To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 71

In the end, it was Mrs. Archer who roused Lina from her daze.

After everything that had happened tonight, Lina was still visibly shaken. As soon as she woke, she clung to Brian's arm like a lifeline.

"Brian, my mom's going to be okay, right?"

"Don't worry. The doctors will take care of it."

Brian's voice had grown noticeably colder. He opened the rear car door and, without another word, ushered her inside.

Elara, standing nearby, was half-amused and half-curious about why Lina wasn't fighting for the front passenger seat beside Brian. But then she saw Lina clutching Brian's hand, her whole body trembling. "Brian, please, give me my medicine. I can't control myself."

Brian's expression changed instantly. He gestured for Mrs. Archer to fetch the pills, then fed them to Lina himself.

Even after taking the medication, Lina didn't calm down right away. Brian glanced at the time, then turned to Elara. "You drive."

He climbed into the backseat without another word.

Elara couldn't help but laugh under her breath.

Lina had some sense, but her biggest mistake was still trying to compete for a man Elara had long since stopped wanting.

When they reached the hospital, Nanette was still unconscious.

Gareth stood outside her hospital room, talking with the doctor.

At the sight of Elara, Gareth's eyes lit up. He strode over and grabbed her hands. "Elara, thank goodness you're here. Your mother-in-law needs you."

He seemed to realize there were things better left unsaid, so he turned instead to the doctor.

The doctor—mid-thirties, male—picked up where Gareth left off. "The patient's platelet count has plummeted. She needs an immediate transfusion of type O platelets, or her life will be in danger."

Lina looked as if she'd been struck by lightning. "But my mom just has ovarian cancer. Why would her platelets be a problem?"

The doctor shook his head. "It's hard to say what caused it, but tomorrow's surgery must be postponed. She could hemorrhage at any moment. Our hospital doesn't have type O platelets available. You'll have to find a donor immediately."

Chuck Chamberlain—clearly uncomfortable—shifted on his feet. "That's the patient's situation. I need to make my rounds. Decide quickly about the platelets, but don't wait too long."

As he hurried off, Elara grew even more certain: this was a setup.

She even began to wonder if Nanette was sick at all.

No sooner had the doctor left than Nanette woke up in her hospital bed.

Lina rushed in first, dropping to her knees at Nanette's bedside and grasping her hand.

"Mom, where does it hurt?"

Nanette's face was ghostly white, almost as if it had been soaked in bleach.

"Lina, I may not have much time left. Elara doesn't like me, and she's never respected me in the Vincent family. She won't help me, so don't bother begging her. What I worry about most is you—you still haven't settled down…"