Chapter 6 Unexpected Accident

Selena's eyes were red but filled with determination. Gregory couldn't bear to look at her, knowing it would break his heart. "Dad!" Selena cried out, and her tears fell onto the back of Gregory's hand. Gregory couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. With his eyes now red, he finally gave in. "Okay. I'll go to the hospital tomorrow. Let me stay home tonight." Knowing his time was running out, he decided to put Selena at ease by going to the hospital the next day. However, hospital stays cost money, and it seemed he was adding more burden on her again. "Okay, we'll stay home tonight. Let me cook with Lucas first," Selena said. With a sense of relief, she quickly wiped away her tears and went to the kitchen to join Lucas. During Gregory's time in the hospital, Selena cooked every day and brought him meals. In addition to running between work, the hospital and home, she also worked a part-time job related to foreign languages on the weekends. Yet, she never felt tired. What terrified her more than anything was the thought that no matter how hard she tried, she might not be able to keep Gregory around for much longer. … Gregory, Selena, and Lucas were enjoying dinner together. Gregory's appetite had been surprisingly good. Not only did he finish a large plate of pasta, but he also had two small bowls of mushroom soup. Selena and Lucas were genuinely happy about this. Although it felt like wishful thinking, they still hoped that Gregory could fully recover from his illness from that point onward. After cleaning up, Selena and Lucas sat with Gregory and watched TV. They were concerned about his health, so before long, they helped him back to his room to rest. The next morning, Selena woke up early to make breakfast. During the night, she had quietly checked on Gregory to make sure he was okay. Seeing him sleeping peacefully had put her mind at ease. Just as she finished cooking the pancakes, she heard Gregory coughing violently from his room. Panicking, Selena dropped the spatula and rushed to Gregory's room. "Dad!" To her horror, she saw blood all over his light blue bed sheet. She ran over quickly. "Dad!" Shaking, she grabbed her phone and dialed 911. "Hello, is this emergency services? Please hurry to Willow Grove! My dad is coughing up blood! Please, you have to get here fast!" Gregory reached out, trying to grab the phone from her. But Selena wouldn't let him. All she could feel now was the crushing regret of not taking him to the hospital the afternoon before. Leaning against the headboard, Gregory struggled to speak, "Don't cry, Lena. Please listen to me..." "No, Dad. Please, don't talk. I'm going to get Lucas!" Selena cut his words. She was terrified Gregory might pass away right at the moment. Their rented house was small, so Lucas slept on the balcony outside the living room. He was deaf from birth, so he couldn't hear a thing. Just as Selena rushed out to find Lucas, he had already come running. He had been getting up to make breakfast. However, the sight of Gregory's open door made him immediately go over. When he saw the blood, he panicked and started making frantic noises. With red-rimmed eyes, Gregory smiled and reached out to Lucas. "Ah! Ah!" Lucas cried out in anguish. Gregory struggled to form signs, which read, "Don't worry, I'm okay." "Dad!" Selena choked on her words. Kneeling at the bedside, she held Gregory's hand and kept checking the time on her phone. At that moment, all she could do was pray that the ambulance would arrive soon. Gregory spoke up, "Lena, you shouldn't have to go through this. Like I told you when you graduated, you're not my real daughter. I found you at the playground, and you should find your real parents…" "Don't say that, Dad. I'll always be your daughter!" Selena sobbed uncontrollably. It was when she graduated from university that Gregory had told her the truth. Years ago, Gregory had found her at the playground and waited there all day. When no one came for her, he decided to adopt her. Even during their toughest times, Gregory had never abandoned her. She might not have had a luxurious life, but Gregory had given her everything he had. "You silly thing. You should've gone to your parents after graduation," Gregory said. If she had, she wouldn't be dragged down by him now. "Dad, please don't talk. You need to save your strength. The ambulance is on its way," Selena said, holding Gregory's hand tightly. "Lena, stop making a fuss. I don't want to go to the hospital, I just want to stay home," Gregory said. "No, Dad. We have to go to the hospital!" Selena insisted. "I really want to meet your boyfriend..." Gregory coughed and spat out more blood. He honestly felt like he couldn't hang on much longer. So, before he passed, he wanted to see Selena's boyfriend. If there was life after death, at least he would know who to watch over. "Dad!" Selena cried out. She quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe the blood from Gregory's mouth, and it was instantly soaked red. Her heart ached, and she rushed to grab his medication. Her hands were trembling as she twisted open the bottle. "Dad, here's your medicine. You'll feel better after you take it. I'll have Samuel come over now." With tears in his eyes, Lucas quickly handed Gregory a cup of warm water.