My Stand-In Groom Is A Secret Tycoon (Audrey)

Audrey froze for a moment, her eyes trembling slightly.

But Miles was already at the edge of breaking down. As soon as he finished speaking, he buried his head in his knees, his thin frame curled in on itself as he cried silently.

A pang of sympathy shot through Audrey's chest. 'So this is the woman I've never met... my mother,' she thought, feeling a bittersweet ache settle deep within her.

Audrey hesitated, then reached out slowly, touching Miles's back gently. "It's okay. It'll be okay," she whispered.noveldrama

Medicine was so advanced, and there still would be a chance.

But her words only seemed to undo Miles further. Tears streamed down his face, releasing all the helplessness and bitterness he'd been holding back.

On the third floor of the hospital's inpatient wing, Audrey and Miles rushed toward his father, Peter. He was clutching a doctor's hand, begging desperately.

Peter was desperate, clutching the doctor's arm with both hands, his voice breaking. "Doctor, please, you have to do something. My wife... she needs more time. She hasn't even lived to see her kids grow up." "Dad..." Miles' voice cracked as he rushed forward, grabbing Peter's trembling arm.

The doctor, visibly uncomfortable, gently pried Peter's grip loose but couldn't hide the pity in his eyes. "Mr. Harper, I'm really sorry, but there's nothing more we can do here. The best thing you can do is bring her home and let her rest peacefully." When Peter and Miles heard this, their eyes revealed a trace of pain simultaneously.

Peter stared at the doctor hopelessly, his voice breaking as he pleaded, "There has to be something, please. She's only in her forties; she hasn't even had the chance to enjoy life."

The doctor's gaze softened with a trace of pity, but he held firm. "Mr. Harper, as hard as it is to hear, any surgery at this point would only cause her more suffering. Taking her home might let her spend her last days in peace."

"No, no." Peter's voice faded as his body sagged, collapsing under the weight of despair. If Miles hadn't been holding him, he would have fallen.

'I just want to save my wife. Why does it have to be so impossible?' Peter thought bitterly.

After a moment's hesitation, the doctor continued, "If you're truly unwilling to give up, there's another option. You could try St. Johnson Hospital in Riverdale. Dr. Grant, the head there, is one of the best specialists in this field." Peter and Miles looked up, their expressions a mixture of fear and hope.

"But let me warn you," the doctor said cautiously, "St. Johnson is a private hospital, and the costs are four times higher than ours. And Mr. Fletcher is very well-known; even an average appointment could take months to schedule. In your situation, you may not be able to see him at all."

"St. Johnson Hospital?" Peter's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "Can Mr. Fletcher actually cure this kind of condition?"

"I can't promise a cure, but Dr. Grant is the best oncologist in the country. If anyone can give you a shot, it's him," the doctor replied.

"Alright. We'll transfer her. Right now," Peter said without a second thought.

Fortunately, the paperwork for their release had already been prepared, as the hospital had planned for them to be discharged today. So everything went quickly.

Before they were discharged, Audrey overheard a conversation between Peter and Miles in the break room.

"Dad, we're out of money, aren't we?" Miles asked quietly.

"Don't worry about that. Even if I have to sell everything, I'm not giving up your mom," Peter replied firmly.

Then Peter sighed and looked at Miles with tired eyes. "Have you been skipping school? No matter what happens, you still need to focus on your studies. Once we settle your mom's transfer, you'll go back to class and stay on track." Miles lowered his head, letting a single tear slip onto the polished floor. "I will," he said.

Miles didn't have the heart to tell his father that he'd gone to find Eliza. Neither Peter nor Jessica could handle that kind of blow right now.

Audrey turned away slightly, hiding the storm of emotions in her eyes.

Just then, Peter emerged from the break room, holding a cup of hot water. He dabbed Jessica's face with a cloth, then helped Miles lift her onto a wheelchair.

Miles went back to grab the bags of personal belongings from the hospital room.

Peter looked like a ghost of his former self, his gaunt frame straining under the weight of the wheelchair.

Noticing his struggle, Audrey moved forward to help. Surprised, Peter glanced up at her, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "Are you...?"

'Why is she so familiar?' Peter wondered.

Audrey froze, her face tensing as she hesitated. 'Should I tell them who I am?'