CHapter 101


    On the fifth floor of the Fortress Hospital, Vincent stirred from hisa, aching in ces he didn’t


    even know could hurt. After being kidnapped and roughed up, he’d found himself in a graveyard


    brawl with that old piece of work, Zachary. Vincent felt as if all the bones in his body were on the


    brink of falling apart.


    Zachary also came to, blinking back consciousness.


    Linsey rushed over, exasperated. “What in the world happened? Weren’t you just going to visit


    Mom’s grave?”


    “Don’t even start! That lunatic Vincent had the nerve to toss my mother’s urn! I was ready to tear


    him limb from limb!”


    As Zachary shifted, his spine crackled painfully, making him wince and snarl.


    From the adjacent bed, Vincent was not having any of it.


    “Zachary, it was you who wanted to tamper with my family’s graveyard. You had Milford spruce up


    our ce so you could move inter. I won’t stand for it. Either return my property and the


    graveyard, or forget about Briony marrying into your family.”


    Linsey, a force to reckon with, dropped Zachary back onto his bed before turning her attention to


    Vincent, hands on her hips and her voice rising in fury.


    “What joke are you trying to pull? We want that decrepit old house of yours, covered in dog crap


    and bird droppings? And that raggedy daughter of yours? You think Milford would fancy someone


    like her? She’s got nothing going for her, parading around like some high and mightydy! Even if


    we were desperate, Milford wouldn’t touch your daughter with a ten–foot pole!”


    Vincent had been banking on Briony’s wedding gift from the Rosenberg family to pay off his debts.


    At Linsey’s words, he bristled with anger.


    “Dream on,dy. Briony and Milford are engaged. If you want to call it off, get ready for the talk of


    the town!”


    “Laughable. Who wouldugh at Milford for calling off an engagement with a girl picked from a


    dumpster? Your family, the Lamberts, will foot the bill for my husband’s medical expenses!”


    Vincent sneered, unfazed. “Well, if that’s how you want it, I’ll just call the cops!”


    Zachary’s presence at Old Mrs. Lambert’s graveyard was indisputable, along with his devious


    attempts to seize the Lambert property.


    Briony, having been insulted by Linsey, felt her cheeks burning and tears welling up.


    “Don’t cry, Briony. I’ll find you a better fiancé, someone with ss!”


    “You think someone better would want this girl? Get real!”


    The two families were at each other’s throats, almost ready to duke it out in the hospital.


    11:39:


    Milford, overwhelmed by themotion, didn’t botherforting a sobbing Briony. He was itching


    to get away; he had ns with some local models and was looking forward to a night


    out.


    Just as he reached the door, the doctor entered the room.


    “Zachary, you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer. Your family should start preparing for the


    end.”


    “What?” Milford froze in his tracks, turning to face the doctor holding the diagnosis.


    “Lung cancer? How could I have lung cancer? Doc, are you sure? Maybe there’s been a mistake.


    Why talk about preparing for the end?”


    Zachary was nearly in tears; he’d only felt unwell the past couple of days. How had ite to this?


    From the adjacent bed, Vincent burst intoughter.


    “Ha! What goes aroundes around. You’ve been nothing but trouble, and now it seems the man


    upstairs can’t stand it either! This is karma!”


    Hisughter was relentless.


    “Briony, darling, they say cancer can be hereditary. We want no part of that family. Don’t you marry


    into it!”


    As tears streaked her face, Briony couldn’t help but feel there was truth in Vincent’s words.


    The doctor approached Vincent with another diagnosis in hand.


    “Vincent, it appears you have stomach cancer. Your family should also prepare.”


    Vincent’sugh caught in his throat.


    What was happening? He was sick too! Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    He stared at the report, which spelled out ‘advanced stomach cancer‘ alongside a list of


    iprehensible data.


    Zachary roared withughter. “Ha! Serves you right! That’s what you get forughing at me. This is


    youreuppance! Even if I’m sick, I’ve got a son to carry on the family name. You’ve got only a


    daughter. No heirs for you, ha!”


    Having no sons was Vincent’s greatest sorrow. After having Briony, Belinda couldn’t have more


    children, and the starlets Vincent kept didn’t want to sacrifice their careers for motherhood.


    Vincent ignored his pain and sat bolt upright.


    “No, Doctor, what’s going on? I’m still young; how could I have stomach cancer?”


    Zachary spat disdainfully. “You’re fifty–six and calling yourself young? Get real.”


    The doctor ignored their squabbling, his expression serious. “Your diet is a huge problem,


    11:39


    Vincent. You seem to indulge in greasy food often, and Zachary, your smoking has contributed to


    the spread of the cancer cells. Our hospital is at a loss.”


    Vincent couldn’t understand; he always took care of his health! He saved all thevish meals for the


    evenings since he wasn’t home for lunch and didn’t have to share his expensive ingredients with


    Belinda and Briony.


    Back when Noe was home, he’d kept her from eating dinner to maintain her figure. But the food


    was prepared, and he couldn’t let it go to waste, could he?


    Over time, he often ate two dinners in one night and went straight to bed afterward.


    Linsey, sobbing, hit Zachary. “I told you to quit smoking, but you wouldn’t listen. Look where it’s got


    you! What am I supposed to do with Milford now? He’s not even married!”


    Zachary slumped in his chair, his eyes glued to the medical report in his hands, disbelief etched


    on his face.


    Vincent clutched the document as if it were a lifeline, his phone pressed against his ear. He had


    made several calls, only to be met with the same grim prognosis.


    His illness was incurable!


    Briony hesitated, her lips trembling as she spoke up.


    “Dad, Mr. Rosenberg, I just saw Noe at the hospital. She’s working as a caregiver for the


    Schnabel family; she must know a lot of doctors, right? I heard that Ulrich Schnabel is a brilliant


    doctor. If Noe would be willing to put in a good word, maybe there’s still hope for your condition?”


    Vincent perked up instantly. “I’ve heard of Ulrich, too. They say that the legendary Professor Calvin


    is taking care of Marcel’s health. If we could get him or Ulrich to take a look at me, there might be a


    chance!”


    The Rosenberg family pricked up their ears at this conversation. “Briony, you said you saw Noe


    here? Where is she?”


    If they could get in touch with Noe and she could connect them to Ulrich, there might be a sliver


    of hope for their own ailments!


    Briony stammered, her gaze flickering uncertainly. “Well… I think Noe is pregnant. She was in the


    maternity ward, and there was this man with her I didn’t recognize, so I didn’t dare approach them.”