Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Stomach Cancer
Jasmine Vance had had two more drinks than Cecilia Croft. She rushed out of the car, stumbling a few steps before catching her balance.
The breeze in the car had sobered her a little, but now she felt incredibly dizzy. Spotting Cecilia Croft’s figure, she tried to follow, her steps unsteady.
Sebastian Hawthorne, walking ahead, saw her unsteadiness and frowned.
"Go back."
His voice was stern, unconsciously carrying an air of command.
Jasmine Vance froze, a flicker of fear in her eyes.
Of all her brother’s friends, Sebastian Hawthorne was the one she feared the most.
"But I’m worried..."
Sebastian Hawthorne shot her a glare, his grim expression a clear warning.
Jasmine Vance instantly fell silent. She could only stand obediently to the side, not daring to take another step.
’She was truly terrified.’
’Thank goodness Cecilia doesn’t like him. If a man like that became her bestie’s husband, she’d be too scared to hang around Cecilia anymore.’
Cecilia Croft rushed to the emergency room and saw Auntie Zane pacing anxiously outside. She hurried over.
"Auntie Zane, how’s my sister?"
Auntie Zane looked up at Cecilia Croft, her eyes completely red. It was obvious she had already been crying.
Looking into her eyes, Cecilia’s heart clenched. A terrible premonition washed over her.
"What’s wrong?"
Her voice trembled, terrified of what she was about to hear.
Auntie Zane immediately broke down, sobbing.
"Miss Ruby... she has cancer! Miss Cecilia, what are you two going to do now?"
She had worked for the Croft family for decades; she had practically watched the two girls grow up.
Now, only the two of them were left in the Croft family.
If something were to happen to Ruby Croft...
The Croft family would only have Cecilia left.
"Auntie Zane, that’s impossible. It has to be a misdiagnosis, right?"
Cecilia Croft couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her body went rigid, her face ashen.
Auntie Zane turned her head, raising a hand to wipe away her tears.
Cecilia Croft took a deep breath, but it felt like the air couldn’t reach her lungs.
She went to find the doctor herself to get the details.
Sitting in the doctor’s office, Cecilia Croft saw her sister’s test results from the last two weeks on his computer.
It turned out that the day before their grandmother died, Ruby already knew she had stomach cancer.
Cecilia Croft bit her lip, not daring to think back on the details of their grandmother’s funeral.
Ruby had meticulously arranged every step of the funeral for her, and after it was over, she had even given Cecilia a detailed list of everything for safekeeping.
’She must have already been planning everything out in her head back then.’
’Because the one who would eventually have to arrange her funeral would be me.’
’So she used Grandma’s funeral to familiarize me with the whole process, so that when she died, I wouldn’t be completely lost and flustered.’
Cecilia Croft sat in the chair, staring at the test results on the doctor’s computer, and wept uncontrollably.
In the short span of two weeks, Ruby Croft had undergone several sets of tests.
There was no way it was a misdiagnosis.
Seeing her state, the doctor quickly tried to reassure her.
"Miss Croft, please don’t be too pessimistic. President Croft’s condition was discovered early. There’s actually a very high chance of curing early-stage stomach cancer."
Cecilia Croft raised a hand and wiped messily at her tears.
But no matter how she scrubbed them away, the tears just kept streaming down her face.
’If only I had come back to Karthus sooner.’
’If I had been by Ruby’s side, helping her manage the Croft Group’s affairs, perhaps the outcome would have been different.’
She was wracked with guilt.
She even felt like she deserved to die.
Sebastian Hawthorne stood at the door to the doctor’s office. Watching Cecilia Croft’s soft sobs, he frowned deeply.
He glanced silently in the direction of the emergency room, then turned and walked away.
As he left, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Jade, do me a favor."
After Ruby Croft was transferred to a VIP room, Cecilia calmed down.
Auntie Zane was in the hospital room, looking after Ruby.
Ruby lay on the bed, an IV needle in the back of her hand.
Seeing Auntie Zane distractedly bumping into things, Ruby spoke softly.
"Auntie Zane, you know, don’t you?"
Auntie Zane stopped wiping the window and nodded.
"Yes."
She replied, her voice choked with tears.
Ruby Croft let out a soft sigh, her chest rising and falling slightly as she murmured.
"Don’t let Cecilia find out."
Cecilia Croft was standing right at the door, her eyes rimmed with red.
She took a deep breath, reined in her emotions, and pushed the door open. Walking inside, she said in a deliberately light tone.
"You don’t want me to know now? Then when, exactly, were you planning on telling me?"
At the sight of her, Ruby looked away, a troubled expression on her face.
Cecilia walked over and sat in the chair by Ruby’s bedside, her expression serious.
"Ruby, you should have told me sooner instead of hiding it from me."
"The cure rate for early-stage stomach cancer is high. You have to cooperate with the doctors, Ruby. As for the Croft Group, I’ll take over starting tomorrow."
Ruby frowned, her gaze hardening as she looked seriously at Cecilia.
"What you need to do is get a position at the Hawthorne Group as soon as possible."
Cecilia’s brow furrowed, her expression equally grave.
"So I go to the Hawthorne Group while you keep struggling to prop up the Croft Group? And let your illness get worse and worse until you’ve missed the best window for treatment?"
Ruby’s face went cold as she glanced toward the door.
Remembering that Sebastian Hawthorne had brought her to the hospital, Cecilia quickly composed herself and said to Auntie Zane in a low voice.
"Auntie Zane, could you please step outside and keep watch for us?"
Auntie Zane nodded.
Hearing Cecilia’s command, the coldness on Ruby’s face lessened slightly.
"Cecilia, you’ve grown up."
"Which means I’m capable of taking over the Croft Group," Cecilia said.
Ruby shook her head and looked at her.
"This isn’t a question of capability."
"The moment news of my illness gets out, the Croft Group will fall apart. You won’t even get a chance to prove what you can do."
Cecilia froze, biting her lip hard.
’She was right.’
For years, the Croft Group had been inextricably linked with Ruby herself.
"There has to be another way. Right now, you need to focus on getting better."
Ruby’s voice was low.
"Cecilia, our plan can’t change because of this little setback. This is still the fastest solution we have. Grandfather entrusted the Croft Group to me. I can’t let it fall apart on my watch."
"It’s my mission and my calling."
Cecilia’s eyes grew red. "You’re dying, and you’re still worrying about this?"
Ruby raised a hand and gently ruffled Cecilia’s hair.
"Cecilia, I won’t leave you all alone. I’ll get treatment secretly. Just be good and listen to my arrangements, okay?"
Hearing Ruby’s uncharacteristically gentle voice, the tears Cecilia had been holding back finally broke free.
"Don’t you dare lie to me like Mom did."
Ruby chuckled softly and flicked Cecilia’s forehead.
"Of course I won’t lie to you. If you help me solve the Croft Group’s current dilemma, I’ll be able to focus on my treatment for a while."
"But if you let your emotions get the best of you and refuse to cooperate, then I might not have time for treatment at all."
With Ruby putting it that way, how could Cecilia dare to refuse? Her eyes red, she nodded obediently.
