Chapter 42 Jessica's Breakdown, Terminal Liver Cancer
"Hurry, we need to get to the hospital," Jessica managed, her voice quivering. "Timothy says Xavier has collapsed; they're resuscitating him."
Xavier was already a man of considerable age, and frail in health.
She couldn't bear to imagine if he could never walk out of that emergency room again. She was frightened. Oh so, terribly frightened.
Yet, at the traffic light, Jessica realized that Gabriel hadn't taken the turn. "Head to the hospital, Gabriel, where the heck are you going?" Jessica flared up on the spot.
Her face drained of color as anger surged within her.
Gabriel's hands were steady on the steering wheel, his composure unshaken. Amidst Jessica's frenzy and tension, he seemed utterly unfazed, always exuding a serene calmness. "Jess, just hold on a second, all right? Knowing Xavier like I do, I bet he isn't sick.
"When we were kids, Xavier used to pull the sick card all the time to fool me. I've fallen for it more times than I can count. He could just be trying to stop us from splitting up by playing the same old trick."
Gabriel thought his reassurances would settle Jessica down, maybe even calm her a little bit.
But, totally unexpected. Jessica glared at him, her voice throbbing with rage, "What are you implying, Gabriel?"
"I don't care about the past tricks Xavier's played on you, nor your guesses. Even if he's faking it, I need to be there, right now, at his side in the hospital," she continued.
"Just turn this car around and take me to the hospital, now," Jessica demanded.
Her life could no longer afford uncertainties.
Xavier’s health had always been fragile, and when she saw him earlier that day, he looked utterly exhausted, aged beyond his years.
If it were true, the mere thought was unbearable.
Therefore, she would not allow for any 'what ifs' with Xavier. Even if it was all a ruse, even if Xavier was deceiving her, she'd willingly fall for it. But she had to verify Xavier's health in person.
Upon reaching the hospital, Jessica bolted through the doors. She saw the lights on in the ER, her legs buckled, almost sending her sliding down the wall.
"Dad, Mom, how's Xavier?" Her voice trembled uncontrollably.
For some reason, she had an ominous hunch. Furthermore, she felt an overwhelming sense that she was about to lose something, again.
Seeing Danielle and Jonah with grim expressions outside the ER, Gabriel knew this was no minor incident.
"Why did Xavier suddenly end up in the ER?" Gabriel asked. The glowing red sign made his heart skip a beat.
Jonah stood aside, his eyes suffused with red, looking years older in a moment.
"Mom, come on, are you keeping something from us?" Gabriel's sharp intuition sensed something was off.
Danielle lifted her head, her voice low as she began, "No point in hiding it anymore, and frankly, it's time you both knew the truth."
Xavier's condition never improved; he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. A month ago, the doctor issued a critical condition notice, saying Xavier..." Danielle's voice broke, trembling so much that she couldn't continue.
Jonah stepped forward, steadying her, and went on, "That's why Xavier moved up his 80th birthday celebration. He feared he wouldn't make it to the actual day and didn't want to leave with any regrets."
"As for you guys, he kept it a secret, forbidding anyone from telling you," Jonah added.
Tears streamed down Jessica's face as she leaned into Gabriel's embrace, her body quaking with sorrow. She wouldn't have believed it if her father-in-law hadn't told her himself.
How could Xavier, an old man with white hair and a warm, kind heart who loved her so dearly, have liver cancer?
And to find out only when it was already too late. Why?... Why was she only hearing about this now?
"No..." Gabriel shook his head, eyes reddening as he looked at Jonah. "I don't believe it. You're lying to me."
"Ever since I was a kid, Xavier would pretend to be sick to trick me into being obedient. It's the same this time, right? I know he doesn't want Jessica and me to divorce. I promised him, that as long as he got better, I wouldn't leave her. We'll have a happy life together."
"I'll do anything he says," Gabriel said in disbelief.
Jonah understood they couldn't accept it at the moment, but he spoke the truth.
"Gabe, Jess, Dad didn't lie to you, it's all true. If you don't believe it, you can check his medical records at the doctor's. He was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer three months ago," Jonah explained.
Gabriel glared at Jonah, the anger turning his eyes a fierce red. "Three months ago? If you knew all along, why didn't you tell us? Why keep us in the dark?"
"Jonah," Gabriel roared, his fury clear as he bellowed out Jonah's name.
"Jonah, he's my Grandfather, your dad. Since you knew, why did you hide it from me? Why?" His face contorted with rage.
"I know you resent Xavier. You blame him for separating you from that woman, for not letting that illegitimate child into our lives. But he's your dad. How could you be so cruel? Don't you have any humanity?" Gabriel said, livid.
Gabriel already resented this 'Dad' figure. And now, his resentment only deepened.
His hand shot out, gripping Jonah's collar, his fist raised as if he was about to strike. Danielle rushed over, seizing Gabriel's hand with tears in her eyes as she explained, "Gabriel, I know you're angry with your dad, but it's not his fault this time."
"Xavier wouldn't let us tell you. He said if we did, he'd refuse treatment. We had no choice but to keep it from you." As Danielle finished, her tears broke free and streamed down her face.
Jessica was also sobbing uncontrollably.
"Why is it still like this even after treatment?" asked Gabriel, his voice drained of strength.
"Xavier's old, and with late-stage liver cancer, who could have possibly escaped it? The so-called treatment was just to ease the pain a little, to extend his life a bit. Did you honestly think it could cure him?"
Despite the hard truth, no one wanted to accept it. But it was the harsh reality. Gabriel crumpled to the ground, clutching his head, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Jessica knew the turmoil inside him, how he regretted thinking Xavier was joking again, how he felt about misunderstanding him.
She walked over, cradling Gabriel's head in her arms, speaking softly to comfort him, "Xavier doesn't blame you. You know that, right? I truly wish your words in the car were true."
"I so wish that Xavier was tricking me, that all of this isn't real. I wish that after waking up, Xavier would still call out to me affectionately as 'lass'.
"Even if Xavier chased you around, cane in hand, ready to hit you a dozen times, I wouldn't interfere. I'd rather have you all bruised from his scolding." As Jessica spoke, her tears fell like rain.
"I would too," said Gabriel.
Jessica nodded, her tears falling even faster.
