Chapter 24
A single tear slid down. Nathaniel’s hollow cheek as his breathing grew dangerously shallow.
“So be it,” he whispered. “I’m the criminal here. Les, have them discharge me. No more treatment. My life belonged to Aurora from the beginning. Now that she doesn’t want me, what’s the point in continuing?“]
“Mr. Rhodes, please, she didn’t mean it like that! Without treatment, you will literally die Leo pleaded.]]
But Nathaniel had retreated into himself like a monk in deep meditation, eyes closed to the world]
He refused to cooperate with any medical intervention. Even when burning with fever and barely conscious, Nathaniel had completely surrendered his will to Live
As the doctors repeatedly explained, no matter how skilled the medical team, when a patient abandons all hope, modern medicine reaches its limits.[]
In his delirium Nathaniel constantly murmured Aurora’s name, as if trying to make up for all the times he should have spoken it with love but didn’t.
e to Nathaniel’s resistance, his condition fluctuated wildly. A month passed with little improvement
Due to
Nathaniel wouldn’t die, but he had retreated into a dream world []
In his fevered imagination, he and Aurora were happily married without Felicia’s interference. They had built a joyful life together, blessed with several children.
They had sons who looked like him and daughters who resembled Aurora. His little girl would pretend her legs hurt just to be carried in his arms. And Aurora would playfully grow jealous of the attention he gave the children, asking for hugs of her own. In these dreams, Nathaniel found the sweetness and happiness that had always eluded him in reality.
Until one day, he finally woke up. The doctor announced he was stable enough for limited physical activity
Leo happily escorted the physician out. When he returned, he found the skeletal version of Nathaniel sitting on his bed, staring at white magnolia blossoms outside the window.
w.[
“Why?” Nathaniel asked dully. “Why did you bring me back?“[]
If they hadn’t saved him, he could have lived forever in his dreams, pretending Aurora was still by his side.]]
Lea rubbed his nose uncomfortably, his voice heavy
The old Chairman is still ill. Without you, Sinclair Industries is falling apart. Ms. Sinclair has no interest in corporate matters.”
“Without you handling the company for her, she’ll be forced to return. You know how vicious those corporate sharks are–they’d tear her apart
Nathaniel remained silent for a long time, as if time itself had stopped.
slowly, he raised a trembling hand to catch a magnolia petal that had drifted through the window. After a prolonged silence, he spoke, his voice a rap
y well.
My lide was saved by her from the beginning. I’ll spend whatever remains shielding her from harm.]
Nathaniel began couperating with treatment, but three days later, he instructed Leu in process his discharge papers. He needed to return to the company
After more thali a month of its absente, he couldn’t imagine what schemes the board had hatched ||
He had to get back to work for Aurora, to ensure she could live i
–
the rest of her life without financial worries.]]
Nathaniel threw himself into work with dangerous intensity until Le brought him unexpected news ||
“Telicia las disappeared?”
“Yes, sir.
Nathansel paused briefly before returning to the contract in front of him
“Noted:”
Les fundies explained that Felicia had sold the mansion Nathaniel had given her and fled overseas with the money
Nathaniel merely nodded acknowledgment before immersing himself hack into his punishing work schedule]
Dely by drowning in paperwork could he numbi himself–anesthetize his heart against the reality that Aurora had married another man…[]}
Meanwhile, abroad, Felicia believed her stolen wealth would guarantee a happy life []
she failed to realize th
that being a wealthy woman alone in a foreign country made her a target, not a success.
Felicia spent money recklessly,
y, just as she had when Nathaniel bankrolled her lifestyle
She found romance with a man she met in a bar, sleeping with him the very night they met
He showered her with flattery, and Felicia convinced herself she’d found true love at last.
When her ten million dollars ran dry, the man revealed his true nature, beating her until she was covered in bruises.
Only then did Felicia regret her choices, but she couldn’t return to America. She begged him to let her go, but why would he release such a convenient punching hagr
He used her as his personal outlet for rage until he eventually blinded her in one eye. Finding her damaged goods, he forced her onto the streets to earn money for him…]]
Chapter 25
