Chapter 202 Advanced
Cancer
Rachel held Brian’s gaze this time, unwavering. “Isn’t that the truth?” she asked, her voice calm yet piercing.
Brian’s lips curled into a bitter laugh, his eyes flashing with barely contained fury. “So, you allowed him to stay the night but decided to send me away,” he shot back, his voice sharp with accusation. Without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving the room in stunned silence.
The once vibrant atmosphere now felt hollow, the breakfast on the table growing cold as the warmth drained from the room.
Rachel’s hands shook as she reached for a glass of water, her fingers struggling to grip it properly.
Noticing her distress, Andres stepped in, gently placing the glass in her hand. “Take your time,” he said softly, his voice soothing. “There’s no need to hurry.”
Rachel took a few quick sips, the cool water helping to steady her nerves. Slowly, the tension in her chest began to ease, and she felt herself regaining composure.
“He’s angry now, but he probably hasn’t gone far. If you want to explain, there’s still time,” Andres suggested gently, his tone encouraging.
Rachel set the glass down and shook her head. “It’s better this way,” she replied softly. After finally parting ways, she didn’t want to reopen old wounds or complicate things further.
The following day, Rachel carefully applied makeup to conceal her pale complexion before heading out to meet Elsa. When she arrived, Elsa was already seated, two steaming cups of coffee on the table, their rich aroma filling the air. It was clear she had prepared in advance.
“Rachel, you’re here! How was the traffic?” Elsa greeted her warmly, standing up with a bright smile.
“Pretty smooth,” Rachel replied, returning the smile. “Please, sit down. No need to stand on ceremony.” Though Rachel insisted, Elsa waited until she had taken her seat before settling back into her chair.
Elsa soon signaled a waiter and passed the menu to Rachel. “Take a look and see if there’s anything else you’d like. Don’t hold back, order whatever you want,” she said with a warm smile.
Rachel shook her head gently. “This coffee is perfect for now.”
“How about something sweet, then? A little dessert won’t hurt; you’ve always kept your figure so well,” Elsa pressed, her tone cheerful but insistent.
Rachel couldn’t help but notice the unusual deference in Elsa’s manner, almost as if she were trying too hard to
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please.
It was unexpected. Having known Elsa for years, Rachel was familiar with her confident, spirited personality. She had always been proud and self–assured. Though not from a wealthy background, she had never lacked anything and had grown up surrounded by affection. Her straightforward, lively nature had never required her
to act so… submissive.
The shift in Elsa’s behavior left Rachel feeling unsettled. “Elsa, really, there’s no need to fuss. I just had breakfast, so I’m not hungry. If I feel like something later, I’ll order. And please, sit down,” she said kindly, hoping to ease the awkwardness.
Elsa finally smiled and nodded. “Alright.”
Yet, even after sitting down, her expression stayed strained. Her hands fidgeted on the table, fingers clenching and unclenching in a restless rhythm that betrayed her inner turmoil.
Rachel, noticing her unease, softened her tone. “Elsa, there’s no need to be so nervous. Just say what’s on your mind. And honestly, I’m curious, what happened to Myrna? How did she become so ill so suddenly?”
At Rachel’s gentle tone, Elsa seemed to relax slightly. Her lips quivered as she struggled to find the right words. Finally, she spoke, her voice fragile but clear. “Rachel, the truth is… Myrna is in the late stages of breast cancer. It’s already spread to her liver.”
The words struck Rachel like a thunderclap, leaving her momentarily breathless. A heavy, suffocating weight seemed to press down on her chest, making it hard to think.
“How… how did this happen?” Rachel asked, her voice trembling. Perhaps thinking of her struggles, her heart ached with a deep, empathetic sorrow. “When did this start?”
Elsa’s face was heavy with grief. “It happened earlier this year. By the time Myrna found out, it was already too late.”
Rachel’s brow furrowed in confusion. “But I’ve heard the survival rate for breast cancer is relatively high. How did it get this bad?”
Elsa nodded, her expression grim. “It’s true, but Myrna has the most aggressive and incurable type. The disease spread quickly. After years of hard work with Huey Dury, they finally bought a house and settled down here. But the treatment costs have wiped them out. She’s under so much pressure, she doesn’t want to burden him, and her constant depression has only made things worse.”
Rachel sighed deeply, her heart heavy. Life was unpredictable, full of twists no one could foresee. No one knew what would come first, tomorrow or an unexpected tragedy.
It reminded her of her own situation. Without the test results staring her in the face, she wouldn’t have believed Myrna had a terminal illness. Sometimes, waking up in the morning, she felt it was all just a cruel joke fate was playing on her. But as soon as she got up and faced the day, the illusion shattered.
Time and again, she was forced to confront the harsh reality, it wasn’t a joke. It was her life, an unchangeable truth she had no choice but to accept.
For a long time, she believed she was the most unfortunate. But now, hearing about Myrna, she wasn’t so sure. Who was worse off, her or Myrna? It was impossible to say.
Yet she sensed Elsa hadn’t come to her just to talk about Myrna’s illness. If she had to guess, Elsa needed her
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help with something. But given that their college friendship had been nothing more than average, Elsa was likely hesitant to ask, fearing rejection.
Thinking of Myrna’s struggles and their shared past, Rachel felt a pang of sympathy. At the same time, she couldn’t ignore the unspoken request lingering in Elsa’s hesitation.
Rachel met Elsa’s gaze and spoke gently, bridging the silence. “Elsa, if you need my help, just say it. I’ll do what
I can.”
