Chapter 54 A Difficult Balance
Chapter 54 A Difficult Balance
“Nora, what happened to your head? How did you get hurt? Is it serious?” Gerald looked at the bandage on Lenora’s head, very worried.
Lenora quickly shook her head. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I accidentally bumped into something. It’s not serious.”
Her eyes were merely blurry, so it didn’t affect much.
“It’s good that you’re all right. You’re still young, so you must take care of your health. Don’t end up like me. My body is failing me, and I won’t be able to hold on for much longer.” Gerald said, his voice weak and
weary.
“No, Grandpa, please don’t say such things. Your health will surely improve, and you will definitely live a long and healthy life.” Warm tears swirled in Lenora’s eyes.
“Why are you acting like a child, crying at the drop of a hat?” Gerald raised his hand to wipe away the tears on Lenora’s face.
“As long as Grandpa is well, I won’t cry,” Lenora said, her voice hoarse with a hint of tears.
“Nora, I’m getting old, and everyone will reach this stage. I have been mentally prepared for a long time. I’m not afraid, and I hope you’re not afraid, either. Okay?”
Lenora bit her lip, the corners of her mouth heavy as if weighed down by a thousand pounds. As she struggled to restrain herself, her lips eventually curved downward, and in the end, she collapsed onto the quilt, sobbing uncontrollably.
She was well aware that everyone would eventually reach this point.
Her own grandparents and father had experienced so much, and it was precisely because of this that she was reluctant to accept it.
How could she accept that her beloved grandfather was soon to leave her?
“Good child, don’t cry anymore,” Gerald said tenderly, stroking Lenora’s head with affection.
Zachary stepped forward, helping Lenora to her feet. He gently coaxed, “Don’t cry, Nora. Isn’t Grandpa just fine?”
Lenora managed to turn her tears into laughter, using her sleeve to wipe away the tears from her eyes. “I must be going crazy,” she said. “Grandpa is perfectly fine. Why am I crying? I should be laughing instead.”
Zachary watched as she forced a smile onto her face. He pursed his lips, raising his hand to wipe away the tears on her face gently.
“Zack, Nora, it’s just us three here. Let’s speak our minds. In truth, were you planning to get a divorce today? If it weren’t for my sudden illness, you would have already divorced by now, wouldn’t you?”
Lenora and Zachary exchanged glances.
“Don’t think you can deceive me. Even though I’m old, I’m not senile. Whatever you’re thinking, I
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understand it well.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Grandpa. I’ve let you down.” Warm tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision into a halo of light. She couldn’t see clearly anymore.
“Nora, don’t cry. The one I worry about the most is you. I know that on the surface, you appear the strongest and bravest, but in reality, you are the most timid.”
Gerald was right. The real her was timid, cowardly, inferior, and sensitive. She didn’t even dare to let Zachary know that he was the one she liked.
She feared ridicule, feared rejection, feared loss. Thus, she carried herself with an air of nonchalance, as if only in this way could she avoid getting hurt.
She seemed indifferent to everything because she had nothing at all.
“Zack, I know that you want to be with Susanna. I cannot selfishly ruin your life. I only hope that you can promise me one thing.”
“Grandpa, as long as I can do it, I will certainly promise you,” Zachary solemnly assured.
“I hope that you can sincerely get along well with Nora. If, after my departure, you still decide to divorce, I will inform your grandmother in advance. She will not stop you. Can you do that?”
Zachary looked at Lenora, who was crying uncontrollably. He swallowed hard, nodded, and said, “I promise you. From now on, I will sincerely get along well with Nora.”
“Nora, what about you?”
“I also promise you, Grandpa, that I will certainly get along well with Zack.”
“Good. That’s good. It puts me at ease.” A look of relief spread across Gerald’s face. “I woke you up so late, so you must not have rested well, right? Go and get some rest now. I’m also a bit tired.”
He had just woken up from surgery, and it was already impressive that he could endure for such a long while.
“Grandpa, you should rest now. I’m here with you. Once you’ve fallen asleep, then I will leave.”
“Good, obedient child.”
Gerald fell asleep quickly.
Zachary silently gave Lenora a look, but Lenora couldn’t see it.
He could only quietly step forward and gently pat Lenora’s shoulder, pointing toward the door.
Lenora slowly rose to her feet, trailing behind Zachary as they made their way to the door.
Zachary said softly, “You should go back and rest.”
Lenora looked at his foggy face. “What about you? You’ve been up until now. Aren’t you going to rest?”
“I’ve already called Johanne. He will be here soon, and once he arrives, Lwill come to find you.”
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“All right. I’ll be leaving first, then.”
“I’ll take you up there.”
When Lenora entered the ward, she asked Zachary, “Do you want me to leave the door open?”
“Yes, I’ll be there shortly.”
“All right.”
Lenora lay down on the bed, but sleep had already cluded her. She tossed and turned restlessly.
Every time she thought of Gerald’s illness, her heart was filled with unending sorrow and pain.
