Chapter 500 Even If It's for Me, Please Be Strong
Raymond kept walking until he reached a gazebo.
Nearby, a cherry blossom tree stood in full bloom.
The petals were a delicate pink, almost white, and as the breeze blew, they fell like a gentle rain, drifting through the air.
Raymond extended his pale, broad palm, and a petal landed softly on it.
He suddenly remembered his college days, when cherry blossoms lined the campus paths.
He would ride his bike through the falling petals.
Margaret would sit on the back, shouting joyfully, "Raymond and Margaret, together forever!"
"Hey, keep it down, we're on campus," he had said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
But she had smiled happily, "Why keep it down? If you like someone, you should shout it out loud. Raymond, now everyone knows you're mine. I was just staking my claim."
Raymond smiled bittersweetly as he thought of those days.
He had thought he had everything under control, but now he realized that no amount of power or wealth could change his fate.
He was just a pawn in the hands of destiny.
No matter how rich he was, there were still only twenty-four hours in a day.
All the wealth in the world couldn't buy him another chance with Margaret.
Hot tears welled up in his eyes and streamed down his cheeks.
Overwhelmed by sorrow, he couldn't hold back any longer. There was no one around, so he let himself break down and cry.
The bitterness in his throat surged like a tide.
He deserved to die, and he really did.
Even dying countless times wouldn't be enough to atone for his sins.
Marlon and Nancy, Margaret, the Hughes family—they were all innocent.
Blinded by hatred, he had wronged the Hughes family, who had once helped him.
And the real culprit had been protected by him for so long.
Raymond sat in the gazebo, tears falling uncontrollably. "Dad, Mom, we hated the wrong people. We took revenge on the wrong people."
What was he supposed to do?
He was already a dying man, unafraid of death, and he deserved it.
But how could he atone for his sins? How could he protect Margaret?
Half an hour later, he heard someone calling his name.
The voice sounded like Margaret's.
He felt a mix of emotions—touched, happy, and heartbroken.
Afraid that Margaret would see him like this, he quickly wiped away his tears. He couldn't cry anymore, couldn't be sad anymore.
He thought, 'Raymond, you can't let Margaret worry, you know that.'
He forced down the lump in his throat.
"Raymond—"
He looked up at the sound.
Margaret, in a red dress, was running towards him.
The setting sun behind her painted the sky like a beautiful oil painting.
The sun was setting, and so was he.
Margaret's face was lit up with a bright smile, a smile that couldn't hide her happiness.
As soon as she saw him, all her anger melted away.
She couldn't help but grin, almost laughing out loud.
The breeze lifted her hair and the hem of her dress.
Cherry blossom petals fell on her hair and shoulders, momentarily blocking their view of each other.
Raymond stood up and walked over.
Just as he was about to speak, Margaret's phone rang. She answered, "Alvin, I found him. Okay, I'll bring him back now."
Margaret still cared about him.
Raymond's shattered heart felt a strange warmth.
People were like that—after enduring so much pain, even a small bit of sweetness could fill the void.
Raymond smiled slightly, a small gesture that made Margaret angry.
She had just stopped being mad, but seeing his smug expression, she got ticked off again. "Raymond, what are you up to now?"
"Margaret, I'm not up to anything," Raymond said gently, looking at her with affection.
She scoffed, "Then why did you come here? You're a patient, don't you know that? You didn't even finish your treatment before running off? Do you know how worried we were? Raymond, you're not a kid anymore. Can you think before you act? Or do you just want to make us worry?"
He had left because the hospital room felt too suffocating.
He hadn't yet processed everything he had learned today.
Raymond had a lot on his mind and didn't explain.
He followed her back to the hospital.
She was still angry, walking ahead of him.
Raymond watched her back, his eyes welling up again.
He felt like he had made a mistake. He should have come to the hospital first to get a clear diagnosis, not rushed to find her.
The bone marrow might not be found. Life wasn't a TV show with convenient coincidences and surprises.
Even if it was found, who knew what his condition would be?
If Margaret wasted her time on him and he collapsed, the Hughes Group wouldn't let her take over easily.
Margaret needed to grow, to take over the Hughes Group while he was still alive.
As long as he was around, the Hughes Group would have reservations.
Maybe he could help her clear the obstacles.
He wondered, 'So, Margaret, I'm sorry, but I have to push you away again.'
He couldn't drag her down. She had already suffered enough because of him.
Margaret was like a delicate flower, always sheltered. She needed to face the storms to become strong.
He used to think Daniel would take care of her forever, would help her.
Now he didn't think so. Human nature was unpredictable—betting everything on a single outcome was a rookie mistake.
Margaret growing strong was more reliable than depending on any man.
In the elevator, Margaret watched the numbers go up and spoke first, "You can't do this again. If you keep being so reckless, I'll get really mad."
Her words were a way to give Raymond an out.
He knew this was Margaret's way of making peace. If he behaved, she wouldn't hold a grudge and would stay with him through his treatment.
But he couldn't be that selfish.
Raymond pressed his lips together, his hand clenched into a fist at his side.
His voice was deliberately cold, distant, "You should go. You don't need to stay with me."
At those words, he saw her thin frame stiffen.
A moment later, she turned to him, then looked away. "You're a patient. I won't argue with you. Raymond, I'll stay with you until you get better. Don't give up on yourself. If you do, no matter how hard Alvin and I try, it won't matter."
She continued, "But you can't use being a patient as an excuse to do whatever you want. I don't want to see what happened today happen again. From now on, tell me where you want to go. Wait until you're better. Your condition is dangerous. You need someone with you at all times. If something happens and you miss the best time for treatment, you'll die."
Margaret blinked her dry eyes, looking at him again, her voice pleading, "Raymond, even if it's for me, be strong, okay?"
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