After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 17

Flora paced anxiously outside the emergency room.

“What's wrong with Lilith? I know she's always been frail, but she's never just collapsed like this!”

Charles pulled Flora into his arms, his gaze fixed on Gideon, who stood silhouetted against the light.

As a former doctor, he could tell at a glance that something was seriously wrong with Lilith.

“Don't worry. Lilith has never been in the best health. Remember that time she blacked out because her blood sugar crashed?”

Gideon’s eyes flickered as he listened to Charles comforting Flora.

He said nothing.

A sudden collapse was the worst-case scenario for a bone tumor. He couldn't make things sound any worse until the doctor came out.

The atmosphere was tense and silent until an hour later, when the doctor emerged from the emergency room.

He looked at Gideon, hesitating. “The patient is stable for now…”

Gideon glanced at Charles, who understood immediately and had Flora follow a nurse to take Lilith to her room.

Once Flora was out of sight, Charles pressed the doctor. “What's wrong with Lilith? This isn't just a routine check-up like you said, is it?”

Gideon was silent for a moment. “Bone tumor. Late-stage.”

“She probably didn't tell you because she didn't want you to worry.”

Charles’s breath caught in his throat.

After a long pause, he finally said, “She's always been so considerate.”

How could she not tell her family about a disease like this?

If he had known she was this sick, he would have come back ages ago!

Charles's voice trembled. “How long has she known?”

When Lilith woke up, she asked to see Gideon specifically.

Gideon glanced at his watch before heading in.

Soon, only Charles and Flora were left in the long hallway.

Flora was sullen. “If only you all had found Lilith sooner.”

“The family Lilith grew up with was awful. They favored the boys, wouldn't even let her have an extra bite to eat, and forced her to work all day.”

Flora’s voice grew quieter as she spoke.

She didn't know that Lilith had a late-stage bone tumor, but ever since she'd met her, Lilith had always been sick.

“Do you remember back when Lilith and I first started high school? On your birthday that year, Lilith had a high fever, but she still wanted to celebrate with you.”

“But you didn't come back that day. Lilith waited and waited for you. I tried to get her to go to the hospital, but she refused. She ended up having a seizure from the fever.”