Chapter 19
769words
The press conference had brought up memories of Tania's childhood. She tried to act like nothing bothered her, but Elias could tell she was upset.
He ordered her favorite mini cakes from the hotel and sat with her as she ate.
Elias noticed someone hiding behind the bushes not too far away.
Samuel felt like he was sneaking a look at someone else's joy.
He knew Tania well. When she was down, she would go to the terrace to eat something sweet. He just had to be there with her, and once she finished her treat, she would feel better.
However, Samuel knew his presence was just a formality.
He did not really care about the little things that made Tania sad.
All that mattered to him was that she could make him happy.
Samuel knew he was not the favorite in the Ferguson family. He was just one of many heirs, and the unlucky one who had a genetic illness.
After his illness was discovered, his parents had two more sons and had shifted their focus away from him ever since.
They probably did not think he would live very long.
Tania was the only one who ever made him feel as important as life itself, yet he had pushed her away.
Filled with regret, Samuel watched as the bushes were pushed aside.
Elias stood there, looking stern. He was taller than Samuel, with a body shaped by constant exercise, strong and ready to spring into action.
Samuel stepped back without even thinking.
"I don't ever want to see you near Tania again," Elias said, not bothering to say more. "Do it again and I'll break your legs."
Samuel paused, then told a lie. "Tania... Tania still has some personal stuff at my place."
"Pack it up and send it to the hotel. I'll take care of it."
Without really knowing why, Samuel asked, "Can I have a way to contact you? I might need to reach out later."
Elias thought for a second, then gave him a business card.
It was better to have Samuel call him than to have him bother Tania non-stop.
Samuel had kept Lucy in the basement for three days, with no food or water.
When Lucy came out, she was confused and weak, crying one minute and laughing the next, talking nonsense about being a genius and dreaming of marrying rich.
Samuel called the mental hospital to take her away.
"Give her the best meds, the latest treatments," Samuel said calmly as he signed the hospital papers. "My wife's mental illness is serious."
Lucy was still giggling when they took her, saying Samuel was going to take her to a fancy dinner.
"Mr. Ferguson, according to the information you gave us, your wife is pregnant, seven weeks along. Treatment could really harm the baby."
Samuel snorted. "I first met Lucy four weeks ago. Who knows who the father of that seven-week-old baby is? You deal with it."
After that, Samuel was alone in the big house.
He had been sitting on the porch for what felt like forever, shivering as the cold wind wrapped around him. Without thinking, he called out with a scratchy voice, "Tania, can you get me a coat?"
However, no one replied.
Samuel let out a sad chuckle.
Tania was gone. She would not be there to answer him anymore.
He tried to stand, but everything spun, and he fell to the ground.
When Samuel woke up, he was staring at the white ceiling of a hospital room. "Tania, what's wrong with me?" he murmured.
Then he realized he was still calling for Tania.
She had been such a big part of his life, and then, because of something he did, she was gone.
His mom, Rebecca, was there next to him, her eyes red from crying.
Samuel felt a wave of worry.
"Samuel, you're sick," his mom said, her voice shaky. "Your body is getting weaker. The doctors think you might have only one year left."
Rebecca looked angry and sad. "It's all Lucy's fault. If she hadn't messed things up, the Russell family would have finished their new medicine by now. It could have fixed our family's old health problems and even saved you. However, now, even if they finish the medicine..."
She could not finish her sentence.
Samuel said softly, "Even if they finish it, I won't be here to see it."
He smiled a little, accepting his fate. "I guess this is just how it's supposed to be."
