He Waited She Wilted (Ottilie and Yorath) novel Chapter 174

At the hospital in Aethelburg.

Rushing back from the mountains, Yorath made it just minutes before his mother's surgery.

Marcella was giving her final instructions.

"When your grandmother passed, it was during a surgery just like this. None of us expected her to go, and she didn't even leave a final word."

Yorath gripped his mother's hand tightly, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "You're going to be fine."

Marcella looked at her three sons and said weakly, "They say sons lack empathy for their mothers, and I can see it. You don't say much, but deep down, you resent me, don't you?"

The three brothers remained silent.

Marcella continued, "I'm strict with you not to make your lives miserable, but because you're still young. If I don't gatekeep your choices, who will? As long as I'm in this family, you have a shield. If I'm gone, who knows what will happen? Look at Mrs. Vaughn—after she died, both of her sons were killed in car crashes within a year..."

Turning specifically to Yorath, she added, "The Fordhams are wealthy, but how long does money last? A single word from those in power could leave us with nothing. Your grandfather is getting old; the family needs someone to step up and lead. Yorath, you are the most suited for it. Only when you secure that position will the Fordhams have a true pillar, and your brothers will have someone to rely on."

"I know my eldest resents me, but one day, you'll all understand my efforts. There isn't a mother in the world who doesn't prioritize her sons' futures."

As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Don't be fooled by how much your father dotes on you now. If I actually die, God knows how he'll treat you."

Yorath wiped her tears away with a handkerchief.

"Mom, please don't worry. We're grown men; we can handle our own affairs."

Marcella shook her head. "I know you want to say you don't care about the family fortune, but I do. This empire is what I built alongside your father after I joined the Fordham family. Why should we hand it over to someone else? If I die, I absolutely refuse to believe your father won't find a new woman and have two more kids. Who knows what could happen down the line."

With that, she turned to glare at Lorenzo Fordham.

"Lorenzo, I want you to draft a will right now. If I die, only my three sons are permitted to inherit the family assets. If anything tragic happens to my three sons, everything must be donated to charity."

Lorenzo's expression was as cold as frost, but he suppressed his irritation to coax his wife.

Lyle Fordham answered, "Someone from Grandpa's side of the family."

Yorath nodded and didn't ask anything else.

A while later, Quentin, who had accompanied the surgical team inside, stepped out.

Pulling down his mask, he smiled at his two older brothers. "The surgery was a complete success. Mom is fine, so don't worry."

A collective breath of relief washed over the Fordham brothers.

Quentin walked up to Yorath. "Can I have a quick word with you in private?"

Yorath followed Quentin to the end of the hospital corridor. "Is this about St. Dymphna's Psychiatric Facility?"

"I know Jevon's been snooping around. Look, that place is my territory, and the operations there run deep. Are you absolutely certain you want to dig to the bottom of this?"