Chapter 18
Leaving the doctor’s office, Robert felt utterly desperate.
It turned out that doctors back home had already diagnosed his condition as terminal, and coming here for treatment was his last hope. But now that hope was shattered too.
Robert stumbled back to his hospital room, where he ran into Gideon who had just returned.
Gideon could tell from his expression that he already knew the truth.
“Robert, the doctor said there’s still hope if you actively cooperate with the treatment.”
But Gideon’s words now seemed so hollow and powerless.
Robert looked up, his face covered in tears.
“Gideon, I don’t want to die yet. I haven’t won Lena back. I can’t accept this!”
He hugged Gideon and sobbed until he was exhausted, finally lying back in bed to rest.
Robert took his treatment more seriously than ever before. Though this hospital offered world–class medical care, he still felt it wasn’t enough. He spent a fortune bringing in
Chapter 18
2/6
world–renowned specialists for consultations and searched everywhere for alternative treatments for late–stage stomach cancer. He even promised that if anyone could cure his illness, he would give them Ashford Group shares for free.
Robert became almost obsessed, demanding that Lena stay by his side constantly, not leaving for even a moment.
He clutched her hands tightly.
“Lena, please don’t go. I’m terrified that when I open my eyes again, you won’t be there.”
Lena reluctantly pulled her hands away. Disease was the most terrifying thing in the world–it could turn a cold and decisive man into someone as fragile as a kitten.
She didn’t leave. She had agreed to Gideon’s request to stay with Robert during his final moments.
Robert stared at his empty palms, his pale lips trembling as he asked, “Lena, can you really not forgive me?”
He looked at her hopefully, wanting her forgiveness in his final
moments.
Lena didn’t avoid Robert’s gaze and answered calmly, “Uncle Robert, I don’t want to lie to you. No, I can’t.”
He closed his eyes in despair, tears sliding down from the corners. Although he knew what her answer would be, it hurt that even as he was dying, she wouldn’t even pretend to forgive
Chapter 18
him. Her love for him truly was gone,
But Robert refused to give up.
He slipped into unconsciousness again.
3/6
Robert’s condition deteriorated. He drifted between clarity and confusion, spending more and more time asleep. But every time he opened his eyes, his first action was always to look for Lena.
Robert remained fixated on winning her back. This obsession kept him holding onto his last breath.
After Gideon’s desperate pleas, Lena continued to stay at the hospital with Robert.
She understood Gideon’s feelings, but despite her reluctance, she advised him, “Uncle Gideon, is this really good for him? He’s suffering by holding on. Why not let him find peace?”
Gideon understood this reasoning, but when truly facing Robert’s death, he couldn’t bring himself to accept it.
“Uncle Gideon, stop using his feelings for me to deceive him. He’s struggling too much. It’s time to let him go.”
Gideon broke down in tears, finally nodding reluctantly.
On the hospital bed, Robert was approaching death, with increasingly rare moments of consciousness.
Two days later, he finally woke from his coma again.
Chapter 18
“Lena……”
His first action upon waking was to search for Lena.
“Uncle Robert, I’m here.”
4/6
Robert heard her familiar voice and relaxed. He opened his eyes and looked at her carefully.
He thought, “She’s still by my side. That’s good.”
“Uncle Robert, I don’t want to deceive you anymore. I know how you feel about me, but there’s truly no possibility for us. My love for you was never mature–it was more like dependence. The moment I left you, I stopped loving you. So please, let go of your obsession, okay?”
Robert didn’t speak for a long time, as if his soul had left him.
Finally, he released Lena’s hand.
“Alright, I understand. Lena, take care of yourself in the future.”
Lena nodded firmly and left the room.
The pain from their past had long extinguished her feelings for Robert. During this time, she had merely been repaying the Ashford family for raising her. Now they were even.
Gideon watched her leave from outside the room. This time, he didn’t use obligation to force her to stay.
Chapter 18
5/6
On the bed, Robert stared fixedly at the ceiling. He knew in his heart that he had lost his girl long ago.
He closed his eyes in despair and took his final breath.
Robert’s body was cremated locally, and Gideon brought his ashes back home.
Lena didn’t come to say goodbye to his remains. In her heart, everything related to him was already over.
She immersed herself in her busy studies, actively working to shine with her unique brilliance.
After starting her career, Lena sponsored many children from impoverished families to attend school. Her kindness touched many people.
She made new friends and lived each day to the fullest.
Years later, she married and had children again.
She regained the warmth of family. Her husband understood and respected her, his parents cherished her, and her children loved her.
This time, she finally became the person she had always wanted to be.
