Chapter 19

“Mommy...Mommy…”

Who was calling her?

Estelle woke up to the calling and all she could see were only white walls around her.

As she struggled to look around, she realized that she was at the hospital.

“Miss Sanders, you’re finally awake! You were unconscious for almost four days now. If you didn’t wake up, I’m afraid they would’ve…” The nurse explained as she let out a sigh of relief.

Struggling to sit up, Estelle asked, “Where are my children? My children, they…”

“Don’t worry. The surgery was successful and both of your kids are safe.”

“I want to see them…”

“Oh no, you really shouldn’t, miss. You just had surgery yourself and you’ve got quite a wound. You shouldn’t be walking around just yet…”

A surgery?

Only then was she aware of the thick bandage wrapped around her chest and stomach. As she consciously realized it, she felt a pressing pain.

The nurse explained, “You suddenly passed out and we nearly lost you. The doctor performed a localized excision to your lungs and removed a quarter of the mutated lung cells. You ought to keep in mind to avoid intense movements and activities.”

“The cancer cells are removed? Does it mean that...I have time to live?”

The nurse looked torn. “No one can say for sure. We would have to monitor if cancer will relapse in the future. Though, if you’re willing to undergo chemotherapy sessions regularly after this, you might be able to extend your time.”

“How much longer can I live?”

Feeling torn, the nurse replied, “We can’t say, but we’ll try our best.”

The nurse felt bad for Estelle as ‘trying our best’ was the most said word in the hospital.

However, Estelle did not feel disappointed. She was supposed to be long gone from this world, yet she was given more time to live. It was as if God had taken pity on her.

She felt content.

Knock knock ——

There was a knock on the door.

The nurse opened the door and asked, “Are you a family member of Miss Sanders?”

The person standing outside the door was dressed in a white shirt and blue slacks. His hair was neatly groomed and he wore a pair of gold-framed glasses. He looked decent and well-polished.

“Yes, I am.”

“All right then, I’ll leave you both. Press the bell if you need anything.”

The nurse left the room and shut the door.

Looking at him, Estelle lifted the corners of her mouth. “What brings you all the way here?”

Colten Howard had a gentle voice like the person he was. Whether it was the way he treated people or how he handled situations, he was always well-mannered. People felt at ease around him.

Colten replied, “You did a great job in keeping the news about your illness from me.”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Estelle explained, “Cancer’s no good news. There was no reason to broadcast it.”

“So you wanted to just die after giving birth and not see me again? Estelle, even if you once rejected my love for you, we’re still friends, right?”

“Director Howard…”

Colten let out a sigh and took a seat next to her on the bed. With a worried look, he proposed. “Estelle, bring the kids and come back to the US with me.”

“I...I can’t leave now.”

Letting out a bitter laugh, Colten asked, “Why? Haven’t you given up on Skyler? What is it that he has that I don’t? Why do you dislike me so much?”

Estelle felt a bit wretched upon hearing his words.

The year after the Flynn family’s tragedy, when Skyler decided to go his separate ways with her, it was Colten who stayed by her side when her world was falling apart.

He stayed by her side even when he knew her heart belonged to someone else and that she was carrying another man’s child.