Chapter 500
Gordon’s test results came back. The CT scan showed a shadow on his lung. The bad news: it’s lung carcer. The good news is that it hasn’t spread yet
frene almost broke down, Jonathan steadied her, his hand on her shoulder as she covered her mouth and sobbed in grief. Even though Gordon no longer recognized her or Heidi after developing dementia, he was still their dad.
Irene told Heidi about it. Heidi, though saddened, took it in stride, thinking that now that they’d found their mom, Gordon could leave without regrets.
Only Gordon himself still didn’t know about his lung cancer.
Gordon was pretty old, and the tumor was too large for surgery to be worthwhile–the chances of success were just too low. The doctor advised that they just let him enjoy his remaining days and fulfill any wishes or unfinished business he might have.
Jonathan cleared his schedule and went with Gordon to find Genevieve. Irene tried to talk him out of it, saying she and Heidi could take care of Gordon, but Jonathan wouldn’t hear of it.
Jonathan had always believed that no matter how successful he was, family came first. And after losing Teresa, he cherished his family even more
He took Gordon to get a haircut, hoping he’d look sharp for the visit. The sunlight made Gordon look a bit more spirited, but it couldn’t hide how frail he was–skin and bones, sallow and gaunt, his face dark and sunken.
Still, Gordon was all smiles, tears in his eyes–he was finally going to see Fiona.
The trip was long, but Gordon was so excited he didn’t sleep at all, just kept looking out the window the whole way.
When they arrived, Jonathan helped Gordon out of the car.
Gordon was trembling, glancing around and softly calling Fiona’s name. He turned to Jonathan, his voice trembling with excitement. “Is Fiona really here?”
Jonathan nodded.
Some kids ran out, shaking their heads. “Ms. Nelson isn’t here,” they said.
Jonathan asked, “Do you know where she is?”
“We don’t know.” The kids shook their heads again.
Jonathan frowned, then said, “Can we wait for her here?”
One of the kids blurted out, “Mister, Ms. Nelson wants you to leave.”
At that moment, Jonathan understood–Genevieve was here, she just didn’t want to see him or Gordon. He helped Gordon sit down to rest. “Could you tell Ms. Nelson I’d like to talk to her alone? I just want to say a few words.”
The kids looked at each other. “We can’t really decide that…”
Jonathan touched their heads. “Could you go ask her for me, please?”
The kids glanced at Jonathan, then at Gordon sitting on the little stool. Finally, they nodded and ran off.
Genevieve had been sitting in a shabby old classroom, practicing calligraphy. She was just finishing the last stroke of the word “hate” when, all of a sudden, her pen snapped. And then, she heard footsteps coming closer and closer.
She glanced sideways and saw Jonathan. Then she looked away, her voice calm and cool. “Didn’t I tell you not to come to me? I already gave you the real Fiona’s address and phone number. Go find her.”
Chapter 500.
She was in a car accident… Jonathan said.
What?” Genevieve was genuinely shocked she had no idea.
Jonathan finally explained, “She woke up once. And I already did a DNA test. She and my mother aren’t actually related.”
Genevieve didn’t say anything. Her eyes flickered for a moment, but she just picked up another pen and started writing again.
Jonathan took a step forward, watching her profile. “You’re my grandma, aren’t you? You’re Fiona.”
“I’m not Fiona. My name is Genevieve,” she replied, her tone steady and distant.
“My grandpa is outside. He’s been waiting for you–for so many years,” Jonathan said quietly.
“I don’t know your grandpa,” Genevieve replied, still perfectly composed as she kept writing.
“You hate him,” Jonathan said, glancing at the character she’d written. “And that’s why you won’t go back, right? Even when I found you, you admit who you are. Because you don’t want to face him.”
“I can’t ask you to forgive him—I wasn’t part of what happened between you two. If you really don’t want to see him, I’ll respect that. I’ll take him home.”
A soft sigh broke the silence. Genevieve read aloud the poem she had just written, holding it out to Jonathan. “I can’t love you anymore because it hurts me too much‘. Take a look, Jonathan, how’s my handwriting?”
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