After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 80

If she told Charles the truth now, he would be plunged back into despair.

But if she didn’t, he would surely think she was trying to prevent Lilith from getting better.

A heavy feeling settled in Aria’s chest.

Although she no longer loved Charles, she felt incredibly guilty that his hand had been injured because of her, and she couldn’t bring herself to hurt him again.

Looking at Charles’s pleading gaze, her heart clenched.

Sometimes she thought she was too soft, too hesitant. Charles had humiliated her so terribly, yet she could still feel her heart soften for him.

But…

Aria sighed. “I can’t do that. But I can promise that if Hazel withdraws, I can immediately start the drug research, improve the formula, and begin new clinical trials.”

“Lilith can’t wait, and I… I don’t want to wait any longer either!”

“Then there’s nothing I can do.” Aria looked at Charles’s reddened eyes and said softly, “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do.”

Charles slowly released his grip, a self-deprecating smile on his face. “Aria, you’re as selfish as ever. It’s disgusting.”

Gideon watched them, sensing there was something between them that he didn’t understand.

The atmosphere didn’t feel like that between family members.

By the time Gideon snapped out of his thoughts, Charles was already gone.

Aria didn’t wait for him either, walking down the road by herself.

“If Hazel pulls out, can you guarantee Lilith will get the medicine?”

Remembering that Lilith was waiting for the drug in her hospital room, Gideon pushed aside his other emotions.

“No.”

Lilith’s system was too sensitive; she wasn’t a suitable candidate for clinical trials. Besides, who knew how long it would take to improve the formula.

They couldn’t just leave Lilith without any medication, could they?

“You’re saying Gideon wants to pull funding because of that girl from the Rowan family?”

Old Mr. Evernight was on the phone with Alden Reaves.

“I’m not dead yet. He doesn’t get to make decisions for the Evernight family.”

Alden Reaves scoffed on the other end of the line. “I really don’t know what you’re thinking. Since you let Aria marry Gideon, you should make that boy treat her right! Now he’s causing all this trouble over another woman. She’s my protégé! Not just some nobody!”

Old Mr. Evernight coughed lightly. “I suspect she’s more than just your protégé, isn’t she? I won’t let that Rowan girl destroy Aria and Gideon’s marriage.”

Alden Reaves paused, a little uncertain. “If she’s not my protégé, who else could she be?”

“Back then, when I asked you who Dawn really was, you kept hemming and hawing. I suppose no one would have ever guessed that Dawn would turn out to be…”

Old Mr. Evernight looked up at the person who had just returned late at night and stopped himself.

“Alright, I know about the situation with that girl. I’ll handle it.”