight into this illness. And now, her own husband was in Norway—watching the northern lights with the very woman who had destroyed her mother.The irony was a sharper, crueler cut than any knife. How could she not despise them both?She wiped her tears away and dialed Eva."Eva," she said, her voice raw and fractured by a sob. "Find the best doctor in the world—the best medical team. I don't care what it costs. I want my mom to live

Jon winced, unable to explain much. "I'll ask her again," he said finally."Jon, what's going on between you and her—" Miley began, but Jon cut her off. "Alright, Miley. I've got to go."He hated that he couldn't help more. Lizzie only came to him because she had no other recourse—and that made him feel culpable."So, what did she say?" Lizzie asked, eyes bright with desperate hope.Faced with her expectation, his heart ached. "Lizzie, Miley says their drug is still waiting on human-trial data. If we use it blindly now, the side effects could be severe. Your mother is already frail. She may not withstand the stress. Maybe wait a few days for the data…"Reading the apology in his face, Lizzie forced a smile that looked hollow. "Medicines can't be rushed. I'll wait."A drug wasn't like anything else: safety mattered. Still, waiting felt like standing in a dead end. As Eva had said, if all else failed, they might have to beg Cedric. For her mother, she'd accept any humiliation.Jon

Lizzie had just reached the door of the ward when she saw her mother vomiting blood in great, heaving gulps.Derrick stood frozen, his eyes brimming with helpless, aching tears."Mom!" Lizzie's legs went weak with terror. She rushed to the bedside in a few unsteady steps, catching her mother's frail, swaying body. "Mom, it's okay. We'll have the new medicine soon. You're going to be fine.""Lizzie…" Agnes's voice was a thin whisper as she leaned weakly against her daughter.She had grown frighteningly thin. The torment of the illness had stripped her body of all its strength.The IV catheter in her skeletal arm shifted with every movement, often clogging and slowing the drip."Mom, just rest for a while. Don't talk."But Agnes shook her head. The pain had worn her down to the bone. "I'm not afraid of dying. I'm only worried about you and Michael… and your father most of all."A sharp ache knifed through Lizzie's chest. Her nose stung; her eyes burned.But she couldn't cry.S

Tears welled in Lizzie's eyes. She could endure her own suffering, but she would never allow Susan to bully her mother.She stayed silent.The air in the hospital room was heavy, suffocating.The door opened. Cedric stepped inside, and every member of the Bennet family turned to look at him. Their gazes all fell, almost in unison, on the arm bound tightly in gauze.Fearing Cedric's anger might land his daughter in a jail cell, Derrick hurried forward and offered an apology."It's my fault for not raising her well. No matter what happened, hurting someone was wrong. I hope, for my sake, you can give Lizzie a chance to make things right."Then, with heartbreaking humility, he bowed low before Cedric.The gesture pierced Lizzie's chest like a knife. Tears burned in her eyes but refused to fall."Derrick, please, what are you doing?" Cedric caught Derrick's arm to stop him. "Don't think too much. I would never hold this against Lizzie. Let me… speak with her alone."The air grew h