The man in the bed chuckled, his eyes showing disbelief. âSo you came here today to discuss that old man with me? Kern, that old man is not afraid of me dying. He still has a grandson who can inherit his throne.â
Kern sneered.
âDo you think I want to go back to that filthy place of the Shaws?â
âYou donât want the Shaw Group?â Caden said coldly, âIâm afraid youâll be disappointed.â
Kernâs gaze swept past Caden as he looked out of the window. âThe Shaw Group is a good thing. I want it. But will you give it to me?â
âYouâll snatch it even if I donât give it to you, wonât you?â
âYes I will, from you. But if you die, I wonât snatch it from her.â Kern demonstrated his ambition.
Caden narrowed his eyes and looked at Kern. âYou have a deep affection for her. Should I entrust her to you before I die?â
âSave it. Youâre sick to death. Arenât you divorced?
âThen you have nothing to do with her matters.
âEntrust?
âThat depends on whether you have the qualifications now.â
Kern finished speaking and stood up. âIâm done visiting you. I should go.â
âYou came only to visit me? I didnât know you were so kind.â
âIâm here to see if youâre dying. After all, we share the same bloodline. Do you think Iâm willing to visit you?â
Kern retorted mockingly.
âBut donât worry. When you die, I wonât snatch the Shaw Group.â
Hearing that, Caden, who was lying in the bed, fell silent for a moment. Then he said.
âAlright, remember what you said today.â
âBye.â The visitor waved one hand casually, put the other hand in his pocket, and left.
Ladd came in. âBoss, Mr. White is here.â
âIs he out?â Caden raised his head. âThen Payne is out of the aseptic room. Thatâs right, itâs time.â
Humbert, who was at the door, had changed into a white coat. âYouâre too sick to care about that loser.â
He was holding Cadenâs medical record.
âThe tumor in your brain has pressed on the optic and central nerve ⦠Are you having an surgery?â
He wasnât in a good mood. As soon as he went out of the aseptic room, he learned Caden was seriously sick.
âBack then, you pretended to be mad and said there was blood congestion in your brain. Now something has really grown in your brain.â
âDonât laugh. Do you know how terrible your condition is?â
Humbert looked serious. âThe failure rate of this surgery is very high. Even if we succeed, youâre faced with the risk of paralysis and blindness.â
âThe surgery is a must,â the man said calmly as if it wasnât him who was seriously sick.
âIâve enjoyed my life. The only regret â¦â he said, pausing slightly, âForget it, itâs all over.â
Humbert sneered, âNow you say itâs all over. Why didnât you say so back then?
âYouâre a weird guy.
âBack then, you used all your means to keep her by your side.
âNow that youâre sick, youâre eager to drive her away.â
Humbert felt a little bitter. âNow I believe that you love her badly.â
The man remained silent.
Humbert had to switch to another topic.
âI heard sheâs going back to Erhai Lake.â
Hearing this, the manâs body stiffened slightly. After a while, he said hoarsely.
âShe likes it there. Itâs a good place. Good for her.â
âYouâre not seeing her again?
âPerhaps itâll be your last time.â
As a friend, he hated to say such gloomy words. But as a doctor, he knew how bad his friendâs condition was.
âNo ⦠Iâm not.â The man looked out of the window. âSheâs tired of me. I always knew it.â
âYou â¦â Humbert had wanted to say that he didnât have to be like this, but he respected his friendâs choice. âYouâre getting sleepier. Why didnât you tell me? If it was discovered half a year ago, the success rate would be as high as 60%. But now â¦â
âBut I had a happy time with her,â he said. Though he was pretending to be mad back then, it was still his happiest time.
Humbert shook his head and left.
â¦
Gloria came to see Grace off. âAre you leaving?â
âThank you for taking care of me all these years, Gloria.â
âWhen youâre gone, what will happen to the James Group?â
âPayne is recovering. Iâve arranged it well for the James Group. Vivian is to take on most of the work during Payneâs recovery. She will also help Payne take over everything of the James Group.â
âYes, yes. Youâve arranged everything. Youâve arranged Payneâs treatment. Youâve arranged a confidant, Vivian, for him. Youâve even arranged your motherâs future life.
âYouâve arranged the business of the James Group.
âYouâve arranged everything. But have you considered President Shaw?â
Grace moved her lips. âHe let me go.â
âDid he let you go, or did you leave him?â
Gloria pressed forward step by step.
âWhatâs the difference?â Grace was a little angry. âI donât want to pester him like this anymore!
âI want to return to a peaceful life!
âHe said it himself. Heâs tired of this game. Heâs tired of me!â
Grace got more irritated as she spoke. âIt was a mistake for me and him from the start.
âEverything turned out to be just another mistake.
âYou know nothing!â
âNo, I donât! I just want to ask you, Grace, do you still love him?â
ââ¦â Grace stopped abruptly.
Did she still love him?
â⦠I just want to live the rest of my life peacefully.â
âSee? Youâre hesitating.â Gloria was like an invader attacking a city. Seizing this point, she was taking down this woman step by step.
âI asked if you still love him, and you hesitated.
âDo you really know yourself?
âGrace, in my opinion, you are merely escaping, constantly escaping.
âThree years ago, you managed to escape.
âRight now, you still havenât improved. Youâre still on the run.
âIs Erhai Lake your dreamland?
âCan Erhai Lake calm you down?
âWith all due respect â¦
âIf you can only find peace in Erhai Lake, it means youâve never had peace in your heart and youâve never let yourself go.
âIf you really donât care about anything, âIf you forget everything, ignore everything, âThen youâll find peace everywhere.
âThereâs no need to go to Erhai Lake!
âThereâs no need to go to Dali!
âYouâre such a coward. You keep running away.
âThree years in jail and you no longer dare to stop and look around! You no longer dare to look at the people around you, the things around you, and the scenery around you!
âYou no longer dare to see through your heart!
Or are you so frightened that you flee everywhere?â
Graceâs body trembled, and her face was pale as a sheet. âStop! Stop!â
Gloriaâs words were like a phonograph constantly playing in her mind. She wanted to press the Stop button but found the button had failed.