?Chapter 2976:


    Hadley got a call from Colleenter that day.


    “I’m in the gynecology department now.”


    It was Louise’s decision. There was no time to waste, since the diagnosis had already been confirmed.


    Louisepleted her daughter’s admission paperwork while she rested. Frida was assigned as Colleen’s attending physician.


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    “I’m in a private room. My mom’s here with me,” Colleen said softly.


    “I’lle by early tomorrow. Tell your mom not to worry. I’lle with some homemade soup,” Hadley said.


    “Alright. Thank you, Hadley.”


    Colleen ended the call just as Louise entered and announced, “Colleen, dinner’s ready.”


    “Alright.” She rose slowly and walked over.


    Her stomach no longer hurt, and her face looked better than before.


    “Eat up,” Louise said as she handed her a bowl of soup. “This will help your recovery. Be careful, though. It’s still hot.”


    “Okay.”


    Colleen held the spoon gently and sipped in small mouthfuls.


    The room fell silent for a while. The only sounds were the faint clinking of spoon and bowl that filled the air.


    “Mom, Jorge and me… is it over?” Colleen asked, looking down.


    “You…” Louise froze for a second, taken aback.


    “I heard you earlier. You were talking on the phone, and your voice was a bit loud,” Colleen said, her voice soft.


    “You overheard?”


    Colleen answered, shaking her head, “Well, not everything. Just enough to make a guess.”


    The truth was already clear. She had seen Jorge’s face earlier that day. Something was definitely off.


    Louise brushed her hair gently and said, “Are you upset? But, sweetheart, we have toe to terms with it if it’s really ended.”


    “Of course not. I’m not upset,” Colleen said, shaking her head. “Honestly, I get it.”


    There was even a sense of relief beneath her calm voice. If anything, she was more upset about her illness than the end of her rtionship with Jorge.


    “Mom, please don’t be sad either,” she said softly.


    After all, her mother had been rooting for them from the beginning.


    “I’m fine, dear. What matters now is that you get better.”


    “Okay.” Colleen smiled faintly, the tension in her face easing.


    Louise noticed and sighed quietly. She hesitated, then decided to speak up. “Colleen.”


    “I know you’re not over Brady yet.” Louise’s tone was calm but direct. “It’s time to move on, darling. Jorge couldn’t ept your condition, and neither would Brady.”


    “Mom…” Colleen’s smile faltered. “Why bring him up now?”


    She mustered all her strength to force a smile. “You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m not thinking about him anymore.”


    She looked down, hiding the faint sadness in her eyes.


    “I know there’s no going back,” she whispered.


    Truth be told, she already knew that from the moment she agreed to date Jorge.


    She and Brady had once promised never to give up on each other, but then she broke that promise first.


    And if she were him, she wouldn’t take back someone who walked away halfway.


    There were plenty of other women out there. There was no way Brady would actually return to her—not after her betrayal.


    With that in mind, she decided not to cling to false hope.


    “Really, Mom, don’t worry about me.”


    Louise’s heart ached.


    Her daughter was so strong, yet fate had been so unkind. She couldn’t help but wonder if Brady would still be by Colleen’s side had they not broken up.


    Around nine that night, Colleeny in bed with her tablet, watching a movie.


    Louise had gone home for some rest, though she’d wanted to stay. Colleen insisted she’d be fine alone.


    And besides, Louise wasn’t in good health herself and needed to get a lot of rest.


    A few minutester, there were two soft knocks on the door.


    “Come in,” she said, eyes still on the screen.


    She assumed it was just a nurse. The hospital staff checked on patients from time to time to make sure they were okay.


    But when the door opened, the silence felt strange.


    No one spoke.


    The doctors or nurses would usually ask her a question or two, finding her awake.


    Colleen frowned and looked up, but then froze.


    “You…”


    Her eyes widened as she tried to sit up.


    “Don’t move!” Brady stepped closer and quickly helped her back down. “Your stomach still hurts, doesn’t it? Lie down.”


    “Wait… You know?” Colleen stammered, shocked.


    She paused, then realized. “It was Hadley who told you, right?”


    “Yeah,” Brady said with a nod. “I came to check on you. How are you feeling?”


    “Thanks. I’m okay now. The pain’s gone,” she said with a smile.


    She was okay?


    However, Brady didn’t buy it. He just stared at her pale skin and thin frame.


    His chest tightened painfully. “Hadley told me everything,” he said quietly.


    “Everything?” she repeated.


    “Yeah, everything.”


    Then, after a pause, he asked, “You and Jorge… Is it really over?”


    Colleen hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”


    So Hadley was telling the truth.


    Brady closed his eyes for a moment, as if steadying himself. When he looked up again, his voice was calm. “Good. I’ll go, then. You need to rest.”


    Colleen blinked, confused. “Alright…”


    He turned and left quickly, the door clicking shut behind him.


    Colleen stared nkly at the door.


    What was that supposed to mean?


    He just came to confirm her rtionship was over?


    A bitter smile touched her lips.


    Maybe he felt satisfied now. She had left him, and now she’d been left alone too.


    Outside, Brady leaned against the wall, covering his eyes with one hand.


    They had really broken up. But the price Colleen had paid was too heavy.


    Oh, dear Colleen!


    Brady came back to her room the next morning.


    Colleen had just woken up and hadn’t even washed her face. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him.


    “You again?”


    What was he doing there again?


    She thought he was done with her afterst night.


    “Go wash up,” he said in a calm tone.


    He set a few bags on the table and began to unpack them.


    “I made you some soup.”


    It would help her recuperation process.


    He looked up at her face. “I brought some regr breakfast too.”


    Colleen stood still. She was at a loss for words.


    “Stop staring and go wash up,” he said with a chuckle.


    “Alright…” Her voice trembled as she turned away, her eyes about to well up.


    So he hadn’te to mock herst night.


    When she returned, Brady pulled out a chair and handed her a spoon. “Here. Eat up,” he said.


    “Okay…”


    Her throat felt tight. Then she suddenly remembered something. “My mom will be here any moment from now.”


    Brady froze for a moment, his expression dimming. “Oh, I see. Then I’ll leave before shees.”


    He pointed at the table. “If she asks, say Hadley brought it. Don’t mention me, okay? She’ll only get upset.”


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