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Moreover, in the matter that Gerald had just persuaded Zachary to agree to, Gerald had used his own. death to exchange for her a chance to get along well with Zachary.
What virtues or abilities did she possess to deserve such treatment from Gerald?
If the roles were reversed, if her separation from Zachary meant that Gerald wouldn’t have died, then she would have undoubtedly severed ties with Zachary without hesitation.
However, there were no ifs.
In the affairs of the world, it was hard to have it both ways.
Faint footsteps echoed down the corridor, halting at the entrance of her ward.
Zachary gently pushed the door open, tiptoeing over to the bedside. In a soft voice, he asked, “Haven’t you fallen asleep yet?”
“No, I was having a bit of trouble sleeping.”
Zachary made use of the private bathroom in the ward quickly freshening up. He removed his coat, pulled back the covers, and climbed into bed, saying, “Let’s sleep.”
“All right.”
They tacitly avoided mentioning their grandfather’s words.
With her eyes closed, Lenora unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
As dawn was about to break, Lenora was jolted awake by the sudden ring of her phone.
She reached out her hand but then quickly withdrew it
That wasn’t her phone ringtone.
Zachary picked up the phone from the bedside table, threw back the covers, and got out of bed.
Lenora thought he would step out to take the call, but to her surprise, he just stood by the window, looking out. “Hello, Susanna,” he said.
“Zack, I had a nightmare. Could you come and see me?
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Chapter 54 A Difficult Balance
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“I’m sorry, Susanna. If you’re scared, let Yelena accompany you. Grandpa is ill, and I have to stay with him. at the hospital. I can’t come over.”
“Huh? Is Grandpa’s illness serious? I remember Grandpa was always so kind to me in the past. Can I go and see him?”
Zachary remained silent, casting a glance at Lenora, who was on the bed.
Lenora quickly averted her gaze, feigning sleep by closing her eyes.
It was clear that Zachary had seen through her.
He covered the mouthpiece of the phone, turned to Lenora, and asked, “Susanna said she wants to come and visit Grandpa. What do you think?”
Lenora’s feigned sleep had failed, leaving her no choice but to open her eyes and prop herself up to look at him. “I don’t think it’s appropriate. Grandpa just had surgery yesterday, and his condition is still not very stable. Moreover, the person he probably least wants to see right now is her. If she really wants to come, let’s wait until Grandpa is transferred to a regular ward.”
“I thought the same.”
Zachary placed his phone back to his ear. “I’m sorry, Susanna. I can’t accommodate you right now. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll invite you over. Also, I won’t have time to visit you in the next few days.”
“Zack, have you abandoned me? I had a terrifying dream about that day. I dreamt that I was trapped in a small, dark room, screaming for help, but to no avail. My voice was hoarse from all the yelling. They beat me, they cursed at me, and even…”
“Susanna, if you’re scared, you should seek help from a psychiatrist.”
“I just wanted you to keep me company…”
“Susanna, are you asking me to choose between you and Grandpa?”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“Even if you didn’t mean it that way, I need to tell you this. Between you and Grandpa, I would definitely choose Grandpa, understand?”
“I understand… Zack, please don’t abandon me. I promise to follow your advice and see a doctor.”
“All right.”
Zachary hung up the phone, quickly got dressed, and said to Lenora, “I’m going downstairs to check on Grandpa. You should get some more sleep.”
“All right,” Lenora responded drowsily, on the verge of falling asleep.
A moment later, Zachary came back up. “Grandpa hasn’t woken up yet. Mallory is by his bedside.”
Zachary removed his coat and climbed back into bed. Let’s sleep a little longer.”
After dozing for another half an hour, Lenora got up to freshen up. She then went to the hospital ward
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Chapter 54 A Difficult Balance
with Zachary to visit Gerald.
Upon reaching the entrance of the ward, one could hear voices conversing within.
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Upon careful identification, it became clear that the speakers were two individuals, One was Allison, who had come over from the Fuller residence early in the morning, and the other was Mallory, Johanne’s wife,
As Lenora stepped in, Zachary held her hand, accompanying her side by side into the ward.
“Grandma, Mallory.”
Upon reaching the ward, Lenora and Zachary greeted them.
“Why have you come so early? Why didn’t you sleep a bit longer?” Allison asked.
“Couldn’t sleep, so we came. How is Grandpa now?” Lenora glanced inside.
“He’s still asleep. You all haven’t eaten yet, have you? Go ahead. We don’t need so many people here.”
“All right, Grandma, Mallory. We’ll go and have our meal first, then.”
Zachary led Lenora out of the ward.
He turned his head to look at Lenora. “Should I have it sent over, or…”
“There’s no need to go through all that trouble. Let’s just head to the hospital cafeteria,” Lenora suggested.
“The cafeteria is crowded, and your vision isn’t clear. You should go back to the ward first. I’ll buy some food.”
“Okay.
Zachary escorted Lenora back to her ward, then headed to the hospital cafeteria to fetch two breakfasts. He returned and shared the meal with Lenora.
