NovelEnglishChapter 396
She raised her hand to strike again, but | caught her wrist.
“That's enough,” | said coolly. “I accept the first slap since William’s collapse might be related to me. But you
don’t get a second one.”
| pushed her hand away. Rachel winced, rubbing her wrist.
My cheek stung, but | kept my face expressionless as | walked past her toward the emergency room. | didn’t
even glance at Blake as | passed his wheelchair.
‘Let her in,” Dr. Bennett said, stepping aside. “He's asking for her.”
| nodded my thanks and entered the room.
William looked so frail lying there, hooked up to machines, his skin ashen. My throat tightened at the sight.
“You came...” He reached forwith a trembling hand.
I rushed to his side and took his hand. “William, I'm here.”
A smile spread across his face. “You cto see me... I'm so happy.”
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His eyes narrowed as he noticed my cheek. “What happened to your face? Did they hit you because of me? This
is all my fault.”
He reached out to touch the handprint. | leaned into his palm.
“It’s nothing,” | murmured.
“Don’t lie to me,” he said. “I may be old, but I'm not stupid. | know what happened.”
William's eyes filled with concern. “Child, you've suffered because of me.’
He asked Charles for a tissue and wiped the tears | hadn't realized were falling. ‘Don’t cry foranymore.”
The way he looked atwasn’t how someone would look at a stranger, or even at their grandchild’s twin. It was
too familiar, too intimate.
Does he recognize me? | wondered. How could he look at a stranger with such tenderness? Is it just because I'm
Audrey's twin?
My emotions overwhelmed me, and | couldn't stop the tears.
“I don’t have much tleft,” William said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You need to take care of yourself
when I’m gone.”
He studied my face. “That Adrian seems like a decent man. | don’t know why he’s good to you, but at least he
doesn’t make you miserable.”
His gaze softened. “Just live your life. Take care of your sister's little girl.”
And let the past stay in the past.”
| squeezed his fingers, feeling a bittersweet ache in my chest.
“William...” The word caught in my throat.
William nodded, smiling. “I just want you to be happy.”
Something in his eyes - that familiar warmth, that unconditional love - broke my last defenses. | threw my arms
around him, careful of the tubes and wires.
William!”
Chapter 396
it hitthen. He knew who | was. He'd recognizedall along.
That's why he'd waited at the hotel. That's why he’d wanted to see Emma so badly.
He'd been worried about me. Even after everything, he couldn't letgo.
The realization made my chest hurt. I'd pretended not to know him, and that must have broken his heart -
enough to land him here.
‘I'm sorry, | whispered, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “I thought you were still confused. | didn’t
want to upset you.”
“Stop apologizing,” William said, patting my hand. “You always take blthat isn’t yours.”
He shook his head slightly. “This isn’t on you.”
“It’s on me. His voice grew hoarse. “If | hadn't pushed you to marry Blake three years ago, you wouldn't have
gone through hell.”
“Terminal cancer. Nearly dying. His eyes filled with tears. | did this to you.”
A tear slid down his weathered cheek. “In my life, I've made two mistakes.”
‘First was making you marry Blake.”
“Second, twenty years ago...”
Before he could finish, | could no longer contain my emotions. | hugged him tightly and wept uncontrollably.
Chanter Comments
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