Chapter 3

I never received a call from Yvette, but I did get one from her mother.

When I rushed to the hospital in a panic, I saw Mom coughing up a mouthful of blood.

“Mom!”

I scrambled over to her bedside, frantically grabbing tissues to wipe the blood from her chin.

“Heath, you’re here,” she whispered weakly with a frail smile, her bony hands fidgeting nervously.

“I want to check out of the hospital, but they won't let me sign the papers myself. I tried calling Yvette, but she wouldn't answer, so I had to bother you to make the trip.”

Seeing her uneasy expression, I gently reassured her.

“Don't say that, Mom. I’m your son too, and it’s no trouble at all. But why do you want to leave? Your treatment isn't finished yet.”

Even as I said it, my heart sank knowing her condition was terminal.

She was battling late-stage stomach cancer. Aside from endless rounds of chemotherapy and painkillers delaying the inevitable, there was nothing modern medicine could do.

Tears welled in my eyes as I squeezed her frail hand. “Mom, we can beat this. Medical technology is advancing every day, and you’re going to live a long life.”

She wasn't just Yvette’s mother; she was my mother too.

I lost my own mom at a young age and grew up alone with my dad, who passed away several years ago.

It was Mom who had taken care of me and shown me maternal love when I had nobody else.

I had always treated her like my own biological mother.

Now that she wanted to discharge herself, she was essentially giving up treatment to wait for the end at home, which tore me apart.

Yet she was stubborn about it. Unable to persuade her, I called Yvette, hoping she could talk some sense into her mother.

I dialed her number repeatedly, but it wasn't until the ninth attempt that the call finally connected.

Before I could even speak, Yvette’s impatient voice snapped through the speaker.

“Calling over and over again, don't you have any shame?! Don't bother me unless it’s an absolute emergency!”

“Yvette, Mom wants to check out of the hospital. Her treatment isn't done yet, so please talk to her!”

Hearing me mention her mother, Yvette let out a contemptuous snort.

“Heath, your tricks are getting cheaper by the day. Bringing up my mom just to lure me back home? I’m not falling for such a pathetic excuse, so stop throwing tantrums. My venture project is at a critical stage right now, so even if we’re getting a divorce, you’ll just have to wait!”

She hung up immediately, not giving me a single second to explain.

Listening to the cold dial tone, my heart went completely numb.

I walked back into the hospital room in silence and met Mom’s hopeful gaze, only to lower my head and shake it quietly.

The light in her eyes instantly dimmed, though she quickly forced a comforting smile.

“It’s alright. Yvette is busy with work. Let her focus so she doesn't run herself ragged. Just help me with the discharge papers.”

In the end, I couldn't change her mind and drove her back to her rural hometown.

Near her old cottage was a peaceful river. Though not wide, the water ran deep in the center.

As I supported Mom on a stroll by the water, she pointed at the riverbank with a gentle smile.

“Look, you and Yvette used to love fishing right here when you were kids, though you never caught a single thing.”

Her words brought a faint smile to my lips.

“Yeah, and you used to love sitting here under the shade to cool off in the summer.”

“This place... has always been my favorite place in the world...”