Raymond thought for a moment. “I’ll make a call tomorrow.”
Thea was his sister. A strange sense of unease pressed on him.
The next morning, Raymond dialed Thea’s number, but her phone was turned off.
He tried reaching the Pearsons’ butler instead. The reply left him shaken. “Mrs. Pearson hasn’t been feeling well. She’s in the hospital.”
Raymond’s stomach dropped. He immediately sent someone to dig deeper.
The news came back quickly. Thea had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and was now weighing her treatment options.
The family was stunned. “They hid something this serious from us?”
Maxwell darted his eyes and came up with a plan. “Dad, why don’t we convince Aunt Thea to come back here for surgery? Our surgeons are top-notch, and we can combine modern medicine with holistic treatments. That way, we can keep full control of her care.”
Marcelo jumped in. “Exactly. I’ve got connections. Professor Warren is a leading expert in this field. We could bring him in for her surgery.”
Gianna cut straight to the point, as always. “Yeah, Dad. If we arrange the treatment, we can use it to negotiate with Amelia. Her shares-“
Raymond narrowed his eyes, considering the angle. “You’re right. I’ll reach out to Thea and persuade her to come back for treatment.”
Emery hesitated. “But what about the Pearsons?”
Raymond gave a cold laugh. “The Pearsons? Please. Without our backing, they’d be nobodies. And now, when Thea’s sick, they dare to keep it from us? Unbelievable.”
It didn’t take long for Thea to agree to return home for treatment.
She’d already planned to. The tumor in her brain was pressing against her nerves, and things weren’t looking good. After consulting several surgeons abroad, none of them could give her much hope.
So, Thea decided to take her chances back home. And if luck really wasn’t on her side, at least she could spend her final days where she was born.
Besides, she wanted to see Amelia again.
They had stayed in touch over the years, but Amelia was the kind of person who only shared the good news, never the bad.
Lately, though, their contact had faded. Thea’s health had been declining, and she hadn’t had the energy to talk much.
She figured that girl must have started to suspect something by now.
And she was right. Amelia had been feeling uneasy these past few weeks.
Every time she tried to call Thea, she couldn’t reach her-or Thea would just say she was busy.
But come on, even if you’re busy, can’t you text a few words?
Something was definitely wrong.
Amelia knew her aunt well. Thea must’ve kept quiet so she wouldn’t worry.
That morning, Amelia had just gotten up when she noticed several missed calls on her phone. All from the Nygards.
And one from Thea.
Her heart sank. She hurried to return the call.
The call was answered almost immediately, but the voice that came through wasn’t Thea; it was Raymond’s. “Amelia, do you have a heart?” he snapped.
Amelia’s eyes instantly turned cold. “Mr. Nygard, don’t worry. I have one. Whether you do or not is another story. Now tell me, why do you have Aunt Thea’s phone?”
Raymond’s anger exploded at the way she addressed him. He tried to suppress his rage but failed.
“You ungrateful brat! Your aunt is in the hospital fighting for her life, and you don’t even care? And to think she’s treated you like her daughter!”
Amelia’s fingers clenched tightly around her phone. “What’s wrong with Aunt Thea?”
“What’s wrong?” Raymond sneered. “She has a brain tumor! It’s pressing on her nerves, and it’s serious. If you still have a shred of decency left, get to Mercy Hospital right now-before it’s too late to see her.”
“I’ll be right there.”
She hung up at once.
Then she dialed another number. “Tracy, find out exactly where my Aunt Thea is right now and get me her medical records.”
So it was true. Thea was sick. And she hadn’t told her. She must have been afraid Amelia would worry.
Ten minutes later, Tracy texted back. “She’s in a VIP ward at Mercy Hospital. Preliminary diagnosis: brain tumor pressing on the nerves.
Immediate surgery is required.”
Amelia’s gaze turned sharp. “Got it.”
She quickly changed her clothes and hurried to the hospital.
When Amelia rushed to the hospital, the Nygards were already gathered outside the room.
Maxwell spotted her first and sneered, “Well, look who finally decided to show up. Busy bee, huh?”
Amelia ignored him and walked straight toward the door.
