Chapter 553
Chapter 553 A Jumbled Mess
Afraid that Avery would notice her condition, Alina hastily reached out and pinched her nose to stop the
blood from continue dripping down. At the same time, she quickly rinsed the blood off the spat with
tap water.
Afraid that Avery would notice her condition, Alina hastily reached out and pinched her nose to stop the
blood from continue dripping down. At the same time, she quickly rinsed the blood off the spat with
tap water.
Her movements were exceedingly swift and practiced. It was as though she was already ustomed
to doing them.
Inwardly, she rejoiced over her luck. Fortunately, not only did the blood miss getting into the food, but
I''m also having my back to Avery, so she didn''t notice what happened!
In the next instant, she could not help casting her mind back to her doctor''s advice.
“Your immune system is growing increasingly weaker now, and you need to be admitted to the hospital
for chemotherapy as soon as possible, Ms. Rumpley. If you continue dying things, the damage to
your body will only be amplified. At that time, your life will be in danger.”
“I don''t want to undergo chemotherapy, doctor. Is there any conservative treatment instead? I don''t
mind taking medicine. No matter the medicine, it''s fine as long as it can keep me alive.” That was the
question Alina put forth with much difficulty back then.
She knew that the side effects of chemotherapy were not limited to dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and
throwing up. On top of that, she would lose her beautiful ck hair and even turn horrifyingly gaunt and
shriveled.
All her life, she had been pursuing beauty and perfection. Hence, she would rather die than see herself
be so unsightly.
“Ms. Rumpley, at present, the country''s most effective ways of treating cancer are surgery and
chemotherapy. Surgery is the most basic method, but it''s only suitable for the treatment of early-stage
tumors. As for your advanced-stage cancer, it won''t be of much help. If you persist in undergoing
chemotherapy after surgery, you''ll still have a chance of survival. Honestly speaking, other conservative
treatment methods aren''t suitable for your current condition,” the doctor exined in detail without
keeping anything from her.
Unwilling to admit defeat, Alina asked, “Is my condition hereditary, doctor? My brother died of cancer
last year, and I''ve also been diagnosed with the same disease. Is this passed down through the
family?”
“The incidence rate is indeed higher among families with a cancer patient than the average person, but
the so-called inherited tumor is actually the inborn susceptibility to develop tumors, coupled with
negative environmental factors. That''s the reason behind cancer. Generally speaking, the more
common hereditary ones include breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and the like. If a person''s
immediate family member suffers from any of the aforementioned cancers, then the individual''s
chances of contracting cancer are several times higher than that of the average person,” the doctor
answered solemnly.
When Alina heard that, her nose stung sharply.
Leonardo and I are immediate family members, and we were both unluckily diagnosed with cancer. Is
that gic or a mere coincidence? If it''s really a gic issue, what about Ery? She''s Leonardo''s
biological daughter. Then, are her chances of contracting cancer also higher than the average
person''s?
Her gaze fell on Avery, who was helping her cook in the kitchen while a few months along in her
pregnancy. Sorrow washed over her like a tidal wave, inundating her in destion.
With her eyes on her niece, she proposed, “Ery, I''ll apany you to the hospital when you''re free for
a full-body checkup, okay?”
Mistakenly assuming that her aunt was worried about the baby she was carrying, Avery muttered, “I
visit the hospital for prenatal checkups regrly, Aunt Alina. The doctor said the baby and I are both
healthy, so you don''t need to worry.”
At that, Alina let out a long exhale. Enduring her physical difort, she started rifying the reason
for requesting that Avery have a checkup. “When Ist went to the hospital for a checkup, Ery, the
doctor told me that if one''s immediate family member suffers from cancer, the individual is several
times more likely to inherit the diseasepared to the average person. Your father died of cancer,
and I''ve also been diagnosed with a simr mdy. You''re his only biological daughter, so I''m afraid
that... that...”
