“Melissa, I used to be so tired of staying with Conrad. I can understand you.”
Melissa’s eyes were swollen, and Lillian murmured, “Actually, from the moment I came back, when I found out he was taking medication, I was just a little shaken.”
“I was also afraid of repeating the same mistakes, afraid that we weren’t right for each other.”
“Being together out of force wouldn’t make us happy, and it would hurt Jasmine too.”
“But when I saw him tying himself down, torturing himself over and over, his unconscious movements, his mechanical, numb expression-that was what really stabbed at me.”
“I wanted to try again. The old me was too insecure, not brave enough. I wanted to try again with him as an equal, to tell myself to let go of the past and look at this man once more.”
“Melissa, no matter how George chooses, it’s his own choice. The only thing that can make you turn back is your own heart. I’ve surrendered to mine. The reason I’ve been in so much pain and conflict is because, subconsciously, I still love this man.”
“I love this man, with all his flaws, not a single quality that would make him suitable for marriage, but he loves me in the clumsiest way, all day long. Whether I was the messy, infamous Lillian from before, or the current Lillian, he has always stood where he is, because to him, I’m just the Lillian he loves, regardless of fame, status, or wealth.”
“Melissa, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I know you’ve already made up your mind. Life is neither too long nor too short, it starts from the heart.”
Lillian wasn’t sure if Melissa had understood.
But after a while, with a choked voice, Melissa said, “I’m scared. I want to start, but it’s already too late.”
Because once someone was gone, they were really gone.
If George really had an accident because of this, or if he was left with any aftermath, how could she face the Thomas family, how could she face George?
“Lillian, will you take me to see him?”
Lillian also wanted to know the situation. “Wait for me.”
She didn’t have a way to contact him, and since she was too far away, Conrad might not receive the signal. She had to go downstairs to find Andrew.
Sure enough, Andrew was still downstairs waiting for them.
“Andrew, can we go to the hospital?”
“I’ll ask him.” Andrew managed to contact Conrad, and soon a reply came, asking Melissa to come over.
She couldn’t sleep anyway, so she immediately changed clothes, not even bothering to dry her hair before getting into Andrew’s car.
Throughout the drive, she felt an indescribable sense of unease. When they arrived at the hospital, she almost lost her footing as soon as she got out of the car.
As she walked upstairs, she was so nervous that she bumped into someone without even noticing.
“How is he?”
As the elevator doors opened, Lillian saw them standing by the door.
Conrad glanced at Melissa. “I don’t know, but it’s not good.”
Melissa’s legs went weak, and tears immediately fell.
Hogan turned to look at Conrad, but Conrad gave him a look that stopped him.
“I need to go in. I need to see him.”
Conrad reached out and stopped her. “George said if you want a divorce now, he agrees. That way, you won’t be called a little widow. If you divorce now, you can get his entire estate. You could hold as many jewelry exhibitions as you want for the rest of your life.”
Melissa shook her head. “Who wants a divorce? You tell him to stay alive and say it to me himself!”
“Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?” As Conrad spoke, Lillian suddenly grabbed him. He fell silent.
Lionel wasn’t afraid of Lillian and said slowly, “It’s still not too late. Once he’s sent to the morgue, you’ll have no chance to change your mind.”
Melissa was so angry that she stomped her feet. “Why are you cursing him?”
“You’ve always hated him, right? Now we don’t even need to curse him. He’s been suffocating for so long, if he dies, it’ll be over. If he doesn’t, he’ll be a vegetable.”
Melissa was shaking with anger. “He’s treated you all like brothers, and none of you wish him any good. So what if he becomes a vegetable?! I’ll take care of him for the rest of my life! Whether we divorce or not is none of your business!”
Melissa shoved Lionel out of the way and tried to go inside, but the nurse came out and said, “Could you keep it down?”
Melissa immediately fell silent. “Nurse… I…”
The door was already closed behind her.
She didn’t know what was going on, and all she could do was anxiously stare at the door.
Lillian couldn’t stand seeing her best friend being treated like this. “Is it really that serious?”
All the men nodded silently.
Her heart sank.
Melissa’s vision blurred, and she collapsed into Lillian’s arms. “It won’t happen, it won’t happen. How could this be?”
Lillian held her, “They’re probably just trying to scare you. George has always been in good health, stronger than most people. We acted in time, just a few minutes-he’ll be fine.”
She glared at Conrad, “Say something.”
Conrad stared at the wall without saying a word.
Melissa looked at his reaction, and a wave of air left her lungs. She felt suffocated, clutching her chest as pain shot through her, causing her fingers to tremble.
Hogan hesitated, but Lionel gave him a look that silenced him.
Gordon sighed. “I’m going to have a smoke.”
Lillian watched the reactions of these men, and her heart sank further.
She didn’t know how long they waited, but when the doctor finally came out, just as he was about to speak, Lionel suddenly said, “You did your best. We’ll take care of the rest.”
The doctor blinked in confusion.
Conrad added, “Just leave the rest to us.”
“Uh… okay. If you have any questions, I’ll…”
“We’ll ask the nurse if we don’t understand. Thank you for your hard work.”
The doctor opened his mouth, but this was the first time he’d encountered a family like this, and he didn’t know what to say.
Melissa didn’t hear anything clearly, only catching the words “did your best.” She sat down numbly on a chair.
“You can go in and see him now.” Seeing how eager they were to go in, the doctor simply returned to the consultation room. They could check in again later during rounds.
“Don’t you want to go see him?” Lionel asked.
Of course, Melissa wanted to see him.
But she didn’t have any strength left. Just the thought of seeing George for the last time made her not want to face it, not wanting to see that scene.
Neither man spared her.
“It’s the last time. If you have something to say, think about it. At least he’ll have this thought with him when he leaves in peace.”
Upon hearing this, Melissa stumbled to the door. On the bed, the man lay quietly, as if he were half asleep.
Lillian tried to help her inside, but Melissa shook her head. “This is the last time I’ll be with him.”
No matter what, she had to go through with it. At least, she couldn’t let George leave with regrets.
The door to the hospital room quickly closed behind Conrad, blocking Lillian’s view.
Lillian, still lost in her grief, watched as Melissa, stunned and heartbroken, shed more tears.
Conrad stared at her. “Why are you crying? George’s dying, not your man.”
It wasn’t like it was her own husband who had died.
If he had died, she probably wouldn’t even cry this much. It was really uncomfortable to watch.
After Conrad spoke, Lillian’s tears fell suddenly, and she hit him hard. “How could you be so heartless? George is in this condition, and you’re still saying things like that!”
“He’s helped you so much, he’s always been on your side. If he really goes, what will Melissa do? She’ll be devastated. How am I supposed to help her?” Lillian, thinking of this, hit Conrad again. “Why? Did the doctor just announce the results like this? Can’t we go to another hospital? I feel like… ”
She stopped halfway, sensing something was wrong.
Hogan and Lionel were too calm. Even Gordon had gone outside for a smoke.
This wasn’t how someone should react to the death of a close friend.