Chapter 522 Please, Just Go
Ashley pulled tissues from her bag and gently wiped Beatrice's face. "Mom, don't be sad. Nathaniel and I are the ones who truly love you. Love those who love you back, and let's be a little selfish from now on."
Beatrice nodded through her tears. "You're right. From now on, I'm living for myself. You two are adults now—I won't meddle in your affairs anymore."
Nathaniel felt a surge of relief hearing his mother's words, though he wondered if she'd actually follow through. "How are you settling in at the company, Ashley?"
Ashley shifted uncomfortably. "It's... okay, I guess. When I don't understand something, I call Marcus. His assistant helps me too. It's not as overwhelming as I thought it would be."
Nathaniel nodded approvingly. "Good. As long as you're willing to try. You've cut ties with those troublemakers, haven't you?"
Ashley's eyes darted away. "No, I haven't been in contact with them."
"Start by mastering this department's operations, then rotate through all the others. I want you to understand every aspect of the business before you help me run it."
Ashley's voice lacked conviction. "Understood."
Coral Bay
Aurelia had been crouched in the bathroom for what felt like an eternity, testing two pregnancy strips. When she saw the single line, relief flooded through her as the knot in her stomach finally loosened.
Returning to her office, she froze at the sight of the figure on her sofa. "Marcus? What are you doing here?"
Marcus was beside himself with urgency. The moment Burry had returned, he couldn't bear to wait another second. After settling Reed safely in Imperick, he'd caught the earliest flight and headed straight to Aurelia's office upon landing.
"Aurelia, where is Burry?"
"She's at the hospital right now. She—"
Marcus cut her off. "Which hospital? Take me there. Now."
Aurelia raised an eyebrow. "Alright, give me a moment."
After clearing her desk and instructing Aurora to postpone her afternoon meetings until tomorrow, Aurelia grabbed her bag and headed downstairs with Marcus in tow.
During the drive to the hospital, Aurelia glanced at him. "Marcus, Burry has asked about you. I gave her your number, but she seems to be wrestling with something. Just... prepare yourself."
Marcus adjusted his glasses, his voice steady despite the turmoil beneath. "I know. No one in this world understands her better than I do."
They walked through the hospital corridors together until Aurelia stopped outside Burry's room. Marcus knocked softly on the door.
Inside, Burry sat in her hospital gown, staring vacantly out the window at the afternoon sun. Assuming it was the housekeeper, she called out wearily, "I told you I don't want anything to eat. Don't bother heating up food—I won't touch it anyway."
Marcus stepped slowly into the room, each footstep deliberate as he approached her.
Burry sat with her back to the door. Her once-luxurious hair had fallen out completely, leaving behind a bare scalp and a painfully thin silhouette. The sight hit Marcus like a physical blow, making his chest tighten and his breathing shallow.
He had waited years for this moment, never knowing if he'd see her again. There had been times he thought their only reunion would be in the afterlife.
"Burry," his voice broke. "Look at me..."
The familiar voice made Burry's heart skip a beat. She turned slowly, and there he was—Marcus, standing just behind her. His eyes were rimmed with red, his face gaunt and hollow, his features sharp with weight loss.
It seemed these years hadn't been kind to him either.
Burry quickly turned away, her back to him once more. The pain in her chest was unbearable as she covered her face with trembling hands, sobbing silently.
"Marcus, please leave. Why did you come looking for me? We can't go back to what we were."
Too much had happened over the years—events that had carved an unbridgeable chasm between them. When they'd parted, he had been ambitious and full of promise, she had been young and beautiful. They'd fallen in love at first sight, their souls perfectly matched, seeing only each other and no one else.
Now look at her—sick, broken, and tainted.
The shame consumed her. She was no longer worthy of the exceptional man she'd fallen in love with.
Marcus felt his breath catch. This wasn't how he'd imagined their reunion. He'd dreamed of this moment, expecting Burry to be as overjoyed as he was. Instead, she was pushing him away with such finality.
"Burry, what are you saying? Look at me. It's Marcus—your Marcus!"
He placed his hands gently on her shoulders, feeling her entire body tremble beneath his touch.
Burry fought to steady her emotions. "Marcus, please go. Don't come looking for me anymore. We can't turn back time."
The words cut through Marcus like a blade. "Burry, where would I go? We made vows in that church—to be together for all eternity. Where would you have me go?"
Burry's sobs became desperate, choking. "I don't want you to see me like this. Please, I'm begging you—just leave and don't come back."
Marcus felt like he was suffocating. All he wanted was to stay by her side, to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.
He moved to face her, wanting to pull her into his arms, but sensing her resistance, his hands rose and fell helplessly. "Burry, please don't send me away. I'm not going anywhere. I'll wait for you to get better. We promised to see the world together—we've barely made it halfway. How can you ask me to leave now?"
Burry kept her face buried in her hands, refusing to look at him. "Please go," she wept. "I can't bear for you to see me like this."
The commotion drew the attention of a doctor making rounds. "Sir, I need you to leave immediately. The patient is becoming too agitated—this level of stress could be dangerous for her."
Marcus's eyes dimmed with defeat as he stepped out of the room. Those few steps felt like the longest, most agonizing walk of his life.
Now that he'd found her again, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving.
Outside, Aurelia sat waiting on a bench. One look at Marcus's expression told her everything about how the reunion had gone.
"Marcus," she said gently, "my sister just got back. She's still adjusting to being home, and her emotional state needs time to stabilize. Don't rush this—give her some space."
Marcus sank onto the other end of the bench, his head in his hands. "You should go back to work. I'll stay here with her."
Aurelia stood up. "Let me check on her first."
Inside the room, the doctor had completed a routine examination. Burry had calmed down but sat motionless, staring blankly at a spot on the bedsheets, her eyes vacant and hollow.
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