<b>Chapter </b><b>166 </b>


    Professional to a fault, never asking unnecessary questions, never crossing <b>the </b>line–those were the rules Larkin lived by as an assistant.


    Alessia gave a distracted reply, her thoughts clearly elsewhere, and the car fell into silence. Sensing her mood, Larkin pressed harder on the gas<b>, </b>shaving a good ten minutes off their usual drive.


    Before Larkin could even step out and open the door for her, Alessia had already hopped out, tossed a quick, “Thanks for the ride,” over her shoulder, and hurried toward the house.


    The butler answered the door, but before Alessia could speak, Xander appeared behind her.


    “Lessie.”


    “Doctor! How is she?” Alessia nodded at the butler and hurried to help Xander into the living room.


    Xander sank onto the couch, letting out a weary sigh. “I rushed over as soon as I heard. The family doctor said she was fine during her afternoon checkup. But while the butler was just fetching some water to help Jade freshen up, she nearly slipped away right then and there.”


    “After following my instructions, the doctor managed to stabilize her and called me immediately. I tried another round of injections, but I don’t know how long this one willst. The effect used to hold for a while, but now it’s wearing off faster and faster. Lessie, you know what that means.”


    Alessia pressed her lips together, looking away from Xander’s gaze.


    Xander’s voice softened, heavy with sorrow, but he forced himself to continue. “Jade… she doesn’t even want to fight anymore. You all know she can still hear us, but after two years, she’s made it clear–she just wants to let go. Even if I were some miracle worker, I can’t save someone who’s lost the will to live.”


    He patted Alessia’s hand, his eyes full of pain. Jade was like his own daughter–he’d watched her grow up, promised a dying friend that he’d look after her. Telling Cole to consider letting go had nearly broken him.


    He’d spent his life saving strangers, but now, he couldn’t even save his closest friend, or his friend’s only child.


    What cruel fate had he earned to deserve this?


    <b>14:42 </b>1


    <b>Xander’s </b><b>eyes </b>reddened as he <b>kept </b>patting Alessia’s hand. She clenched <b>her </b><b>jaw</b><b>, </b>her tense expression betraying the battle she fought to stayposed.


    She drew a long, shuddering breath and slowly let it out.


    <b>“</b>No one wanted things to end up like this,” she murmured.


    “Go check on Cole, will you? He’s been in his room all day,” Xander said, his voice catching as he nodded toward the stairs.


    “Alright.” Alessia couldn’t bring herself to say, “Don’t be sad” or “Don’t me yourself“-she knew those words would only ring hollow.


    She stood and walked slowly toward Cole’s room.


    Watching her go, Xander thought back to when those two were just kids. While other children spent their afternoons ying with friends, these two were already shouldering burdens no child should bear, propping each other up, carving out a life with nothing but grit and loyalty.


    Two years ago, Cole was only sixteen. A car crash took his father in an instant, nost words, and left his motheratose, her fate uncertain. Overnight, he lost his entire world and had to take on the weight of the Whitley family business, all while clinging to the hope his mother might wake up.


    If not for that hope–and if not for Alessia, step by step by his side–he never would have made it.


    Life was merciless; these two, so good and kind, deserved better.


    Xander wiped his face, cursing his own helplessness all over again.


    <b>14:42 </b>