After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 296

Tears streamed down Eveline's face. "Aria, I truly realize how wrong I was! I never should have humiliated you like that! If you just come back to him, I'll do anything! I'll beg on my hands and knees for your forgiveness!"

The memory of calling Aria a barren woman burned her with shame, especially now that she was pathetically pleading for her return. But for Gideon's sake, she would swallow every ounce of her pride.

Aria watched coldly as Eveline collapsed to the floor in a desperate heap. She immediately stepped back, hiding behind Dr. Reaves. "I don't need your theatrics."

Aldous's expression was dark with humiliation. "Get her off the floor, right now!"

Aria had literally just saved Gideon's life, and Eveline was instantly trying to emotionally blackmail her. Even Aldous found it repulsive. Yet, ironically, Eveline was simply voicing the exact same desperation Aldous felt. He just had the self-awareness to know he had no right to say it out loud.

The Evernight family had brought this upon themselves. But at the end of the day, Gideon was his only grandson.

Aldous sighed heavily, his gaze shifting to Aria with a newfound caution.

Dr. Reaves instantly saw right through the old man's calculations and planted himself firmly in front of Aria, shielding her.

"Listen here, Aldous. Gideon's stabilized, so we're leaving. Aria is freshly single, and there is a long line of brilliant, successful young men waiting for a chance with her. Did you see Samuel? The young man who was at the police station with me? His family adores Aria! So keep your toxic family drama far away from my star pupil!"

Dr. Reaves's brutal honesty completely shut down whatever Aldous was about to say. He was left speechless. Gideon had treated Aria horribly—that was an undeniable fact. Trying to guilt her into returning now would make them nothing but ungrateful parasites.

"Raphael," Aldous rasped, "see Aria to her car."

"No need!" Dr. Reaves snapped instantly.

Though they had arrived in Raphael's car, Dr. Reaves knew exactly what the Evernights were plotting. Raphael might be a decent man, but his health was fragile, and more importantly, he was an Evernight. The further Aria stayed away from them, the better.

Dr. Reaves huffed, glaring at them. "We'll call a cab!"

Aria immediately followed him out without looking back. She still had a million questions for him anyway.

Raphael watched Aria walk away, his jaw tightening.

"Dad, about Aria..." Raphael started.

Aldous nodded fiercely. "Go after her. Quick."

Whatever Raphael's personal feelings were, he was the only one who could even get close enough to speak to Aria right now. With Gideon's failing health, Aria was their only lifeline. They couldn't let her slip away.

"Raphael," Aldous added, his voice dropping to a desperate whisper. "You're the only one who can keep her tethered to us now..."

Raphael stopped in his tracks. He hadn't grown close to Aria to trap her for the family's benefit; he had done it to ensure she got her freedom. Aldous's pathetic fantasy was never going to happen.

Without calling out, Raphael turned and walked swiftly down the hall, easily catching up to them.

"Gideon is your whole world, but Aria was nothing to you! How did you treat her when they were married? And now that he's dying, you expect her to just crawl back and be his devoted nurse without a word of complaint? If she hadn't chosen to be the bigger person today, you'd be planning a funeral right now!"

Eveline choked on a sob.

"But Dr. Reaves was here! Aria is talented, sure, but Dr. Reaves could have saved him even if she hadn't shown up!"

Her real fear was what would happen to Gideon after Dr. Reaves passed away. Who would save her son then?

Aldous fell silent for a long moment before dropping a nuclear bomb on her.

"That old man is going to forget his own name before long. He saved him today, but next time? There are no guarantees anymore."

Eveline froze, the shock completely erasing her tears. "Dad... what do you mean?"

"He's nearly eighty. Did you think he was immortal?" Aldous sighed, looking exhausted beyond his years. "Alzheimer's. Parkinson's."

He maneuvered his wheelchair back into Gideon's room, the crushing weight of the family's impending ruin bearing down on him.

"Age comes for us all. To think a mind that brilliant is destined to fade into nothing..."