CHAPTER 137: CHAPTER 137: MEMORIES (37)

"Mom was listed in critical condition after the surgery, the doctor said to prepare for the worst. I sent you the information, but thankfully..." Charles Shaw took a breath, "Mom pulled through."

Florence Fuller looked at the person on the hospital bed and stood there for a long time, "Didn’t they say... she was discharged?"

Charles Shaw’s eyes reddened with shock, he opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

"If you need to talk, do it outside," a doctor nearby interjected with a sigh, "The patient needs a quiet environment."

The people in the room left.

When Evelyn Shaw came back with hot water, she saw Florence Fuller in the corridor and was startled. She quickly walked up, "Florence."

"Evelyn." Florence Fuller’s eyes were moist as she looked at her.

"You came so quickly." She noticed the man behind Florence Fuller, "How have you been all these years?"

"Pretty well."

Evelyn gave a pale smile, "That’s good... this way, Dad can rest in peace."

Florence Fuller trembled all over, feeling she had misheard, "What did you say?"

Evelyn saw her reaction, then looked at Charles Shaw, realizing her brother hadn’t told her.

"What did you say!" Florence Fuller grabbed Evelyn’s hand, her hand trembling, "Say it again!"

Florence Fuller was getting emotional, and Evelyn, with tears in her eyes, said, "Florence!"

"Dad’s gone!"

"Nonsense!" Florence Fuller shouted, causing people around the corridor to turn their heads frequently. Ethan Harper stepped forward to comfort her, "Florence, let’s calm down."

Florence Fuller shook her head, tears falling uncontrollably as she threw herself into Ethan Harper’s arms, crying bitterly.

Charles Shaw stepped forward, speaking hoarsely, "Westroad Cemetery, let’s go take a look."

Ethan Harper met his gaze and nodded.

"You guys go in and take care of her," Ethan Harper said to Charles Shaw, holding the person in his arms, "I’ll watch over her here."

Although Charles Shaw didn’t know who he was, seeing him with Florence Fuller, it must mean they are acquainted.

"Take care of her," Charles Shaw said, "This news is... quite a blow to her."

Ethan Harper held Florence Fuller, looked down at the person in his arms, who was still sobbing.

"Let’s go take a look," Ethan Harper whispered, "Go meet him."

Westroad Cemetery.

Florence Fuller had received the grave location sent by Evelyn Shaw. As soon as she stepped in, she was filled with sorrow looking at the gravestones all over.

Ethan Harper found the location and took her there. Florence Fuller saw the name Henry Shaw at a glance and froze in place.

Ethan Harper looked at her.

Florence Fuller stared at the gravestone in front of her, her breathing uneven, just dazedly looking ahead.

Tears silently fell as she kept watching, "Why... did this happen."

Only three short years, just three years.

And a family was shattered.

Ethan Harper stepped forward to hug her, pressing her into his embrace.

Florence Fuller clutched his clothes, "I didn’t blame him for sending me back to the Fuller Family. I wanted to tell him I didn’t blame him. I knew it all, he had no choice but to do it to treat Mom. I understood."

She never got to see Henry Shaw one last time before he died, and now she stood across from this cold gravestone, separated by life and death.

"Why isn’t he here, why!" Florence Fuller choked, "Why did this happen."

Listening to her heartbroken cries, Ethan Harper felt little comfort despite not knowing much about Florence Fuller’s adoptive family. From what he occasionally heard from her, she must have been happy at home before.

But now, it seemed, this family was completely shattered.

When they returned to the hospital, it was already evening.

Amelia Linney had still not woken up, and Florence Fuller pushed the door open to go in, with Charles Shaw and Evelyn Shaw remaining at the bedside.

Evelyn Shaw exchanged a glance with Charles Shaw, who then got up to take Florence Fuller out of the ward.

The girl in front wasn’t in a great state, her eyes red and swollen, and her voice hoarse, "When did Dad’s accident happen?"

"A week ago, a car accident," Charles Shaw replied.

"Why wasn’t I informed at the time."

Charles Shaw shook his head.

Florence Fuller gave a pale smile, "I lived in this house for fifteen years, grew up here, and now everything has to be so clearly divided?"

"Dad said he was sorry to you for his entire life. Our Shaw Family has been sorry to you for a lifetime. Sending you back for money made him feel he was no better than selling out a daughter for glory. He wanted to call you before he drew his last breath, but he said he didn’t even have the right to apologize, that he wasn’t fit to have been your father."

Florence Fuller smiled, but it was a desolate smile, "I didn’t blame him."

"But he blamed himself," Charles Shaw said, "After sending you away, he lived every day in regret. He worried you weren’t doing well at the Fuller Family, but knowing their wealth and status, he assumed you wouldn’t be doing too badly. He had been working tirelessly for three years to earn money for Mom’s treatment, even resigning from his school job. He felt the suffering of these three years was what he deserved."

"He thought he was guilty for sending me away, so he used hardship to numb himself, to ease his feelings," Florence Fuller wiped away her tears. "I called and messaged you guys, but your replies were scant. I just wanted to tell him I didn’t blame him for sending me back, I knew everything. But he never answered, not a single call, even blocking me later."

Henry Shaw was too ashamed to face her, so until now, she hadn’t seen him one last time before he died.

Charles Shaw shook his head, saying nothing.

The two of them stood in silent confrontation for a long time, and Florence Fuller wanted to return to the ward, "I’m going to see Mom."

Amelia Linney had been bedridden since handling Henry Shaw’s affairs, still not knowing when she would wake up.

"See her this time, then just go back," Charles Shaw said.

Florence Fuller’s movement to open the door paused, "What do you mean?"

"Dad said our family has no face to face you again. You missed seeing him one last time, and I don’t want you to miss seeing Mom too, so..."

Charles Shaw hesitated, looking at her with a complex expression, "Florence, you understand what I mean."

"Cut all ties?"

"The Shaw Family took the Fuller Family’s money."

"So you have to comply?" Florence Fuller looked at him, "Wipe away fifteen years in this family just like that?"

Charles Shaw shook his head and could only say, "I’m sorry."

Florence Fuller took a deep breath, "When Mom wakes up, I’ll see her before I leave."

"Her current condition is very fragile, unable to withstand emotional turmoil," Charles Shaw said with difficulty, "I shouldn’t have sent you the message."

Just like how Henry Shaw worried about his daughter before his death, but when Charles suggested calling to let him hear Florence Fuller’s voice, Henry said he didn’t deserve it.

He uttered an apology with his last breath.

These three years had been difficult for him, but Henry Shaw said that sending Florence Fuller away, the hardships and fatigue of living were what he deserved.

Their family and Florence Fuller should no longer have any ties.