Chapter 28 Sudden (I)

Lily Parker booked the earliest available flight, and by the time she landed, the night had deepened, with the moon casting a cold glow.

Instead of heading home, she hailed a taxi and rushed to the city's Red Cross Hospital. She nearly drifted off in the cab, overcome by exhaustion. The recent events had left her restless, unable to sleep a peaceful night. Her eyes felt sore and swollen, yet too dry for tears. Now was not the time for tears; she couldn't allow herself to falter at this critical moment.

At the hospital—

Margaret Parker, her mother, paced anxiously outside a patient room. Catching sight of Lily, she hurriedly grasped her hand, saying, "Lily, what should we do? I'm so scared that your father might…" Her voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.

Lily's face drained of color. She gently led her mother to a bench in the corridor, urging her to sit. "Mom, calm down," she whispered. "What did the doctors say?" The evening call from her mother had been frantic, telling