Chapter 9
Half an hour later, the cold air of the city hospital’s morgue seemed to seep into Kane’s bones, freezing him in place as he stared at the faint outline beneath the white sheet. His mind was flooded with disbelief.
How could it be possible that Eleanor, who had been alive and well, dressing up in front of him just an hour ago, was now lying here, lifeless?
His hands trembled uncontrollably in mid–air, afraid to lift the sheet, as if keeping it in place meant Eleanor was still alive.
With a soft rustle, Lillian reached out and lifted the sheet, the small, delicate face underneath as pale as porcelain, eerily still and cold.
“Ellie!” Selene’s scream shattered the morgue’s silence. Her body collapsed to the floor, as if all strength had left her, unable to stand.
Kane’s eyes flickered with emotion, and his legs felt like they were made of lead, each step
towards Eleanor a monumental effort.
He clutched his thighs tightly, inching forward as he mumbled, “How… how did this happen… she was just fine an hour ago…”
Looking at Eleanor’s beautifully made–up face, his heart twisted. Had she known she was going to die, and had applied her makeup for her own farewell?
At that moment, the doctor who had called him earlier stepped forward, his tone calm yet tinged with professional detachment.
“Ms. Eleanor came on her own. After arranging her affairs with us, her heart simply stopped.”
“This is the death certificate. We need a family member to sign it.”
Kane’s eyes slowly moved from the certificate up to the doctor’s face. Recognizing him as Eleanor’s physician, a flash of realization struck him like lightning, changing his expression instantly to one of anger.
“You were in charge of Ellie’s health. She was always fine, wasn’t she? So why… why is she gone. now?”
Selene, as if revived by shock, struggled to her feet and lunged forward, clutching the doctor’s arm frantically.
“Give me back my daughter! Give me back my Ellie!”
The doctor watched impassively, pulling out a thick stack of medical reports and laying them flat on the table.
“Eleanor was forced to undergo bone marrow extractions almost every month, which severely compromised her organs.”
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Chapter 9
“We have issued multiple critical condition notices, all signed by you. I repeatedly warned you. A week ago, I told you again, Eleanor’s body couldn’t take it anymore; another extraction could be fatal.”
“Eleanor herself said she would die. But what did you do? You accused her of making excuses, saying her life belonged to the Yates family, even threatening to restrain her on the operating table for more marrow.”
The doctor’s voice caught slightly, emotions barely contained as he maintained his professional composure amidst the grief.
Kane and Selene stared blankly at the reports, their signatures glaringly obvious, as memories, long ignored and forgotten, began to play back in their minds.
Whenever Lillian’s condition worsened, they focused solely on her, dismissing any warnings about Eleanor’s health as inconsequential.
Selene shook with sobs, her voice choked and broken.
“I didn’t know Ellie was so sick. If I had known… how could I force my own daughter to die…?”
“Give it a rest!”
A voice rang out from a group gathered outside the morgue, full of disdain and anger.
“I’ve been in this hospital for six months, and I’ve heard the doctors declare Ellie critical at least five or six times. And now you claim you didn’t know? Were you deaf or blind?”
“You’re not fit to be a mother. You’re a monster, clearly wanting your younger daughter to die, and now you put on this show of grief. It’s disgusting!”
An orderly couldn’t help but chime in:
“I knew that poor girl. She was always so polite, always calling us ‘sir‘ and ‘ma’am‘ and bringing
us fruit and snacks.“.
“Such a nice young lady, driven to death. It’s a sin!”
A nurse stood nearby, casting a cold glance at Selene, then at Kane’s grief–stricken face, full of disdain and mockery.
“You probably don’t know, but that Kane was actually Ellie’s fiancé.”
“And yet, he was always all over other women, hugging and flirting. Now that she’s gone, he’s putting on this act of deep sorrow. Even crocodile tears are more genuine than this!”
The crowd’s anger left Kane and Selene utterly humiliated, as if their hearts had been stabbed, raw and bleeding.
It turned out everyone knew about Eleanor’s condition, except her closest family and supposed beloved, who remained willfully ignorant, blind to her pain and danger.
Until she was gone, forever lost.
