Chapter 252 Live Well
Nancy suddenly called Margaret, her voice filled with urgency, "Margaret, are you okay? Raymond didn't give you a hard time, did he?"
Margaret held the phone, her nose tingling with a mix of sourness and bitterness.
How could he not have given her a hard time? She had just taken a bunch of medication that cancer patients shouldn't take.
But she didn't want Nancy to worry, so she pretended to be nonchalant and asked, "Why do you ask?"
"Your dad woke up from his nap and, somehow, has been insisting on seeing you. He won't eat dinner until he sees you, Margaret. You need to come back right away," Nancy said, crying.
Learning that Marlon was throwing a tantrum again, Margaret quickly hung up the phone, changed clothes in the closet, and took a cab back the Hughes Manor.
Nancy was holding a bowl of food, trying to feed Marlon like he was a child.
Marlon turned his head away, refusing to eat, his lips moving but only producing incoherent sounds, while his hands kept hitting the wheelchair handles.
At this moment, Marlon was very worried about Margaret; he couldn't eat at all.
"Marlon, I called Margaret. She's on her way back. Please eat. Be good," Nancy said with a smile, gently coaxing him.
But Marlon, unable to see Margaret, was extremely anxious and kept shouting at Nancy.
Because he had lost his ability to speak, he couldn't articulate his words, and the veins on his forehead bulged with his frustration.
"Dad, I'm back," Margaret hurried over.
Marlon looked up and saw Margaret walking towards him. His anxious expression eased, his eyes lit up, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
Nancy wiped her tears, stood up, and looked at Margaret, "You're finally back. Ever since you and Raymond left, your dad has been throwing tantrums and refusing to eat properly. You need to talk to him."
"Mom, give me the bowl. I'll feed Dad," Margaret said, taking the bowl from Nancy's hands.
Nancy gave them some space to talk privately and said, "It's almost New Year's. I'm going to buy some things."
"Mom, should I go with you?" Margaret asked, looking at her with concern.
She waved her hand, "No need. I'll take the driver and a servant with me. You stay and keep your dad company."
After Nancy left, Margaret squatted in front of Marlon's wheelchair, feeding him while saying, "Dad, why are you acting like a child? Going on a hunger strike is not right."
Margaret fed the food into Marlon's mouth.
Marlon smiled.
"Is it good?" Margaret smiled too.
He nodded and made some sounds.
Margaret read his lips and figured out that he was saying it was good.
"Did you have a nightmare during your nap? If so, nod your head," Margaret asked worriedly.
Marlon thought for a moment and nodded.
"Did you dream that something happened to me?" Margaret guessed, continuing to feed him.
He ate and nodded again.
Margaret's hand froze for a moment.
Marlon was so affected by a nightmare that he went on a hunger strike.
Margaret couldn't imagine if she died, would Marlon go crazy and break down.
She couldn't let her family know that she was dying, so she had to leave and die far away, giving her parents hope to live on.
Margaret lowered her eyelids, made up her mind, and then looked up at the aged Marlon, "Dad, you can't throw tantrums like this anymore. No matter what happens, you have to eat properly. Otherwise, I'll really get angry, and the consequences will be serious!"
"Three meals a day, you must eat on time and in the right amount. Even if it's for me," Margaret bit her lip, "Don't worry about me. I'm doing well. Don't listen to Mom. She only sees things from one side and can't be trusted. Raymond is treating me well too. He's the one paying for your medical bills."
When Marlon heard Raymond's name, he sighed, his expression becoming complicated, and his face showing guilt.
He opened his mouth and made some sounds.
"Dad, do you think you're a burden to me?" Margaret seemed to understand what he was trying to say.
Marlon nodded, continuously hitting his legs with his hands, as if complaining that he was useless.
Margaret quickly held his hands, "Dad, don't think that way. If you're useless, then I'm even more useless. Don't think like that. For over twenty years, you protected Mom and me and supported this family. Now that I'm grown up, it's time for a change. Dad, keep exercising, and you'll be able to stand and talk again."
Hearing that, Marlon wept.
Margaret wiped his tears, "Dad, promise me, okay? Don't give up on yourself. Life is precious, and you need to live well. You have to know, there are many people out there who have no hope of living. As long as we're alive, there's hope."
Margaret pushed Marlon's wheelchair to the yard outside the villa.
Then she encouraged Marlon to stand up from the wheelchair.
Marlon tried several times but couldn't stand up, sweating profusely.
"Dad, we're not in a hurry. Take it slow. If not today, there's always tomorrow," Margaret said gently, wiping his sweat.
She had to try to help Marlon stand up; Nancy couldn't always be there for him, and he needed to have some basic self-care abilities, otherwise, she wouldn't be at ease leaving.
With Margaret's comfort, Marlon gradually relaxed his body.
He slowly stood up from the wheelchair, bit by bit.
Margaret carefully supported him, telling him not to rush or get angry, to take it slow, and to be patient.
With Margaret's help, Marlon took one step, then another.
He smiled happily, like a child.
Margaret tried to let go of his hand, "Dad, try walking on your own. See if you can do it."
Marlon struggled to lift his leg, using a lot of effort.
But as soon as his toes touched the ground, he fell.
Margaret quickly helped him up and back into the wheelchair.
Marlon looked at her with guilt, making some sounds.
"It's okay, Dad. You've done great. You've already made a lot of progress. We'll try again tomorrow," Margaret said with a smile. Seeing Marlon walk a few steps with her help, she was already very satisfied.
Margaret squatted in front of his wheelchair, looking up at Marlon, "Dad, after New Year's, I have to go out of town for a while. You have to promise me to live well. If you can stand up before I leave, I'll be very happy. For me, keep trying, okay? Let's aim to stand and walk in the next few days, and be able to hold things with your hands."
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