Raymond blocked her path. “Your Aunt Thea just fell asleep. Don’t disturb her.”
Just then, Marcelo stepped forward, handing her a contract. “Let’s not waste each other time. Sign this transfer agreement, and we’ll pull some strings to get Professor Warren to do her surgery.”
Amelia gave the paper a cold glance, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “What? Taking advantage of a sick woman?”
Of course. The Nygards would never be this generous without a reason.
So that is their plan.
Dream on.
She took the contract and, right in front of them, tore it slowly into shreds.
Marcelo’s face twisted. “Amelia, do you even understand how dangerous Aunt Thea’s condition is? Without Professor Warren, she might-“
“Shut up!” Amelia’s voice cut like a blade. “Don’t pretend you care. Aunt Thea’s surgery is my responsibility, not yours.”
“Amelia, stop being stubborn,” Gianna chimed in, feigning concern. “How are you going to do that? This is life and death. We talked to the experts-there are only a handful of surgeons who can handle this. Right now, only Professor Warren and Dr. Ace. But Dr. Ace has been off the radar for years. Nobody knows where to find him.”
Know your enemy, know yourself, and you’ll never lose a battle. Gianna had learned that lesson well.
After that reality show scandal, her reputation had taken a nosedive.
She had been forced to take a break from work and stay out of the spotlight.
And all of it-every bit of humiliation-was because of Amelia. Now, Gianna was determined to make Amelia pay by making her hand over those shares.
With the family affection, Gianna was certain that most of the company’s shares would end up in her hands.
She had already planned everything perfectly.
Amelia’s eyes swept over Gianna like a sharp blade. A cold smile tugged at her lips. “Looks like you’ve done your homework.”
Scheming, shameless snakes.
Using Aunt Thea’s illness to threaten me?
Unbelievable.
She turned to open the door, but Raymond blocked her again.
“Amelia! Your Aunt Thea’s life is in danger. This isn’t the time for your temper! Who do you think you are? Could you get Dr. Ace to step in?”
Amelia’s hand froze for a second. A shadow flashed across her eyes. “That’s none of your business.”
With one firm shove, she pushed Raymond aside and walked into the room.
On the hospital bed lay a gentle-looking woman in her 50s. Her hair was thin, her face pale and hollow, and her body looked like it had been drained of life itself.
This was Thea.
Hearing the door open, Thea slowly turned her head and opened her eyes. “Amelia … “
The sight made Amelia’s throat tighten. Her vision blurred as tears welled up.
She rushed forward and gripped her aunt’s cold hand. “Aunt Thea, I’m here. You’re going to be fine, I promise.”
“My sweet girl,” Thea said weakly, struggling to speak. “I know my condition. Don’t comfort me; just take care of yourself.”
Before Amelia could reply, Raymond stormed in behind her. His tone was sharp and accusing. “Amelia, Thea’s always loved you like her own daughter. Now she’s dying, and you’re the only one who can save her. You wouldn’t really let her die, would you?”
Before Amelia could speak, Thea’s fragile voice cut through the air. “Raymond! What are you saying? Are you trying to push me to my grave?”
“Thea, I’m doing this for you!” Raymond argued. “Those shares were supposed to belong to our family. She’s already cut ties with us. Why should she still be holding them?”
Thea’s chest heaved with anger, her pale face flushing with rage. “Raymond! Amelia is my niece! My blood! Those shares were left to her by Dad. What do they have to do with you?”
Raymond’s face darkened. “Don’t be foolish, Thea! She’s no longer part of the family. Why should she still hold our company shares?”
Amelia gave a soft, cold laugh. She gently patted Thea’s hand. “Aunt Thea, don’t get worked up. Your health comes first.”
Then she stood up, her eyes sharp as blades as they swept across the room. “As for those shares, forget it. They’re staying with me. And I’ll make sure Aunt Thea gets her surgery-Dr. Ace will handle it.”
Marcelo let out a mocking chuckle. “Amelia, don’t tell me you actually believe some random doctor can save Aunt Thea? Professor Warren is one of the country’s best neurosurgeons, and even he said there’s only a 50-50 chance. Your Dr. Ace? Who knows if that doctor is the real deal?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.