I've Been There Before

Chapter 328: Step by Step

The man in the bed chuckled, his eyes showing disbelief. “So you came here today to discuss that old man with me? Kern, that old man is not afraid of me dying. He still has a grandson who can inherit his throne.”

Kern sneered.

“Do you think I want to go back to that filthy place of the Shaws?”

“You don’t want the Shaw Group?” Caden said coldly, “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

Kern’s gaze swept past Caden as he looked out of the window. “The Shaw Group is a good thing. I want it. But will you give it to me?”

“You’ll snatch it even if I don’t give it to you, won’t you?”

“Yes I will, from you. But if you die, I won’t snatch it from her.” Kern demonstrated his ambition.

Caden narrowed his eyes and looked at Kern. “You have a deep affection for her. Should I entrust her to you before I die?”

“Save it. You’re sick to death. Aren’t you divorced?

“Then you have nothing to do with her matters.

“Entrust?

“That depends on whether you have the qualifications now.”

Kern finished speaking and stood up. “I’m done visiting you. I should go.”

“You came only to visit me? I didn’t know you were so kind.”

“I’m here to see if you’re dying. After all, we share the same bloodline. Do you think I’m willing to visit you?”

Kern retorted mockingly.

“But don’t worry. When you die, I won’t snatch the Shaw Group.”

Hearing that, Caden, who was lying in the bed, fell silent for a moment. Then he said.

“Alright, remember what you said today.”

“Bye.” The visitor waved one hand casually, put the other hand in his pocket, and left.

Ladd came in. “Boss, Mr. White is here.”

“Is he out?” Caden raised his head. “Then Payne is out of the aseptic room. That’s right, it’s time.”

Humbert, who was at the door, had changed into a white coat. “You’re too sick to care about that loser.”

He was holding Caden’s medical record.

“The tumor in your brain has pressed on the optic and central nerve … Are you having an surgery?”

He wasn’t in a good mood. As soon as he went out of the aseptic room, he learned Caden was seriously sick.

“Back then, you pretended to be mad and said there was blood congestion in your brain. Now something has really grown in your brain.”

“Don’t laugh. Do you know how terrible your condition is?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Humbert looked serious. “The failure rate of this surgery is very high. Even if we succeed, you’re faced with the risk of paralysis and blindness.”

“The surgery is a must,” the man said calmly as if it wasn’t him who was seriously sick.

“I’ve enjoyed my life. The only regret …” he said, pausing slightly, “Forget it, it’s all over.”

Humbert sneered, “Now you say it’s all over. Why didn’t you say so back then?

“You’re a weird guy.

“Back then, you used all your means to keep her by your side.

“Now that you’re sick, you’re eager to drive her away.”

Humbert felt a little bitter. “Now I believe that you love her badly.”

The man remained silent.

Humbert had to switch to another topic.

“I heard she’s going back to Erhai Lake.”

Hearing this, the man’s body stiffened slightly. After a while, he said hoarsely.

“She likes it there. It’s a good place. Good for her.”

“You’re not seeing her again?

“Perhaps it’ll be your last time.”

As a friend, he hated to say such gloomy words. But as a doctor, he knew how bad his friend’s condition was.

“No … I’m not.” The man looked out of the window. “She’s tired of me. I always knew it.”

“You …” Humbert had wanted to say that he didn’t have to be like this, but he respected his friend’s choice. “You’re getting sleepier. Why didn’t you tell me? If it was discovered half a year ago, the success rate would be as high as 60%. But now …”

“But I had a happy time with her,” he said. Though he was pretending to be mad back then, it was still his happiest time.

Humbert shook his head and left.

…

Gloria came to see Grace off. “Are you leaving?”

“Thank you for taking care of me all these years, Gloria.”

“When you’re gone, what will happen to the James Group?”

“Payne is recovering. I’ve arranged it well for the James Group. Vivian is to take on most of the work during Payne’s recovery. She will also help Payne take over everything of the James Group.”

“Yes, yes. You’ve arranged everything. You’ve arranged Payne’s treatment. You’ve arranged a confidant, Vivian, for him. You’ve even arranged your mother’s future life.

“You’ve arranged the business of the James Group.

“You’ve arranged everything. But have you considered President Shaw?”

Grace moved her lips. “He let me go.”

“Did he let you go, or did you leave him?”

Gloria pressed forward step by step.

“What’s the difference?” Grace was a little angry. “I don’t want to pester him like this anymore!

“I want to return to a peaceful life!

“He said it himself. He’s tired of this game. He’s tired of me!”

Grace got more irritated as she spoke. “It was a mistake for me and him from the start.

“Everything turned out to be just another mistake.

“You know nothing!”

“No, I don’t! I just want to ask you, Grace, do you still love him?”

“…” Grace stopped abruptly.

Did she still love him?

“… I just want to live the rest of my life peacefully.”

“See? You’re hesitating.” Gloria was like an invader attacking a city. Seizing this point, she was taking down this woman step by step.

“I asked if you still love him, and you hesitated.

“Do you really know yourself?

“Grace, in my opinion, you are merely escaping, constantly escaping.

“Three years ago, you managed to escape.

“Right now, you still haven’t improved. You’re still on the run.

“Is Erhai Lake your dreamland?

“Can Erhai Lake calm you down?

“With all due respect …

“If you can only find peace in Erhai Lake, it means you’ve never had peace in your heart and you’ve never let yourself go.

“If you really don’t care about anything,

“If you forget everything, ignore everything,

“Then you’ll find peace everywhere.

“There’s no need to go to Erhai Lake!

“There’s no need to go to Dali!

“You’re such a coward. You keep running away.

“Three years in jail and you no longer dare to stop and look around! You no longer dare to look at the people around you, the things around you, and the scenery around you!

“You no longer dare to see through your heart!

Or are you so frightened that you flee everywhere?”

Grace’s body trembled, and her face was pale as a sheet. “Stop! Stop!”

Gloria’s words were like a phonograph constantly playing in her mind. She wanted to press the Stop button but found the button had failed.