Chapter 371: Chapter 371



From his childhood, Michael found it unbearable to watch Lacey cry. He tenderly wiped her tears with his hand. The more she cried, the more he felt compelled to speak. However, his words failed him, and his nerves got the better of him. Although he had prepared an elaborate speech in his mind, he found himself speechless when he tried to speak.

Time was dwindling for both Michael and Lacey. He no longer feared death; his true fear was never expressing his deep feelings to Lacey.

“Lacey, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Lacey seemed to anticipate his words and gently placed her finger on his lips. “Michael, think about this. I’m ill and can’t make any promises or predict how much longer I’ll be here.”

This worry had always been hers, and Michael understood it well. Holding her hand, he said, “I’ve been holding back to avoid burdening you, but now, I want to be selfish just this once. Life is so uncertain; we don’t know if tomorrow or some mishap might come first. Let’s make the most of every moment now.” Tears streamed down her face, but she smiled with a lightness she hadn’t felt before.

Michael made an effort to sit up and embraced her, providing her with a feeling of peace like no other.

“Michael, I was always scared of dying, but now, with you here, I have no regrets.”

They embraced, shedding tears yet feeling each other’s warmth. Outside the hospital room, Joelle watched, deeply touched. Adrian put his arm around her and said, “Don’t feel sad. They are happy now.”

Joelle nodded in agreement, yet the doctor’s words haunted her—Lacey’s time was limited to a few months. This realization brought a profound sense of injustice. She couldn’t bear it any longer and turned towards Adrian, gripping his shirt firmly. As she leaned against him, her forehead pressed to his chest, her efforts to restrain her tears proved futile, and they streamed down her face.

Adrian wrapped his arms around Joelle, comforting her while he grappled with his own swirling emotions.

Two weeks later, with Michael slightly better, he began planning his proposal to Lacey. With limited time left, they opted for a destination wedding. Joelle and Adrian supported them, staying up many nights to help plan the event.

When it came to chartering a plane, Joelle remembered something. “The day Aurora was born, did you really arrange a helicopter to send Rebecca for treatment abroad?”

Driven by a deep-seated need to explain, Adrian responded, “I arranged the helicopter to find you.”

Joelle smiled, reassured, and let the topic rest. Soon after, Adrian leaned closer, saying, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when Aurora was born.” He remembered Rafael telling him how Joelle had nearly lost her life then. He would always remember that their daughter was born through Joelle’s incredible determination.

“I chose to have the child. It’s not about you.”

Joelle was absorbed by the glow of the computer screen, steadfast in her decision to have her child, unfazed by the difficulties it brought. She felt no urge to fault Adrian.

At this time, Leah knocked at the door and stepped into the room. “Mr. Miller, the mental health facility called. Amara is insisting on seeing you. She’s causing disturbances, has injured several staff members, and is unsettling the other patients.”

Recently, the facility had determined through professional evaluation that Amara was indeed suffering from bipolar disorder and required compulsory intervention due to the severity of her condition. Adrian’s face remained stoic. “I won’t see her.”

Joelle patted his hand. “Perhaps she needs to speak with you. Let’s go together. I’ll accompany you.”

It wasn’t that Joelle felt sorry for Amara; she merely wished for Adrian to break free from Amara’s troubling hold. Often, discussing issues could lessen their impact. Growing up, if children constantly questioned their parents’ affection, they would struggle to find true joy. Shouldn’t they just be open about it?

Not everyone was meant to be a parent, nor did everyone cherish their children. Why not simply accept that?

At the mental health center, a staff member was gently encouraging Amara to eat. Yet, Amara merely glanced at the meal before swatting it to the floor dismissively.

“Do you expect me to eat this? Are you underestimating me? My son is the CEO of Miller Group! Are you aware of the Miller family’s prominence in Illerith? Once I’m released, I’ll make sure you’re all fired!”

Her roommate, an elderly woman suffering from dementia, became so frightened by Amara’s outburst that she hid under her blanket. Amara pointed at her and laughed derisively. “Fool!”

Despite their conditions, the staff consistently encouraged kindness among the patients. Amara’s cruel words prompted the staff member to adopt a more stern demeanor. “You need to apologize to her.”

Fury flashed in Amara’s eyes. She scooped up the spilled food and hurled it at the staff member. “Apologize to a fool? You’re really asking for it!”

Amara’s reputation for aggressive behavior had been well noted since her arrival. Now, as she displayed further violence, the staff were compelled to restrain her and isolate her in a separate room.

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