Verily, she could not bring herself to finish her utterance.
Unfortunately, Avery countered blithely, “I don''t think so, Aunt Alina. In my opinion, it''s only a
coincidence that you and Dad contracted cancer. Besides, I know my health best. Ever since young,
I''ve only ever had a fever or cold at most.”
This time, however, Alina was decidedly firm. Despite her usual gentleness, she was very much
adamant then. “No, you must follow me to the hospital for a checkup. Regardless of the test results, I''ll
only be able to rest easy after ascertaining that you''re in perfect health. Leonardo has already passed
away, and I have no idea how much longer I have now that I''m suffering from cancer. If anything
happens to me, you''ll be the only one left to take care of your grandfather.”
It was the first time Avery had seen her usually invincible aunt revealing such a fragile side to her. That
had her abruptly realizing the gravity of the matter.
Tossing the half-washed te into the sink, she hugged Alina without even bothering to wipe her
hands.
I''ve always known that Aunt Alina is sick. She told me about it when she first sought me out. But she''d
always been optimistic about it, taking medicine to keep her condition from worsening. What''s with this
out of the blue?
Tears almost escaped her eyes. “Aunt Alina, Dad has passed away, and Grandpa has already
experienced the pain of losing a child once. He aged overnight... Can you really bear to put him
through such agony again, Aunt Alina? He''s already up in years, and you two are my only family left in
the Rumpley family. Both of you are my backers, the only people I can depend upon. I''m going to sit for
the Certified Professional Constructor exam tomorrow, so I don''t have time to go for a checkup. I
promise to listen to you and follow you to the hospital for a checkup during the weekend break. But you
must also promise to stay strong and continue living for our sake. Okay?”
Tears almost escaped her eyes. “Aunt Alina, Dad has passed away, and Grandpa has already
experienced the pain of losing a child once. He aged overnight... Can you really bear to put him
through such agony again, Aunt Alina? He''s already up in years, and you two are my only family left in
the Rumpley family. Both of you are my backers, the only people I can depend upon. I''m going to sit for
the Certified Professional Constructor exam tomorrow, so I don''t have time to go for a checkup. I
promise to listen to you and follow you to the hospital for a checkup during the weekend break. But you
must also promise to stay strong and continue living for our sake. Okay?”
She had never known maternal love since childhood,cking protection from a female character. Thus,
her aunt''s love for her suffused her with warmth.
To her, Alina was her pseudo-mother, ying a pivotal role in terms of familial affection.
The sight of her niece''s pitiful and pleading gaze, coupled with the sheer anxiety and fear in those
limpid eyes, had Alina''s lips quiver slightly. Ultimately, she relented, “Okay.”
Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.
That night, Avery did not go back but stayed over at ke''s ce.
Having learned that she was going to sit for an examination tomorrow, Alina, who was also staying
overnight, insisted on having a chat with her. She urged Avery to take good care of the baby in her
stomach and not to worry about the examination as she could still resist the paper next year if the
results were not to her satisfaction.
Avery listened to it all attentively. They both talked for a long time.
Only when it was almost nine o''clock did Alina leave her niece''s room.
Picking up her phone, Avery noticed several missed calls and a WhatsApp message.
She tapped open the WhatsApp message and saw that it was from Cayden. It read: Jeremy told me
you went over to Grandpa''s ce and would be staying there tonight. You must have plenty to talk
about with Aunt Alina, so I''ll leave you to it tonight. Sleep earlier so that you''ve got enough rest for
tomorrow''s exam. Don''t be nervous, for you can definitely do it. I trust you.
After she finished reading the message, a sense of warmth and sweetness pervaded her.
Lying on the bed quietly, she closed her eyes. Yet, Alina''s words kept ying in her ears. For a
moment, her thoughts became a jumbled mess.
There''s a chance of inheriting cancer through family, and I''m Dad''s biological daughter. In that case,
would I also suffer from cancer one day in the future?