VIP Room 909.
Ella lay on the hospital bed, her face dark with worry, her eyes filled with unspoken thoughts.
Lucas sat slumped in a chair nearby, watching her furrowed brow with a heavy heart. He let out a soft sigh. "Your Grandma Carter’s lineage... it’s true. They all passed away from this illness. It’s hereditary, but also pathological. Your uncle seems to be fine, but Ella... there will be other children in the future. I hope you won’t delay this any longer. What’s happening in your brain isn’t sothing to take lightly."
Ella gently placed her hand on her belly, her eyes slowly welling with tears.
If she truly had the sa condition as Grandma Carter, then her child... couldn’t be kept.
But Eric loved this baby so much, and she couldn’t bear to let go. Her heart swirled with countless thoughts, leaving only sorrow behind.
So destinies, perhaps, are impossible to escape.
In her previous life, she had died at twenty-five. Was she now dood to repeat the fate of that life, unable to break free?
Was the only difference the manner of her death?
Luke, shaken by Lucas’s words and still disturbed by Julia’s cruel remarks, felt his heart pound wildly. Unable to stay any longer, he stord out of the room.
"I’ve known... since I was old enough to understand," Ella said quietly. "I’ve known that Grandma Carter’s lineage has always been plagued by brain tumors. That’s why there are so few descendants from her side of the family."
She continued, her voice void of emotion, "Grandma Carter’s father had five children—three sons and two daughters. All of them passed away in their thirties or forties. Grandma herself was diagnosed with a brain tumor at forty. Although she underwent surgery, it recurred. By forty-five, she was gone."
Ella stared numbly at the ceiling, feeling her heart slowly being consud by pain.
Her head throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.
From the current symptoms, there was a 99.9% chance she had a brain tumor. If that were true, the child in her womb could not be kept in order to treat her condition.
If the treatnt worked and there was no recurrence, she would endure the heartbreak of losing the child. But what if it relapsed, like with Grandma Carter?
If she were to leave this world, would Eric beco like Lucas—living alone for the rest of his life, unable to move on?
Ella’s mind was flooded with chaotic thoughts.
She couldn’t bear the idea of Eric living like Lucas—working all day only to return to an empty house, with no one to keep him company.
Loneliness, desolation, sorrow—Ella didn’t want Eric to endure such a life.
Lucas, noticing Ella’s vacant stare at the ceiling, didn’t dare say anything more. He simply sat silently, his eyes fixed on the sa spot above, lost in thought.
He knew she was grappling with a decision, caught between doubt and agony.
As a father, Lucas hated seeing Ella like this, yet he was powerless to ease her pain.
A single tear rolled down Ella’s cheek, glistening in the dim light.
Lucas’s heart ached as he reached out to gently wipe away her tears, though more followed. "Ella," he said softly, "you’re still in the early stages. It can be treated. There will be other children in the future. Don’t let vile people like Julia defeat you. If you fall apart, if you give up, won’t that only bring joy to those who hate you and pain to those who love you?"
Ella froze, her gaze shifting to Lucas’s face.
He grasped her hand tightly. "I believe in my daughter. You’ll live a long and full life. Ella, losing your mother was already unbearable for . I can’t lose you too. You’re the gift Heaven gave ..."
As he spoke, Lucas’s voice began to break, and he couldn’t hold back his tears.
In truth, he was terrified. Terrified that Ella would leave him, just like Isabella had.
Just when he had finally earned his daughter’s acknowledgnt, he now had to face such a cruel reality. How could he not feel anguish? How could he not be afraid?
Ella smiled through her tears. "You’re right, Dad. I’ll get better. I won’t let Eric spend his life alone, and I won’t leave you behind to face this world all by yourself."
Her trembling hands clutched at Lucas’s arm as she looked at him pleadingly. "Dad, please don’t tell Eric. He’s already overwheld with Tiffany’s situation. He’s likely facing a formidable rival. Tiffany’s ’resurrection’ isn’t just targeting —it’s also aid at LXL. From the outside, everyone sees LXL as his company, but the truth is, I’m the largest shareholder."
Lucas’s eyes glistened with tears as he nodded gently. Looking at Ella’s pale face filled him with a wave of anguish that nearly crushed him.
Geniuses and beauties often face the cruelest twists of fate, but Lucas desperately hoped for a miracle.
"Promise , Ella. Go for the tests imdiately and start treatnt as soon as possible. Please?" he urged.
Ella’s trembling hand rested on her belly. The child inside her was just twenty days old. The thought of giving him—or her—up brought an uncontrollable wave of tears. Grief overtook her.
She hadn’t consulted Eric about this, but Ella knew deep down he would make the sa choice. Even if she carried the baby to term, worsening illness could leave the child motherless—a heartbreaking reality she couldn’t bear.
"Dad..." Ella clutched her aching head. "You’re right. I can’t give up on my survival. I can’t let those venomous people win!"
Lucas nodded tearfully, though he was shocked. Despite their efforts to keep everything hidden, Ella had discovered the truth about Tiffany.
Sharp as always, she had read through Eric’s stress. It was impossible to hide sothing so significant from her discerning eyes.
"Are you sure you don’t want to tell Eric? He’s your husband—he has the right to know everything about you," Lucas said, his concern evident.
Ella shook her head. "No. He has enough to deal with. I don’t want to burden him more. If he breaks down, his opponents will have even more opportunities to strike."
In truth, she was also afraid of the worst happening and wanted to shield Eric from further heartbreak.
"Dad, if my condition worsens... please don’t tell him. I don’t want him to grieve. I... I’ll find a way to make him leave on his own."
Her eyes brimd with a sorrowful plea.
Tears blurred her vision again as a wave of nausea overwheld her. She sprang from the bed and staggered to the bathroom, where she retched violently.
Lucas hurried after her, patting her back with reddened eyes. "I know what to do," he said softly.
For now, he could only agree to her request, hoping it would ease her restless mind.
"Don’t worry about , Dad..." Ella said, smiling faintly after the vomiting subsided. Her deanor seed firr now, more resolute. "I’ll fight this illness. I won’t let Julia’s cruel words co true."
Lucas nodded heavily, tears in his eyes.
Her optimism gave him so comfort, even as fear lingered in his heart.
Afterward, Lucas accompanied Ella for her tests.
The wait for the results felt unbearably long.
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