Chapter 624

Chapter 624 It Might Be The Last Time

Finished

The mountain night was a stark contrast to the luminous cityscape, where even the moonlight appeared unusually radiant, casting a serene yet chilling glow across the landscape.

Laura had succumbed to the peaceful surroundings, her sleep deep and undisturbed by the unfamiliar silence, far removed from the urban clamor to which she was accustomed. Maverick, however, lay beside her in the tent, restless and struggling with discomfort. A cold sweat drenched his forehead as he contorted in pain, his clenched jaw silent, a testament to his resolve not to disturb his wife’s slumber.

His eyes squeezed shut, Maverick pressed his hand firmly against his side, attempting to quell the pain that racked his body.

Suddenly, the piercing sound of a phone ringing sliced through the quiet of the tent.

Maverick, already denied the mercy of sleep by his pain, reached out instinctively for the vibrating device. Laura, roused from her slumber more slowly, squinted at the abrupt disturbance and murmured groggily. “Who could that be at this hour?”

“It’s Lysa, Maverick replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty. Within the confines of their small campsite, the need for a phone call seemed superfluous and raised concerns of an urgent issue.

Fearing that Lysander might be facing some crisis, Maverick’s voice was laden with worry as he answered the call. “It’s Dad. What’s wrong?

On the other end of the line. Lysander’s voice, still hoarse from recent tears yet feigning cheerfulness as Josiah had advised, rang out, “Dad, quickly call Mom to come out and see. There’s a shooting star outside! It zipped by so fast, if you don’t come out now, you’ll miss it!”

“A shooting star…” Maverick exhaled a sigh of relief and turned to Laura, “Come on, let’s go watch the shooting stars.

But Laura, overwhelmed by exhaustion, murmured as she nestled deeper into her sleeping bag. “You go and accompany them. I just want to sleep now. Besides, shooting stars are so fast, even if we go out now. we may not catch them…

Respecting her desire to rest, Maverick dressed quietly and said, “AH right, I’m leaving now. If I catch a glimpse. I’ll snap a photo for you.”

He wiped the sweat from his brow, masking the intensity of his discomfort as he prepared to leave the tent. Stepping outside, he first encountered Michelle waiting in a nearby clearing.

Rubbing her eyes, Michelle approached him and said, “Dad, Lysander mentioned that there’ll be shooting stars later, but I’m just too tired. Why don’t you go watch it with her? I’ll head back and keep Mmom company for a while.”

Subconsciously, Maverick cast a glance at the expansive night sky, noting its deep, unmarred darkness and the absence of any shooting stars.

Recalling how Michelle had been fooled by a similar ruse in the past, he pieced together that Lysander’s invitation was not merely to watch a meteor shower; she likely needed to discuss something important.

Concealing his realization from Michelle, he responded as if all was normal, “All right, then I’ll swap tents

you. Remember to zip it up from the inside.”

with

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Chapter 624 It Might Be The Last Time

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Michelle, still oblivious to any underlying issues within the campsite, nodded, albeit confused by the

situation.

Once Maverick had departed, the biting mountain chill quickly dispelled any lingering sleepiness Michelle might have felt. A meteor shower is a huge deal. Why aren’t there any mentions of it on the internet? She paused her move toward the tent, turning to cast a doubtful look behind her.

Maverick, now alone, could no longer hide the grimace of pain that crossed his face. It might have been due to the absence of recent cancer treatment–no medication, no chemotherapy–that the physical agony

had intensified, revealing the harsh toll of the tumor.

As he walked toward the designated meeting spot, Josiah appeared, holding a blister pack of medicine. “Mr. Maverick, I’m sorry, I failed to keep our agreement. Lysander…already knows.”

Maverick accepted the medicine with a glance toward Lysander, who stood nearby holding a thermos flask, her eyes visibly red. “I don’t blame you. My daughter has always been perceptive and responsible. I didn’t think I could keep it from her forever, just hoped it could be for as long as possible. I didn’t expect her to find out this soon.”

He then turned to soothe Lysander as she fought back tears. “All right, no more tears. If you keep crying. your eyes will swell up.”

With a sniffle. Lysander replied, “All right, I won’t cry anymore, Dad. You should take your medicine first. Earlier, when you… when you went to get Mom’s coat, I saw everything.”

The memory was still painfully fresh, but she managed to stabilize her voice, though it was clear she struggled to maintain her composure.

Seeing his daughter so distressed, Maverick felt a profound sadness. “Let’s move somewhere else first. We’re too close to the tent here, it would be troublesome if we woke your mother up. She’s in high spirits. tonight, and I don’t want to spoil her mood.”

Lysander nodded vigorously, supporting his arm as they walked to a more secluded spot behind some bushes, with Josiah following a few steps behind to give them some privacy.

After a short walk, a large tree loomed before them, offering a private enclave for a delicate conversation.

Maverick broke the silence, his eyes on Josiah. “This was your idea, wasn’t it?”

Josiah nodded, confirming, “Yes, Lysander is really worried about your health.”

Lysander, focusing solely on her father’s ashen complexion, handed him the thermos flask and urged, “Dad, you should take your medicine first.”

“All right,” Maverick reassured her gently, “my good girl, don’t cry. It’s not as painful as it looks. I just have a sensitive stomach, and the barbeque didn’t sit well with me.”

Knowing he was downplaying his pain, Lysander bit back tears and responded, “I know…”

Maverick then took the thermos flask, swallowing the medicine right then and there. Leaning against the tree, it took him some time to find relief, but gradually, his strained expression began to soften.

Despite his slight recovery, his pallor was still poor, but he appeared almost as he had when he first arrived. at the camp.

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Josiah, seeing Maverick’s enduring discomfort, ollered, “Mr. Maverick, if it becomes too much, I’ll make up an excuse to take you back to the city first thing tomorrow morning.”

If they were to adhere to their original plan, they would remain in the mountains for several more days, which seemed increasingly unfeasible given Maverick’s condition.

However, Maverick waved off the concern. “No need, don’t we already have medicine? I’ll be fine after taking a couple of pills.”

Overwhelmed. Lysander broke down, tears streaming as she implored, “Dad, this is just a painkiller. It can’t control the progression of your illness at all. We should return to the hospital as soon as possible. Maybe they’ll find a suitable targeted cancer drug…”

Maverick’s heart ached as he saw the tears in Lysander’s eyes. “The doctors have already explained my condition,” he spoke softly. “Rather than spending money on treatments, I’d rather live my remaining days to the fullest. Besides, don’t we often hear about miracles in the news? They say some people get better when there’s no treatment.”

“You know as well as I do that would be a miracle,” Lysander replied, her voice laden with despair. “Tm a doctor myself. Don’t you think I understand how slim the chances are? I’m begging you, please agree to the treatment once we return.”

This was the last hope.

Maverick remained silent for a moment, the weight of his daughter’s words pressing heavily on him. Finally, he spoke in a low, resolute tone, “I know you mean well, and I understand your fear of losing me. But there are things in life that are beyond our control. I’m in the late stages of cancer, and there’s no cure. Furthermore, the treatment would cost a lot of money. Given the grim prospects of recovery, I’d rather save some money for your mother’s retirement and for Mich’s dowry. Otherwise, what would they do once I’m gone and the money is all spent?”

He gently wiped away her tears, his voice filled with emotion, “You’ve always been such a good, obedient child. Please, just listen to me one more time. It might be the last time.”

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