Emma took a deep breath, resisting the urge to tell Natalie that Bella had returned to the country, was still married to Tristan Sinclair, and even had an adorable son named Daxton Donovan Sinclair.
However, she kept her mouth shut because Bella had warned her not to reveal everything to Natalie—she would tell her mother directly.
Emma could only take a deep breath, seeing how sad Natalie was.
"Besides, if I do chemotherapy, it won’t be cheap. I don’t have the money to pay the hospital fees," Natalie continued to tell Emma how sad and pathetic her life was.
Tears dripped from the corners of Natalie’s eyes. She realized that despite marrying Lucas, the heir to a wealthy and prestigious family in the city, she had no money. She was broke, the same as before she entered the Donovan family.
Lucas had rarely given her cash, only cards. Since she decided to break ties with Lucas, she returned all the cards he had given her.
The money she had now came from her father-in-law’s yearly birthday gifts and her savings before marrying Lucas. However, the money was only enough for her to survive alone until death approached her.
After leaving the hospital, she planned to move to a small village far away and rent a small house with a garden surrounded by trees. She’s hoping to live the rest of her life peacefully without Lucas Donovan.
Emma was utterly shocked to hear Natalie’s words. She grabbed Natalie’s shaking, cold hands.
"Natalie, so, the reason you refuse chemotherapy is because you don’t have money? Silly woman!! I will pay for everything. Please, do chemo... at least for your daughter—" Emma’s voice trailed off when she heard Bella’s voice from the door.
"Aunty Emma, can you please leave us alone?" Bella said calmly, her eyes fixed on Emma, ignoring her mother’s shocking gasp.
"B-Bella... Finally, you come..." Emma nodded her head. She was so happy that Bella had finally come around when she felt she could no longer hold herself back from telling Natalie about her daughter.
Emma stood from Natalie’s bedside. "Oh, talk to your mom. I will wait outside," she said, patting Bella’s shoulder and leaving the room immediately.
After closing the door, Bella didn’t immediately approach her mother’s bed. She stood still, her gaze fixed on her pitiful mother.
Her mother looked even thinner than when Bella had last seen her a few months ago. Her face, which used to be pretty and young, now looked increasingly old and pale. Her hair was getting shorter and whiter, making Bella’s hands tremble with emotion. It felt like someone had just wrenched her heart.
Bella’s eyes met her mother’s reddened eyes, and tears rolled down her cheeks. Her heart felt like it sank.
’Mother, I’m sorry that you had to suffer this much to be Lucas Donovan’s wife, to be my mother,’ Bella whispered to herself while clenching her teeth, holding back the mixed emotions now surfacing in her heart.
Her legs, which still feel heavy, finally moved closer to the bed. Every step she took made her heart hurt more.
After taking a deep breath and feeling her heart slowly calm down, just like her mind, Bella finally flashed her mother a small smile, trying to calm her worried mother.
"Please sit beside me, dear," Natalie asked awkwardly when Bella finally moved closer to her bed. "Did you hear everything I said to your aunt?" she continued while trying to sit properly on the bed.
"Yes. I heard everything," Bella calmly replied while sitting on the chair by the bed.
Bella continued her words with a shaking voice, "I’m sorry I came so late. I’m sorry I can’t be a good daughter for you. I’m..."
"No, Bella, no. Please, my child. Please stop. You don’t need to apologize to me. It has never been your fault, and I don’t deserve it," Natalie hurriedly interrupted. She felt even more heartbroken hearing her daughter blame herself.
"I was the wrong one. I never cared what you said. I even mistreated you. Sorry, my daughter."
Natalie felt heartache when she remembered how badly she had treated Bella, choosing her son, Henry, over her daughter. She knew what she had done to Bella would break Bella’s heart, but her fear of Lucas blinded her mind and heart.
When Bella heard her mother’s anxious and heartbreaking voice, she couldn’t help but feel bad.
Taking another deep sigh, she said, "Mom, can we put aside what happened in the past? It’s a new beginning for both of us..."

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