Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 1243

The elderly woman sitting on the sofa beamed with pure joy. She reached out a frail, trembling hand and carefully accepted the medal. "The highest honor... I've finally lived to see it, and it belongs to my own granddaughter."

Eleanor traced the intricate metalwork as she spoke.

"Grandma, this is the highest state honor in Mavaria. This one is mine, and this one is Owen's.

From now on, I might even be invited to major national events."

"The highest honor? Attending national events?

Good... so good. Now, when I go to the afterlife, I'll have plenty to brag about to our ancestors."

Mira's smile faltered. Why was Eleanor's voice sounding weaker by the second? Her medical instincts instantly flared to life.

"Grandma? What's wrong? Don't scare me!"

Mira whipped her head toward Rachel. "Quick, get my medical kit!"

Gently, Mira eased Eleanor's upper body down until she was lying flat on the sofa. She instructed Mrs. Higgins to loosen the elderly woman's collar while she swiftly began inserting specialized acupuncture needles to stabilize her vitals. "Owen, call Master Ellis right now!"

Owen was already dialing before the words fully left her mouth.

After a few precise applications, Eleanor slowly opened her eyes. The look she gave Mira was filled with profound, lingering affection. "Mira... don't waste your energy. I know my own body. My time has come to an end."

Eleanor's health had been meticulously managed by Mira and her mentor for a long time; of course she knew her condition. She just couldn't bear the thought of leaving her granddaughter behind.

"Stop talking, Grandma. Save your strength. You're going to get better. You're going to live to be a hundred!"

Mira choked back a sob, continuing her treatment with trembling hands.

Rachel stood nearby, wiping her streaming tears. "The Madam asked me what day it was every single morning... Asked when you were coming back...

She kept asking about the financial war. Asking how it was going, asking if we were going to win..."

It was painfully obvious. Eleanor had known her body was failing. She had forced herself to hold on through sheer willpower, waiting for her beloved granddaughter to return so she could hear the news of their nation's victory.

Mira furiously wiped her tears as she saw Eleanor's eyes begin to slide shut again. "Grandma, don't sleep! Please don't sleep! Master Ellis is on his way. He can save you!"

"Should we call an ambulance and get her to the hospital?" Owen asked tightly.

"Their equipment can't do more than my mentor and I can..."

Besides, the hospital couldn't provide the specialized holistic treatments and rare medicines they had been using to keep her alive.