Chapter 430

Tears flowed down Sylvia’s gentle face as she clung to the bedframe in her hospital gown. She pleaded, “Ethan, please spare Forrest. He’s young and foolish. Try to look past his actions.”

Forrest’s eyes were swollen, and he let out a low, mournful cry. “I told you not to beg him. Can’t you hear me?”

As Ethan observed this emotional exchange between mother and son, he couldn’t help but find it surreal. ‘She tore my family apart as the homewrecker; she should have seen this coming. If she had really chosen to leave and move on, why didn’t she go farther away? Why did she let Dad find her?

She brought this upon herself by stubbornly giving birth to Forrest. As long as I’m here, the Arnold family will never acknowledge him.’

In that very moment, Ethan’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and, without hesitation, answered the call.

Ethan’s demeanor shifted from hostility to something unexpectedly gentle. His once icy aura suddenly turned warm. “What’s the matter?”

Madelyn was on the other end of the line. She inquired, “Where are you?”

Ethan looked at Forrest and couldn’t help but smirk. He responded slowly, “Community Hospital.”

There was a prolonged silence on the other end, followed by Madelyn’s soft voice, “I’d like to have pastina from the stall near the school. Could you get it for me?” Her tone was warm and pleasant.

“Of course. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you,” Madelyn replied.

Once Madelyn hung up, Ethan rose from his seat, an air of triumph surrounding him. His gaze remained cold and commanding as he looked down at Forrest. “I’ll give you two choices. One, stay in Ventropolis and witness your mother’s slow demise. As far as I know, she doesn’t have much time left.

Or two, leave the country, and you won’t be allowed to return without my permission. However, I’ll provide a monthly allowance for your mother’s treatment, and it will continue until you finish your university education.”

Forrest’s eyes held a hint of reluctance, and a touch of anger tinged the corners, causing them to slightly redden.

“All of these conditions I’m offering are out of consideration for Madelyn. She owes you a life, and I’m repaying that debt on her behalf. You have three days to think it over, although… I already know what your choice will be. If you leave right now, I’ll give you an extra one million for your mother’s treatment.

Whether she recovers or not will depend on her fate.”

Ethan spent less than half an hour going to Ventrocloud High School and purchasing pastina from the stall near the school, along with some cotton candy that she liked.

He rolled up the sleeves of his gray shirt carefully and fed her. “Is it too hot?”

Madelyn shook her head, a small smile on her face. “It’s just right.” Ethan knew her preferences well, but he never let his negative emotions show in front of her.

“Did you visit Community Hospital to see Forrest’s mom? Is she… okay?”

Ethan smiled gently, using his thumb to wipe a smear of oil from Madelyn’s lip. “I’ve arranged for Leyton to have her treated abroad; there’s currently no viable option here.”

He had conveyed his message subtly, and Madelyn was no fool.

“That’s good. Perhaps there’s still a glimmer of hope abroad.” As Madelyn spoke, she caught a fleeting trace of resentment in Ethan’s eyes, knowing it wasn’t directed at her but at Sylvia. Simultaneously, she saw the vulnerability in Ethan, a facet he seldom revealed to outsiders.

He admitted, “Honestly, I envy Forrest…”