Chapter 439 An Unexpected Matchmaker
York collapsed suddenly. Atticus was so distraught that tears welled in his eyes. Ashley rushed to find a doctor, who examined York, administered oxygen, and then delivered the devastating news.
"Mr. Grayson," the doctor said solemnly, "your father has stage four lung cancer. I suggest you honor his wishes in the time he has left... approximately six months."
Hearing this, Atticus fell back into his chair, completely shattered. Ashley thanked the doctor, who quietly left them alone.
Seeing Atticus's grief-stricken face, Ashley placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Atticus, try not to take it too hard."
Staring at his unconscious father, Atticus covered his face in frustration. "Pearl, am I just completely useless?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion.
"No," Ashley replied sincerely. "You're incredible."
She meant it wholeheartedly. When Ashley had first become a mother, she'd been completely overwhelmed. If Atticus hadn't been there to help, she would have struggled terribly to care for both babies simultaneously. In Ashley's eyes, Atticus was genuine, kind, and straightforward.
"Please don't try to make me feel better," Atticus said with a bitter smile. "I know my limitations. My father doesn't even know about my condition, which is why there's been all this misunderstanding. With my condition, what woman would want to marry me? I'll never be able to fulfill my father's wishes."
Ashley remained silent, looking at Atticus with profound sympathy.
'If only I had medical training,' she thought bitterly. She wanted so badly to help both Atticus and York, but all she could offer was emotional support.
At that moment, York stirred, regaining consciousness.
"Atticus... Pearl..." he called weakly through his oxygen mask, his voice muffled.
"Dad, are you feeling any better?" Atticus asked.
Despite the oxygen mask making his speech slightly unclear, York looked at them pleadingly. "Please, I'm begging you... before I die, let me see you two married. Can you do that for me?"
The room fell silent with tension.
"Dad, Pearl and I..." Atticus began to protest, but Ashley interjected.
"Uncle, focus on your treatment. Atticus and I will discuss marriage plans," she assured him.
Atticus turned to Ashley, utterly surprised, though a flicker of hope shone in his eyes.
York visibly relaxed at Ashley's words. "Good. I'll be waiting for your good news."
They stayed a while longer before leaving the hospital room together.
In the hallway, Atticus's heart raced as he cautiously asked, "Pearl, why did you agree to that?"
"Atticus, your father can't handle any more stress. We need to keep him calm," Ashley explained.
Atticus lowered his gaze, hiding his disappointment. "What if... we got a fake marriage certificate? Just to make him happy for a while?"
Ashley didn't respond immediately. When Atticus looked up, he found her studying him intently, as if she could see right through his ulterior motives.
Expecting rejection, he was surprised when Ashley nodded. "Alright."
Atticus's heart skipped a beat as he suppressed his excitement.
"But it has to be a fake certificate this time," Ashley warned. "No deceiving me again."
Atticus's heart fluttered as he nodded in agreement.
As they turned the corner, they encountered a blonde woman with striking blue eyes dressed in a white lab coat. With her distinct Ferndale features and defined bone structure, she was classically beautiful.
She flashed a suggestive smile at Atticus. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation earlier. Sir, have you experienced any issues with... sexual function?"
Atticus froze, staring at her in shock.
"What do you want?" he asked, both confused and defensive.
The woman smiled, her expression dazzling. "I'm Adina. I specialize in treating sexual dysfunction in marriages. If you're experiencing issues, I can offer you a 20% discount!"
Atticus felt his pride wounded. "No, thank you," he muttered before hastily retreating.
Ashley took Dr. Adina's business card and asked, "How much would it cost with the discount?"
Adina held up five fingers. "$100,000, with guaranteed results. If I can't help, I'll refund $50,000!"
Seeing Atticus already walking away, Ashley replied, "I'll contact you later."
As she hurried after him, Adina called out, "Convince your husband! My treatment will give you both the happy marriage you deserve."
Ashley stopped and turned. "Doctor, you misunderstand. We're siblings."
Adina gazed at Atticus waiting in the sunlight, admiring his features with predatory interest.
Ashley caught up to Atticus. "Why did you run off?"
"Someone overheard our private conversation. It was mortifying," he explained.
Ashley handed him the business card. "Maybe you should see her for treatment?"
Atticus glanced at the card, then noticed Adina watching him with that strange expression. He shuddered. "Let's go. We need to pick up Andy and Nate from preschool."
As they left, Adina murmured to herself, "How interesting. He's exactly my type. I wonder if we'll meet again."
In the car, Ashley noticed Atticus's reluctance to seek treatment. While driving, she secretly texted Adina: [Dr. Adina, I've decided to bring my brother for treatment. How should I arrange payment?]
Adina replied instantly: [You can pay a deposit first. If there's noticeable improvement after two sessions, you can settle the balance.]
Ashley responded: [Perfect.]
Little did Ashley know that her well-intentioned intervention would inadvertently lead to a perfect match.
At 5:30 PM, they arrived at the preschool, waiting in the car for the children to be dismissed.
A luxury car drove past them. The window was down, and Ashley caught a glimpse of Ethan's profile. That single glance was enough to make her heart race uncontrollably.
Shortly afterward, the teacher brought out the first group of children.
From a distance, Ashley watched Ethan exit his car accompanied by a beautiful woman who affectionately held his arm. Together, they approached the teacher and collected a five-year-old girl.
The little girl held both adults' hands, skipping happily between them. The adults smiled warmly at her, creating a picture-perfect family scene that pierced Ashley's heart like a knife.
Andy and Nate spotted Ashley and waved enthusiastically. "Mommy!"
Ethan, about to get into his car, paused at the sound of the twins' voices. He turned to look in the direction they were calling.
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