The weekend ended without any outing. Iris Hart had suddenly fallen ill.
She used to be so full of energy. Now she looked pale and weak, like a fragile teenager.
After the diagnosis, the doctor spoke to Alexander Sterling and Evelyn Vance in private. Evelyn froze when she heard the words. After a long silence, she turned to look at Alexander. His face remained calm. No one could read his emotions.
“How much time does she have left?” “At least three months, at most six.” “But it’s not set in stone.” “That’s just based on conventional experience.” “To be blunt, treatment would only prolong her suffering,” the doctor said honestly.
“I understand. Thank you,” Alexander replied.
Evelyn wanted to say more. But Alexander had already wrapped his arm around her and guided her out of the office.
“Alexander, we can find top doctors.” “We can use the best medicine.” “There’s always hope.” “Even if we can’t cure her completely, we can at least make her—”
“If there was still hope, even just one percent, the doctor would have told me a feasible plan,” Alexander cut her off.
Money wasn’t the issue. Neither were famous doctors. If there was even a chance, he would fight for it.
The doctor hadn’t even offered a suggestion. That meant there was no hope.
So instead of pointless treatment that would only cause more pain, it was better to let Iris live out her remaining days in peace.
Back in the ward, Evelyn tried to stay calm. She acted as if nothing had happened.
But Iris was half-lying against the headboard. She looked very weak. Still, she smiled at them.
“You don’t have to hide it from me.” “I already know.”
“Iris, you knew?” “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” “Maybe—” Evelyn couldn’t believe Iris had known about her illness.
If they had found out earlier, if they had started treatment right away, maybe things wouldn’t have gotten so bad.
But it was too late to talk about that now.
“Evelyn, Iris didn’t want us to worry,” Alexander said.
Evelyn turned to look at him. She wanted to say, isn’t it even more worrying now?
But she didn’t say it.
As Alexander said, Iris must have had her reasons.
Later, Iris asked Evelyn to go home and take care of the baby. She said there were nurses here, so Evelyn shouldn’t worry.
Evelyn said the baby was being looked after by her sister-in-law. It was fine.
Iris finally convinced Evelyn to go back. She told her to come visit when she had time.
Evelyn had no choice but to leave first. She promised to come back later.
After Evelyn left, only Alexander and Iris remained in the ward.
“Gray, I know you must be full of regret right now.” “You think you didn’t take good care of me.”
“Silly child.” “Life, aging, sickness, death—these are all normal.” “You can’t control them.”
“Actually, I have no regrets now.”
“I got to see you, Evelyn, and the baby.” “I saw you all happy together.”
“I’m very satisfied,” Iris said with a smile.
Alexander remembered discussing with Iris just a few days ago. He had asked her to live longer. He had hoped that with her help, he and Evelyn could make up soon.
Now he regretted it. He regretted letting Iris know about the current state of his relationship with Evelyn.
Evelyn had always been good. She had given him face and hadn’t let Iris see the cracks. If he hadn’t kept Iris here, if he hadn’t told her the truth, she might never have known.
Iris had come to see them despite her illness. She just wanted to see if he was doing well.
But he hadn’t fulfilled her wish.
“Silly boy, you’re taking all the blame on yourself again.”
“That’s why you always do this.” “You always shoulder everything alone.”
“If you didn’t, maybe you wouldn’t be so tired,” Iris said, seeing his guilt.
“Iris, I’ll be fine with Evelyn.” “And you’ll be fine too,” Alexander said.
“Don’t worry.” “Even though I’m not in good health, I’m still in good spirits.”
“Isn’t living a comfortable and happy life what matters?”
“I feel very good right now,” Iris replied with a smile.
Alexander said nothing more.
Then Iris started urging him to go back to work. She said she didn’t need him here. His presence was keeping her from resting.
Alexander always listened to Iris. He gave instructions to the nurse and left the ward.
He didn’t go straight back to the company. Instead, he went to the office and discussed with the doctor how to make Iris’s remaining time as comfortable as possible.
Evelyn didn’t go straight home either. She went back to her mother’s house.
What happened to Iris had shaken her deeply. No one knew what tomorrow would bring.
“Evelyn, why did you come back so suddenly?” “Did you have a fight with Gray?” Amelia Vance asked in surprise when she saw her youngest daughter walk in without calling first.
“No, Mom.” “I just wanted to come back,” Evelyn said.
“Where’s the baby?” “You came back alone?”
“Yes.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Mom, can’t I come back if everything’s fine?” Evelyn looked at her mother helplessly.
“Of course you can.” “It’s just that you showed up out of nowhere.” “It made me nervous,” Amelia replied.
“Mom—”
“Alright, alright, it’s fine!” “What do you want to eat?” “I’ll cook it for you.”
“I’m not hungry.” “Mom, you and Dad need to get your check-ups on time.”
“We do.” “Every time you don’t go, you have to rush us.” “We’re in good health.” “What’s the point of a check-up?” “Why are you asking about this?”
“I just want you and Dad to always be healthy,” Evelyn said, holding her mother’s shoulders.
“Silly girl.” “Your father and I are fine.” “Don’t worry about us.”
“How are things between you and Gray now?”
“Same as always.”
“You haven’t given up on the idea of divorce?” “I really don’t know what to say about you—” Amelia was about to start again.
“Mom, we’re fine.” “I just came back to see you and Dad.”
“What’s the point of that?”
“...” Evelyn was speechless. After a moment, she sighed. “Okay, since you and Dad are fine, I’m going back to take care of the baby.”
“What a strange child,” Amelia muttered.
In the end, she couldn’t let it go. She asked Evelyn again. “What’s wrong?” “Don’t scare your mother.”
Evelyn hesitated. But finally, she told her about Iris.
“When Iris first came, she looked fine.” “You couldn’t tell she was sick at all.”
“Two days ago, she suddenly fell ill and went to the hospital.” “Today, the test results came back.” “The doctor said she only has three to six months left,” Evelyn said.
“How can that be?” “I went to your house two days ago.” “Iris seemed perfectly fine!” Amelia exclaimed in shock.