Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160

My stomach knotted

“That’s all?” I asked.

“I’m not very hungry, sweetheart.”

Liar.

She wasn’t hungry because food made her sick. Because the tumor in her pancreas was pressing on everything, making it impossible to eat without pain.

I ordered a salad I knew I wouldn’t finish. Ethan got a burger and fries, and when the food came, he pushed the fries toward me without a word.

I stared at them. Then at him.

“Eat,” he said simply.

I picked up a fry. It tasted like cardboard.

Mom managed three spoonfuls of soup before she set down the spoon and pressed a hand to her stomach.

‘Mom-

‘I’m fine,” she said. But her face had gone pale, a sheen of sweat on her forehead.

I dug into my bag and pulled out the bottle of pills Dr. Smith had prescribed. Anti-nausea meds. They barely worked, but they were better than nothing.

I shook one into my palm and handed it to her with her water glass.

“Take it.

She did, her hand trembling slightly. Then she leaned back against the booth and closed her eyes.

Ethan didn’t say anything. But I could feel him watching.

get up.

“I need to use the restroom,” Mom said after a minute. She stood, steadying herself on the edge of the table, and I moved to get up.

‘I can manage, she said gently. “Stay. Eat something.”

I watched her walk toward the back of the diner, her steps careful, deliberate. Like she was carrying something fragile.

The silence at the table was suffocating.

“Elena-

‘Don’t,’ I said.

Ethan leaned forward, his forearms on the table. “Is your mom sick?”

1/3

Chapter 160

Ther

-san hit like a punch

I didn’t look at him. Just stared at the fries on the plate, the grease pooling at the edges.

“Why would you think that?”

“Because she barely ate. Because you’re carrying medication in your purse. Because she doesn’t look well.” He stopped.

My throat closed up.

He wasn’t wrong. He wasn’t being cruel. He was just… observant.

And I hated him for it.

*She’s been having some health issues,” I said finally. “That’s why we’re doing this trip. She wanted to get away for a white

“How serious is it?”

I didn’t answer.

“Elena.”

“She’s sick, okay?” The words came out sharper than I meant. “And I don’t want to talk about it.”

He didn’t push. Just nodded slowly. I’m sorry.”

I didn’t want his pity. Didn’t want anyone’s pity.

“Look,” I said, my voice tight. “This trip matters to her. So if you’re going to be here, just-just don’t make it harder than it already is.”

“I won’t.”

I finally looked at him. His expression was serious. No smirk, no deflection. Just… sincerity.

“This trip,” he said quietly, “it matters to her. I get that. And I promise, I’m not here to ruin it. I’m here because He hesitated. “Because I care about you. Whether you want me to or not.”

Something twisted in my chest.

“I didn’t ask you to care.

“I know.”

୮

The restroom door opened, and Mom emerged, looking a little steadier. She walked back to the table, and Ethan stood to let her slide into the booth.

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