The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185

Natalie’s heart sank, and she rushed to steady him.

Her fingers pressed against Jacob’s carotid artery, and when she felt the weak pulse under her fingertips, her heart finally

eased a little.

He still had a pulse. He was still alive.

But something was off. She counted silently: less than fifty beats a minute, sometimes fast, sometimes slow the rhythm a over the place.

She moved her hand to his wrist, placed three fingers on the pulse point, closed her eyes, and focused on every faint beat beneath her fingertips.

The pulse was deep, thin, and weak, barely detectable even with pressure. It was a clear sign his vitality was fading.

She frowned, switched hands, and checked again.

The same weak pulse, maybe even worse.

Natalie opened her eyes and looked at Jacob’s face. It was even more gaunt and sallow than the last time she’d seen him. F ingers trembled slightly as she did so.

She hesitated, afraid to go further, but she knew she had to.

She moved her hand to Jacob’s upper abdomen and pressed down gently.

His liver felt as hard as stone, with irregular edges and a rough, uneven surface.

Her fingers paused for a moment, then shifted to the side to check another area.

Her fingers found his spleen, swollen and hard as a rock, palpable three finger–widths below the ribs.

Her hand stopped there, frozen in place.

A liver hard as stone, a fading pulse, sallow skin, a body reduced to skin and bones….

He was in the final stages of liver cancer, and it had already spread to his spleen.

He had less than a month left…

Natale slowly pulled her hand back, resting it on her knee. She sat with her head bowed frozen in place

The wind from the hillside swept through the treetops, brushing against the tips of her han

The world seemed to fall silent Natalic swallowed hard took off her hat raked her fingers through her hair then put

On

After a long while Natalie finally lifted her head glancing first at the photo of her grandmother on the toathstone, then at Jacob, who was leaning against it

She closed her eyes briefly then stood up hoisted Jarob onto her back and began making her way doway the mountain

Natalie never uttered a single word from start to housh

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Chapter –

Jacob lay limp on her back, su light it felt like he weighed nothing. His ribs dug into her, as if she were carrying a bundle of dry sticks.

Natalie walked steadily, carrying Jacob all the way back to the courtyard. She pulled the key from his pocket, kicked open th inner door, and gently laid is on the bed.

She pulled the blanket over him, raised his pillow a bit so he could sit up slightly, making it easier for him to breathe

She looked at him lying there, her fingers curling slightly by her side, then turned and walked out

Natalie found the medicine pot, put the herbs she’d brought inside, and started decocting them.

The lid rattled softly as steam pushed it up and down, making a gentle popping sound.

The bitter scent of the herbs soon filled the entire kitchen.

Natalie sat on a small stool by the stove, slowly fanning the flames with a fan!

Her expression was blank. She knew Jacob had kept it a secret from everyone because he didn’t want to go through reatrnent anymore.

Late–stage liver cancer, spread to the spleen, chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, for a man in his seventies, none of these would really buy him more time. They’d only drag out the pain.

acob had waited his whole life for his wife, spent the last two years longing for her. Now, he was finally going to be reunited with her.

She thought Jacob must feel at peace.

She even felt that when Jacob first found out about his illness, his initial reaction was genuine happiness.

And that’s exactly what happened. When Jacob got his diagnosis six months ago, the doctor urged him not to give up and to ight for his life.

But Jacob just waved him off, and there wasn’t even a flicker of fear about dying in his eyes.

He smiled at the doctor. “Honestly, this news makes me happy. Really.”

With just a month left, the only thing Natalie could do now was help Jacob pass peacefully, without pain

Natalie Why are you back?” Jacob called out

Natalie turned at the sound and saw Jacob was already awake, leaning in the doorway watching her

“Wasn’t I just playing chess with your grandma? How did I end up here Jacob sant

Natalie put down the fan stood up, and walked over

Her expression was calm as usual, even with a fait smide

“You’re getting old you can tall asleep anywhere Fined calling you, but you didict answer. Next ime Like your phone with you when you go out!

Jacob looked away, avoiding her gaze as if he was at and stic if ce through hims

He coughed twice and waved his hand Yeah, yeah it was so for age there I just nodded off without be dizing it Slept redh

7:45 am PP

Chapter 185-

well, duln’t even pouce you.

“Why’d you come back all of a sudden‘ Is school on break?”

Natalie didn’t let on that she knew anything. She just nodded, pretending she was Jueless about his illness, keeping her tone light and easy.

“Yeah, boot camp’s finished, and I had nothing going on this weekend, so I thought I’d come home and see you

Jacob let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping like he’d just dodged a bullet.

He leaned back against the pillow, his eyes flicking to Natalie, guilt, a bit of sheepishness, and just a touch of tentative probing all mixed together in his gaze.

Are you brewing medicine?” Jacob asked.

Yeah.” Natalie replied.

Natalie picked up the bowl, stirred the medicine with a spoon, and blew on it to cool it down. “Since I’m home. I thought I’d nake you some. It’s been so hot lately, so I made some herbal soup to help you beat the heat.

Have you not been eating well lately? You look a lot thinner.”

acob froze for a second, then gave a sheepish grin.

I’m eating just fine, really. I just get lazy when you’re not here, so I just throw something together and call it a meal.” he said.

You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let me fix you some noodles,” Jacob offered.

He was already shuffling off to the kitchen as he spoke, and Natale just let him go.

Once Jacob had gone inside, Natalie sat back down on the stool by the medicine pot, pulled out her phone, and called

arkin.

I’m sending you the herbs. Come to Upade Town,” she said.

Okay” Larkin replied.

After a while, Jacob came out carrying a piping hot bowl of noodles topped with a fried egg

Eat up while it’s sull good, or the noodles will turn mushy,” Jacob said

Jacob sat down across from her, with his hands clasped on the table, just watching her

Natalie picked up her fork grabbed a piece of fried egg and took a bite

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