Myrtle was still alive, which gave Adrienne more reason to change the course of her life for the better this time. However, stopping Myrtle from retaking the same road only meant that she wouldn't conceive and have Dylan in this lifetime.
Adrienne grieved over the thought, but she surmised that it would be for the best, as Dylan wouldn't have to struggle with not having his birth mother around and wouldn't have to be subjected to the suffering in his uncle's hands.
'Myrtle, I regret everything. Please forgive me if I stop you from having Dylan in the future.'
Adrienne had no idea who fathered Dylan, and Myrtle wouldn't tell her. Even their brothers in the gang were clueless about the bastard who abandoned her.
"What's wrong with you, Addie?" Myrtle laughed awkwardly, but Adrienne's heartfelt confession quite moved her. "Where did you hide my meek and foolish best friend?" She teased, hoping to lighten the mood between them.
Myrtle thought something might have happened to Adrienne back home, hence she was acting like this. Adrienne had been crying like a baby last night while drinking. Myrtle worried that Adrienne's stepmother or new stepsister might have bullied her discreetly yet again.
Adrienne shook her head and sighed. "She's already dead and would never return. You don't have any choice but to keep me instead."
Myrtle burst into laughter, almost spilling her drink as she clutched her side from laughing too much. However, she was somewhat relieved knowing that Adrienne wouldn't be seeking her brother any longer. It was one thing that bothered her these past years, but she couldn't do anything about it. She feared that she would be subjected to his tyranny if Adrienne managed to catch her brother's attention.
"It's still your birthday. Do you have other plans today?" She asked Adrienne.
Adrienne considered her options. She wanted to stay a little longer with Myrtle and see her mother soon.
As if sensing her distraught, Myrtle lowered her mug on the coffee table and took Adrienne's hand, giving it a light squeeze to assure her.
"Should we give Auntie Rose a visit? She can't possibly miss your birthday celebration."
Adrienne stared at her best friend and nodded, watching in a blur as Myrtle walked around her unit. It took Myrtle fifteen minutes to wash up and change into new clothes.
"Let's go, Addie. We can't let Auntie wait for too long."
Myrtle's voice snapped Adrienne from her trance. She allowed her best friend to drag her outside and called Uncle Mo to drive them to the hospital.
Adrienne didn't know what she should feel right then. Of all the people she failed in her previous life, Adrienne didn't dare face her mother now. Even if her mother forgave her, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself for being foolish, allowing Camilla, Elise, and Cayden to take advantage of her.
"Addie? What's wrong? Did you forget something?" Myrtle called her when Adrienne didn't alight the car once they reached their destination.
Adrienne didn't answer but followed her best friend out, lifting her head only to see the hospital her mother was admitted to for many years before Alistair Han transferred her to another one. Her legs trembled slightly, tears stung her eyes as she was grateful to see her mother and best friend again.
She felt like she was dragging her feet, taking the same path she knew well. What would her mother say if she knew what she had done in an attempt to keep her alive? Would she blame herself, or would she find Adrienne disgraceful?
Adrienne knew that her mother would blame herself for what had happened, though she was the one who made the poor choices. She was rooted outside the door when they reached the room where her mother was staying.
Myrtle didn't notice it and opened the door immediately, greeting the unconscious woman lying on the bed. The woman looked to be in her late thirties. Though visibly thin, it didn't lessen how beautiful the woman was. It was easy to tell that most of Adrienne's facial features, such as the shape of her face, her brows, her nose, and her lips, came from her.
"Addie! What are you doing standing there?! Come in here!" Myrtle called her when she remained unmoving in her place.
Adrienne finally took a step inside and saw her mother. She could feel a cold shiver run down her spine, making this all feel real. She suddenly found it hard to breathe and held onto the railing at the end of the bed as she looked at her mother's ghastly complexion. Though her mother was still alive, someone hired by her brother and Camilla must still be drugging her mother to remain in a coma.
Adrienne knew that she needed to find a way to stop it before her mother's condition deteriorated further. However, she knew this wouldn't be easy unless she transferred her mother to a safer place with better health facilities.
She walked to her mother's side and placed her hand on top of her mother's. Adrienne could feel the faint warmth coming from her mother as if she was still reassuring her that everything would be fine. She did not doubt that if her mother had a choice, she would rather choose to end her life than see her daughter suffer.
'Mom, kindness isn't enough for others to treat you kindly. In this life, I will make them pay for what they did to you.'
Adrienne thought that her mother was too forgiving. If she hadn't foolishly forgiven her father and welcomed Cayden to their family, they would have avoided this tragedy.
