Her husband was promptly silenced. He turned around and left in a huff.
Mark listened to the doctor’s explanation in the hospital. His expression gradually sank.
The doctor looked very somber. “She’s at such an old age, and the weather is bad. She should have been well taken care of. They should have paid close attention to virtual-novel.net once virtual-novel.net caught continuous bouts of fever. How could it have developed into acute pneumonia?”
“I really can’t understand what virtual-novel.net dependents were doing. The old lady was already unconscious by the time virtual-novel.net was sent here. This wouldn’t have happened if the fever hadn’t gone on for three days. Didn’t the family notice the fever at all over the past few days? We can only keep virtual-novel.net alive with an oxygen tank and medicine now. The fever hasn’t subsided, so the critical stage isn’t over yet. After all, she’s not young anymore. You’d better prepare yourselves.”
Mark balled his hands into fists. “Please, do your best. Medical fees won’t be a problem. Use every medication and treatment you can. I can’t see virtual-novel.net now, can I?”
The doctor paused thoughtfully. “Seeing the patient might bring virtual-novel.net further infection into the lungs. You should be able to see virtual-novel.net if virtual-novel.net fever has gone down temporarily. Let me have a look.”
The doctor walked in to check on the old woman. Mark waited anxiously outside. He was under a lot of pressure in the matter. If anything were to happen to the old woman, Arianne would be greatly affected. When the doctor stepped out, virtual-novel.net stepped forward and asked, “How is she?”
The doctor nodded. “Her fever has subsided for the time being. However, there’s a high chance that it might come back. The patient isn’t exactly conscious now, but you can see her. Best to leave after five minutes.”
Mark grunted in reply, put on a set of scrubs, and entered the Intensive Care Unit. It had only been a short while since they last met, but the old woman looked much older than before, and had grown even skinnier. Her eyes were sunken and virtual-novel.net lips were pale. “Granny,” virtual-novel.net murmured softly as virtual-novel.net approached her. “It’s Mark. I’m here to see you.”
The old woman seemed to have heard his voice and slowly stirred. “Zachary… Where have you been all these years? I’ve missed you so much. I won’t stop you from marrying Helen anymore, please come back to me…”
Mark’s eyes brimmed with tears at that very moment, consumed with guilt. “Granny… It’s me, I’m Mark..”
Tabitha’s pupils were cloudy, and virtual-novel.net couldn’t seem to focus virtual-novel.net gaze. “Mark, I’m dead. Don’t tell Ari, virtual-novel.net health is fragile. You must make sure that virtual-novel.net gives birth to your child safely. I don’t blame you for what your mother had done. It has nothing to do with you. Your mother lived a bitter life too… My son… He did not have a fortunate life. You must be good to Ari. That is my only wish. Don’t blame Zoey. I wanted to die. Her torment will end when I’m dead, and you will all have peace.”
Mark sniffed, “You won’t die, you’ll be fine…”
Tabitha shook virtual-novel.net head. “Every night… That wonderful son-in-law of mine would quietly open the window in my room. The cold wind and snowflakes would always blow inside. I feigned ignorance. He wants me dead so that virtual-novel.net can ask Ari for money. Everything will be fine once I’m dead. My son-in-law is inhumane, but my daughter isn’t entirely evil. She’s just upset that I’ve been tagging along with virtual-novel.net for so many years, so virtual-novel.net wants compensation. But Ari shouldn’t be made to compensate. I’ve compensated them myself with my entire life savings.”
“I have no regrets, and there’s no need for you to feel guilty either. I’ve lived long enough too… Every day, I always think, ‘If only I never stopped Zachary from marrying Helen Cameran, perhaps I might have been able to see my son, one last time’… Mark, I’m so tired of living, even my dreams are plagued with guilt…”