"I''l be right there.”


    Palmer suddenly stood up, quickly exined, and prepared to leave for the hospital


    Marcel looked worried as he set down his fork and knife.


    "Noe, you go with him and check it out!"


    "Alright."


    Marcel was well aware of Sexton''s health condition.


    Since Noe had always been the one to treat Sexton, performing surgeries and prescribing medications, she was most familiar with his condition


    and could be of great help!


    Nog was Palmer''s fiancée, so it was only natural for her to apany him to check on Sexton. The Schnabel family didn''t think much of it.


    Sienna saw Noe and Palmer out, waiting until their car had disappeared down the road.


    After much thought, Sienna still felt worried and said, "I better call Ulrich too, have him check on things. How did this happen all of a sudden?"


    Imperial West Hospital, operating room.


    Arge group of doctors gathered at the door, appearing somewhat helpless!


    Seeing the crowd around Palmer approaching, an ER doctor quickly came over.


    "Mr. Pock, Sexton''s condition is very bad...”


    “Where''s Professor Calvin?”


    “In the OR!”


    As the operating room door opened, Calvin''s gaze fell on Noe next to Palmer, as if seeing a beacon of hope,pletely bypassing Palmer!


    "You''re finally here! Hurry!"


    Noe squeezed Palmer''s hand, signaling him to stay calm, "I''ll check on Grandpa Sexton.”


    "Alright!"


    Palmer''s eyes held aplex mix of emotions, as if he wanted to say something but ultimately held back.


    He trusted Noe! He didn''t want to add to her stress, understanding that she would do everything in her power to save Grandpa!


    Inside the OR, Noe’s pressure was no less than his!


    The operating room doors closed again, and the surgery light turned on


    Helen sat on the bench, looking extremely calm, though her trembling hands betrayed her emotions!


    "Grandma, how did Grandpa suddenly fall ill?"


    "Stayed up handling some matters."


    Palmer, pressing his temples, said angrily, "Nonsense! What''s so important that Grandpa had to lose sleep over it?"


    Helen lifted her drooping eyelids, giving Palmer a fleeting nce.


    "Palmer, everyone has their fate. We can''t force it. He wanted to do something for you all onest time. That''s his duty!"


    "Grandma! How can Grandpa take such risks with his health?"


    "Silence."


    Helen looked down, slightly displeased, her rosary beads sliding through her fingers, though she couldn''t muster a single prayer.


    No one understood Sexton''s condition better than she did!


    Half an hourter.


    The surgery light turned off, and Noe emerged from the OR, removing her mask.


    She looked at Palmer, her expression holding a restrained sorrow.


    Calvin followed Noe, sighing, "... We did our best, but the surgery was of little use, Sexton refused to undergo a tracheotomy.”


    Palmer frowned, "Refused?"


    How could he refuse?


    Was this a time for stubbornness?


    Helen stood up, gripping her cane tighter, "Enough, Palmer. Let him maintain his dignity!"


    Calvin presented a treatment report Sexton had signed earlier.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    It clearly stated that Sexton was aware of his condition and had voluntarily chosen his medication dosages!


    He also refused the tracheotomy. Having navigated the challenges of life, Sexton, who had led the Pock Group to its peak, wanted to leave with


    dignity!


    He refused a life of mere survival, nor did he wish to burden his descendants with his prolonged illness.


    Helen calmly said, "I''ll go see him. Palmer, you and Nee should start making arrangements."


    She paused for a moment.


    "At least, let Noe send him off as his granddaughter-inw.”


    Noe couldn''t refuse such a request


    "Alright."


    Tears in her eyes, the elderly woman walked steadily towards her husband''s room, her determination clear in her gaze!


    Palmer took a deep breath, looking at his fiancée who had been worried about him


    Meeting Noe''s gaze, the chaos in his heart stilled. Holding Noe''s hand, Palmer said, "Grandpa... how long does he have?"


    "If we''re lucky, a month."


    Calvin sighed, "It''s also thanks to Noe. Initially, Sexton''s condition was expected tost just a few days."


    Feeling the gravity of the situation, Calvin turned away, "I''l go check on him. You two talk!"


    The atmosphere in the corridor was somber, dim even in daylight without the motion-sensor lights on.


    Noe whispered, "...I''m sorry, Grandpa Sexton''s condition has been deteriorating for a while. He didn''t want to worry you."


    Palmer hugged the girl in front of him, hisrge hands gently squeezing her shoulders


    "It''s not your fault. You and Professor Calvin have been keeping this secret for a long time. It must have been hard.”


    Sexton was a stubborn old man.


    In his youth, once he set his mind on something, nothing could sway him!


    If he decided to keep the family in the dark, Noe and Calvin had to support him, facing significant pressure.


    Palmer stroked Noe''s hair, "Don''t worry, I''m fine! How''s Grandpa now?"


    He couldn''t bear to see Noe worried about him!


    "He''s awake now. You should talk to him."


    "You go first. I''ll call Beckett Ulrich."


    "Okay."


    This matterneeded to be


    communicated to the rest of the


    Pock family. Other than o


    unnecessary rtives that Annie


    could contact, Palmer knew he had


    to: apersonally call theo hers:


    bélongs  =


    Turning towards the room, Noe heard Helen softly speaking to Sexton.


    "Did I scare you?"


    "Humph, you think I''m made of paper? After all these years, what haven''t I seen?"


    Sexton chuckled, a faint yellow shadow crossing his eyes.


    >


    "Helen, singme a song, will you?  -.


    That ones: ‘Moonlight Serenade’.


    The first time I saw you, you were at


    the Ballroom, singing Moonlight


    Serenade’, You were so beautifull


    "In times like these, you want a song? Do you think I''m here for your amusement?”


    After a brigfsilence, the room filled.


    with the slow melody of a song, its


    tenderhotes stretching out,


    entwining years of emotion, then


    dissolving into a void of sobs.


    Sexton was all over the ce, "Hey, don''t cry... Your tears, they''re breaking my heart..."


    "You''re mistaken.”


    The melody continued.


    Noe pulled her hand back from the doorknob, not entering.


    Calvin hinted with a nod, "To my office? We need to take good care of Sexton during this time, you need toe up with a n.”


    "Alright, let''s go."


    Noe nced back at the hospital room, letting cut an almost imperceptible sigh.


    Entering the office, Calvin handed Noe a file.


    "This is all the medication Sexton''s been on recently. He''s holding on because he said he wanted to see your engagement!”


    "He''s worried, you know. Worried he might pass away on your happiest day, bringing you bad luck!"