How could she remain still and do nothing when she was already aware of the scheme those three had set up? If she wasn't reborn, Adrienne hated that she would remain as foolish as she was until the end. It left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she swore not to waste this rare chance in her favor.
Myrtle accompanied them for the rest of the afternoon, but she left before five for work. Adrienne thanked her best friend for the umpteenth time that day, but Myrtle only waved her hand in response.
"It was nothing, Addie. I know you would have done the same if I was in the same situation," Myrtle replied. "As long as you promise not to get involved with my stupid brother, then we're good."
"You are still worrying about that?" Adrienne crossed her arms over her chest and chuckled. "Don't be ridiculous. We wouldn't be able to tolerate each other if the feelings were one-sided. Don't you know? I also want to get married to the man who loves me, but I'm not raising my hopes."
"Alright. I think that's enough for now. I'm just worried about you, Addie. I hope you understand." Myrtle touched Adrienne's arm lightly.
"I know, Myrtle. It should be me who should apologize for making you worry. Go now, I don't want to be blamed if you clocked in late again today." Adrienne replied, smiling at her best friend reassuringly.
Myrtle bid goodbye to Adrienne's mother before leaving the hospital. Adrienne chose to stay with her mother, knowing that neither her father nor her stepsiblings cared about her whereabouts. She watched the nurse administer a drug to her mother.
"What kind of drug is that?" She asked the nurse curiously. Now that she knew that Camilla was behind her mother's condition, she couldn't help but be wary of the drugs that were being given to her mother.
"This is the antibiotic for your mother. She recently caught pneumonia. Don't worry, it should clear up once she completes the seven-day treatment." The nurse politely replied. She then showed Adrienne the label on the vial she was holding.
Adrienne rubbed her temple. "I'm sorry. I have a lot of things in mind these days."
Right, it was around this time that her mother experienced some complications. It made her panic as she worried that this would dent her remaining funds. Perhaps she should try squeezing money from her father using devious means this time.
The nurse gave her a pitiful look, something Adrienne got used to receiving in her previous life. However, some people thought that she was cruel for keeping her mother on life support and she couldn't blame them for it.
Others might have given up quickly, but not Adrienne. She would never give up, especially now that she knew the truth. However, knowing the root of the problem didn't mean she also knew its solution. She must find a way to stop them from ruining her mother's health further.
She stayed until the last hour for visitation. The sun had already set, and visitors were leaving the hospital one after another. It wasn't until seven in the evening did Adrienne rise from her seat and step out when a loud crashing sound resounded from the room across them.
Adrienne frowned, remembering that there was a patient near her mother's room that always started a ruckus. She'd never dared to see who it was or find out the problem. They were on the ICU floor of the hospital, and only those in high standing in society were being catered to there, and she would rather not get involved with them previously.
However, after her rebirth, Adrienne's personality becomes one that takes no bullshit from others. She had stuck with a new belief that says, 'You deserve what you tolerate.' If this arrogant young master thinks he owned the place and had a right to cause a ruckus, he's sorely mistaken.
Adrienne strode towards the door with light steps and knocked twice on it. However, instead of answering, she heard cutlery clanging on the floor and things breaking. From the corner of her eye, she saw the nurses in the hallway fleeing away. It seemed they also didn't dare to offend whoever it was that was admitted to this room.
"Nox, you need to calm down." She heard a man speak disapprovingly. "You can't be like this! How can I help you when you don't even help yourself?!"
Those words resounded as Adrienne stood outside the door. She couldn't help but agree with that man. Change starts with oneself. She kept begging in her previous life, but how did it end for her? She kept begging everyone to help her, but she didn't dare to change how others treated her.
"It's easy for you to say those words because you aren't in my shoes, Gav!" Another man hissed in pain behind the closed door. "I'd rather die than suffer like this. Who cares if I lose our family's fortune to those Cheng vultures? Who cares if they kill the bastards my father spawned with his mistresses? Why did he have to die and leave his mess for me to deal with? I should have died with him in that accident than suffer like this for the rest of my life!"
Something inside Adrienne snapped upon hearing his words. Fury ran through her veins as she slid the door open harshly, startling the two men inside. One was dressed in a business suit, while the other man was dressed in a white hospital dress. His right eye was covered with a bandage, along with his arms and limbs. It looked like he suffered from severe burns.
However, this wasn't enough to quell the anger Adrienne had. She ignored the other man's surprised look and walked straight toward the patient, who was looking at her with confusion and irritation. He probably didn't expect someone to confront him like this.
Before the man could question Adrienne for entering his room without permission, a heavy slap landed on his face, stunning him in place. He lifted his gaze, meeting Adrienne's equally furious gaze.
"You were given a chance to live and yet you remain ungrateful? Shouldn't you use this chance to collect debts instead?"
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