The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 14

**Chapter 14: Prognosis**

Prognosis.

It had been over four long months since Nathaniel received the devastating news about his mother’s diagnosis—a terminal illness that loomed like a dark cloud over their lives.

He simply couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

Having lost his father at such a tender age, the thought of losing his mother felt like an unbearable weight on his heart. How could he endure such a loss again?

This revelation had forced their plans into a rapid frenzy, but not in the manner Nathaniel had ever envisioned. When life presented him with a choice, he instinctively chose blood over everything else.

Because blood, as they say, is thicker than water.

Because his mother had given up so much for him, pouring her heart and soul into raising him alone.

Because all the sacrifices they had made together would mean nothing if she were gone.

And because they had already lost the joy of a complete family, a life that included his father, Neal.

That was four months ago—the moment the first diagnosis shattered the fragile illusion of safety he had clung to.

Now, as Nathaniel sat in the sterile hospital room beside his mother, the air thick with anxiety, he found himself waiting for what felt like the verdict of his very soul.

Vanessa’s uncle, Dr. Allen Holt, a renowned neurologist, had flown in from afar, solely to assess Bianca’s condition.

The atmosphere in the room shifted to an eerie silence as a nurse entered, placing Bianca’s MRI scans on the desk in front of the doctor.

Nathaniel remained seated beside his mother, clinging to a thread of optimism. He fervently prayed that the results would unveil something treatable, something that would grant them a sliver of hope.

Dr. Holt removed his glasses, his brow furrowing as he exhaled deeply, the weight of the moment palpable. “No, it’s not Cerebral Vasculitis,” he stated, his voice carrying a tone of relief that washed over Nathaniel like a gentle wave.

In that instant, tears brimmed in Bianca’s eyes, a mixture of relief and fear flooding through her.

The first two doctors they had consulted had delivered a grim diagnosis, labeling her condition as an autoimmune neurological disorder, telling them she had merely a year left to live. Despair had nearly consumed them. It was a stroke of luck that Vanessa had insisted on seeking a third opinion.

“Is it good news, Uncle?” Vanessa’s voice trembled slightly, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes.

“Not necessarily,” Dr. Holt replied, his tone careful and measured. “Bianca, your scans show significant ischemic changes.”

Bianca’s brow furrowed, confusion mingling with dread. “What does that mean?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper, as if afraid to hear the answer.

“It means,” the doctor explained gently, “your brain has been experiencing reduced blood flow for years. You’ve suffered multiple silent strokes.”

Nathaniel felt as though the ground beneath him had vanished. He had hoped this new revelation would lead to a more favorable prognosis, desperately yearning for good news for his mother.

Dr. Holt continued, his words heavy with gravity. “Silent strokes often occur without dramatic symptoms. They are small, progressive, and usually go unnoticed. Over time, the damage accumulates.”

Bianca’s lips quivered, and she barely managed to form her next question. “Is that why I collapse? The headaches? The confusion?”

“Yes,” the doctor confirmed softly, his eyes filled with compassion. “All of those symptoms are indicative of your condition. To prevent further episodes, you must minimize stress. Any emotional spikes—anger, distress, or agitation—can trigger additional complications.”

“Uncle, can it be treated?” Vanessa asked, her eyes wide with concern, a flicker of desperation in her voice.

Dr. Holt hesitated, the silence stretching painfully long.

“Doctor?” Nathaniel interjected, his heart racing, the urgency in his voice unmistakable.

Finally, the neurologist spoke, his words cutting through the tension. “This condition is advanced. What we’re seeing is end-stage cerebrovascular disease.”

Bianca inhaled sharply, her breath hitching in her throat. “Oh my God. It’s still the same.”

It still weighed heavily on Bianca’s spirit, enough that she required a wheelchair to navigate the way out.

***

Outside the Neurology Department, Nathaniel and his mother unexpectedly ran into Serena. He felt a jolt of surprise at her presence, and when he noticed the laboratory receipts clutched in her hand, a wave of concern washed over him. Was something wrong with her?

But Bianca’s reaction was immediate—anger flickering in her eyes at the sight of Serena.

Nathaniel didn’t want to stir the pot further; he knew it was best that Serena had left with Alice.

That night, as Nathaniel helped his mother to bed, he could see the tears glistening in her eyes as she reached for his hand. “Nathan,” she said, her voice thick with emotion, “it’s like what we feared. Nothing has changed. I don’t have much time left.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, leaving a trail of sorrow. “Before I go… I want to see you settled and happy, with the right woman.”

“Vanessa is the right woman for you, not Serena,” she insisted, her voice firm yet tender. “Serena was only someone we used to bring down Victor Kline. Remember that.”

When Nathaniel remained silent, a moment of hesitation hung in the air. Bianca’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for that woman?”

He clenched his jaw, the tension palpable in the room. “Mother, don’t you think we were too cruel?”

Bianca shook her head, her expression resolute. “It doesn’t compare to what Victor did to your father—how he robbed us of our happiness, how he indirectly made me… made us suffer.”

“Victor Kline paid the price, and Serena and his wife were simply caught in the debt he left behind.”

Nathaniel knew this truth all too well.

Some wounds run too deep to pretend they don’t exist. But what neither Nathaniel nor Bianca understood was that truth is often a tangled web, and revenge rarely offers the peace it promises.

Only time would reveal the rest.