Chapter 539 Absurd Allergen
Burry lowered her eyes, her face etched with despair. "Tell Joe to stop searching. I want to spend whatever time I have left in peace."
Aurelia's voice rose with urgency. "How can we stop looking? We can't give up on any chance, no matter how small. Our whole family is trying to help find a match, and Marcus too. You can't just give up like this!"
At the mention of Marcus's name, Burry's breath caught. She knew he'd been keeping vigil outside her door these past days. Since she'd refused to see anyone, he'd stayed out of sight, but she could feel his presence nearby—close enough that if she called out, he would hear her.
He was waiting for her to turn back to him, but time couldn't be reversed. She used to feel she was aiming too high with Marcus; now, she felt wholly unworthy. She was nothing more than a flower rotting in the mud, wilting away, and in her current state, how could she possibly burden him again?
"Please convince him to leave. Tell him to stop wasting his time on something meaningless." Burry's voice was barely a whisper.
Aurelia felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Why were their fates so cursed? Why had so many trials fallen upon them both? God had closed the door on Burry, and now no one could find her a window.
"Burry, whether something has meaning depends on how a person values their feelings. What gives you the right to decide that what Marcus is doing is meaningless to him? Making that choice for him isn't fair."
Burry lay beneath her covers, her fingers clutching the pendant Marcus had given her—something she'd worn close to her heart for years like a talisman.
When she wore the necklace, she felt at peace, but now, with the giver just outside her door, her heart couldn't settle.
She looked down at her gaunt frame, unable to remember the last time she'd looked in a mirror. Gazing at Aurelia's delicate face—so identical to her own—she felt a stab of envy. The health that everyone took for granted had become her life's greatest luxury. She must look hideous now.
"Please make him leave. I can't face him like this—I can't interact with him the way we used to." Burry's voice broke. "Aurelia, you know he's a perfectionist. He can't even tolerate asymmetrical houseplants, let alone seeing me in this repulsive state. I don't want his last memory of me to be like this. Can you understand that?"
Aurelia fell silent for a moment. "Don't you think you're underestimating your place in his heart? Someone who truly loves you won't care what you look like. If he minded, he would have run away long ago instead of keeping this sleepless vigil outside your door."
Burry's emotions flared again, and a nurse entered from outside. "Ms. Semona, please step out so the patient can rest."
Aurelia left the room with red-rimmed eyes, only to find Marcus standing forlornly by the door. He'd heard every word from inside. Suddenly, Marcus realized something—his presence here accomplished nothing except adding to her psychological burden.
Instead of waiting helplessly, he should do something meaningful. He could use every method available, whether money or favors, to help find her a match.
Aurelia opened her mouth to speak, but Marcus spoke first. "Aurelia, take care of her. I'll be back later."
Aurelia lingered outside for a while, watching Marcus disappear into the elevator. Her phone buzzed with a message from Nathaniel: [Jacob and Dorothy insist on coming to pick you up. We're downstairs. Do you want to come down?]
Aurelia gathered her thoughts and headed downstairs. Just as she exited the inpatient building, someone called her name from behind, their voice carrying a furtive quality. She turned to see a man adjusting his sunglasses, pushing them up briefly before sliding them back down.
"Aurelia, how did you get here? Could I catch a ride?" It was Phoenix, cradling one arm.
"Phoenix, what are you doing here?"
"Don't ask. I had an allergic reaction and came to get tested for allergens. The results were..." Phoenix paused, then continued, "You won't believe this—I'm allergic to eggplant!"
Aurelia looked surprised. "I'm allergic to eggplant too."
Phoenix was speechless for a moment. "Anyway, my manager had a family emergency and had to leave early. I didn't expect the hospital to be so crowded at this hour. Could I catch a ride? If I get surrounded by fans, I'll never get out of here."
Phoenix pulled his baseball cap lower and glanced around nervously.
"Nathaniel came to pick me up. Come with me."
Phoenix hesitated. "Aurelia, will he actually let me ride in his car? You don't know how jealous he can be."
Just as he spoke, Phoenix felt a chill and looked up to see Nathaniel approaching, holding each child by the hand. There was no doubt he'd heard every word.
"I'm jealous?" Nathaniel's voice was ice-cold.
Phoenix wanted to crawl into a hole. "Nathaniel, I wasn't talking about you." After a pause, he added, "Have you lost weight recently? If I didn't know better, I'd think you were on drugs!"
Aurelia shot Phoenix a warning glare. "Don't talk nonsense. As an entertainer, how can you mention such things? If your fans hear that, who knows what rumors they'll spread."
Phoenix backed down completely. He was asking for a favor now, so he had to humble himself. "I was just joking. Nathaniel, you're like my brother from another mother. No one in this world is more handsome than you. Just give me a ride to Meadowbrook Lane, please?"
Phoenix expected Nathaniel to give him a hard time, but surprisingly, he said nothing—no sarcasm, no mockery, just an apparent reluctance to speak.
Phoenix found this strange but couldn't pinpoint what was wrong. This devil usually never missed a chance to tease him, and the absence of it made him uncomfortable. But this wasn't the time to dwell on it. If fans or paparazzi caught up, he'd never escape.
Like when they were children, Phoenix eagerly followed them to the car. Nathaniel remained silent throughout the drive, dropping Phoenix off at Meadowbrook Lane. After Phoenix got out, only the family of four remained in the car.
Aurelia sensed his subtle mood shift. Since Phoenix wasn't there to hear, she asked, "What's going on between you and Phoenix?"
"Nothing. I just don't feel like dealing with him," Nathaniel replied flatly.
Aurelia was puzzled. "Your relationship is quite strange."
The car returned to Seaside Estates. That night, as they lay in bed with the lights off, Aurelia was lost in thought. "Do you think I could find my biological father and ask him to get tested as a match for Burry?"
"It's worth trying."
"After more than twenty years without contact, he doesn't even know Burry and I exist. Do you think he'd be willing?"
Aurelia felt uncertain. Acknowledging paternity wasn't a trivial matter. She remembered the recent online story about a man whose biological mother refused to acknowledge him, leading to cyberbullying and ultimately his tragic suicide.
If she had nothing to ask for, she could approach this with equanimity, but now she was seeking bone marrow donation. She couldn't be sure whether he would be willing to acknowledge two daughters who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
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