Billionaire's Match (by Tangy Candy) novel Chapter 459

Khloe turned away from the window and wrapped her arms around Nick.

Nick had long grown used to ignoring his own pain, yet he reacted almost instinctively to anything that mattered to him. Now that Khloe was here, she would be the steadying medicine for his emotions, shortening the time he lingered in the shadows.

"Alright. I'll listen to you."

Nick nodded. Her concern softened the cold indifference he had relied on for years to shield himself from everything.

He brushed his face against the curve of her neck, feeling her warm breath, as if his entire life had finally been placed in her hands. Even as night fell and the rain continued without end, there was no longer any loneliness in his heart.

…

News that Lauren had been rushed to the hospital quickly reached the Fox family.

By the time Trey arrived, it was already deep into the night.

Alicia and Stanley stood outside the ward. Alicia's eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying. Stanley lingered beside her. When he saw Trey arrive, he stepped forward and patted his shoulder.

"Go in and see her."

The moment Alicia saw Trey, she broke down again. "Trey… Grandma, she…"

Before she could finish, Trey pushed open the ward door.

Inside, the old woman lay barely alive on the bed, tubes and monitoring equipment covering her frail body.

A bodyguard stood at the door.

Stella sat quietly by the bedside.

A caregiver was wiping Lauren's arm, and a doctor nearby seemed to be giving instructions—only to be interrupted by Trey's sudden entrance.

Stella lifted her head calmly. Seeing Trey, she gave the doctor a slight nod.

His throat burned. His eyes ached fiercely, yet not a single tear would fall.

The old woman was unconscious now, her labored breathing echoing through the room. She looked so aged, so unfamiliar.

Trey leaned closer. Perhaps it was only his imagination, but he thought he caught a faint scent of decay.

"She doesn't have much time left," Stella said. "I've already had people prepare what's needed. From now on, you'll stay here and keep watch."

Her voice was low, her head bowed as she touched the corner of her eye. Her relationship with her mother-in-law had never been good, but they had endured together for so many years. Now that the old woman was truly about to leave, she couldn't help feeling grief.

"Why?" Trey suddenly asked. "Just yesterday… she was still fine."

He remembered returning to the Fox family estate the day before, when his grandmother had even come to see him—yelling at him for being useless, for being toyed with by two women at once.

She'd even chided him for seemingly wanting to rely on the older generation's support for the rest of his life.