Chapter 21 Before She Could Change Her Mind
Rufus left the hospital room without hesitation, his stride brisk, the sound of his shoes sharp against the floor.
When it came to Blair, he was always on edge.
Once he was gone, the room fell into a rare stillness. No more tension in the air, no more sharp words hanging like blades. Only she remained. Cecilia pulled the blanket over her head and began to weep quietly.
She was exhausted. The emotions she had kept locked away broke free in a sudden, unstoppable flood.
The strength she wore in front of others shattered in an instant.
If she could, Cecilia would have hidden herself away like this forever.
But even moments of silence never stayed untouched.
"I heard your grandfather's medical bills have been extended. I have to admit, I'm surprised. Women always find a way… though I doubt it will last long." Brad's voice cut through the quiet, and Cecilia froze mid-sob.
Whether he failed to notice her fragility or simply didn't care was impossible to tell.
She wiped her face quickly, pushed the blanket aside. Her eyes were still faintly red, the lids heavy and sore from crying for who knew how long.
When she fully processed Brad's words, it was like a bolt of lightning striking her. She had never imagined she would hear such baseless contempt from her own father.
Cecilia drew in a deep breath, forcing the swell of emotion back down. Her voice was steady when she spoke. "What are you here for?"
She wasn't naive enough to think Brad had come out of concern.
Her blunt tone made Brad's expression tighten. In his memory, Cecilia had always been the little girl clinging to his leg, begging him to stay a little longer. When had she turned into this?
He gave a short, cold laugh. "Your temper is becoming more and more like your mother's."
The mention of Bronte made Cecilia's chest tighten with irritation. What right did he have to speak her name?
"You came here just to say that?" Her voice carried both weariness and steel.
Brad finally got to the point. "I came to ask if you've thought about what I said last time."
It was about Patrick's continued medical expenses. Cecilia's heart sank. The painting she'd asked Leroy to handle wouldn't sell quickly, and Patrick's condition could not wait.
At the moment, working with Brad seemed like her only way forward.
"Can I ask you something?" she said suddenly. If one listened closely, there was a faint tremor in her voice.
Brad looked puzzled but gave a slight nod for her to continue.
"I want to know… all this time, in your eyes, what have I been to you?"
Even now, Cecilia sometimes dreamed of her younger self—one hand in Patrick's, the other in Bronte's—walking toward the amusement park.
A friend who worked in psychology had once told her that such dreams meant she was still trapped in unresolved trauma — wounds that had never healed, returning to haunt her again and again.
Near the end of her life, Cecilia longed to break that relentless cycle.
But deep down, she knew she would never find the answer.
At the end of her life, Cecilia wanted to break that cycle.
But she knew she would never get an answer.
Brad's impatience was plain. "What's the point of asking something like that?"
Cecilia almost laughed. Sometimes, not answering was an answer in itself.
She closed her eyes, letting the tears run freely down her face. At least now, she would no longer be trapped by that old longing.
"Fine. I'll agree to your terms." After a long moment, she opened her eyes again, her gaze burning into his.
Brad barely had time to feel relief before she went on. "But I have one condition."
His face fell instantly. "Didn't we agree? You match with Blair, and I'll keep paying for your grandfather's treatment. What more do you want?"
He was clearly displeased with her sudden escalation, but for Blair's sake, he forced himself to negotiate.
"What else do you want?" His voice was tight with anger, his eyes sharp with warning.
Cecilia knew that if she crossed his line, he would explode without hesitation.
"I want you to transfer thirty million dollars into my grandfather's medical account right now, and promise to send him abroad for treatment. The money stays untouched, and we make it official with a notary."
Even with the Ember family's rise under Rufus, Brad didn't have that much liquid cash at his disposal. This was no small demand.
To him, it felt like she was deliberately making things difficult.
"What are you playing at? I already told you I'd take care of him. And it's just a kidney transplant—you don't need to act like you're planning your last will."
She knew her only value to him was as a donor for Blair. But she also knew her body might not survive the operation.
It was, essentially, one life for another.
And she had no illusions that Brad would keep spending money on Patrick after she was gone. She needed to secure his future while she still had leverage.
But Brad was a businessman, driven by profit. In his eyes, her sacrifice was simply expected—not worth such a cost.
"I can't meet that demand. Thirty million is no small sum, and your grandfather's treatment won't require that much."
Maybe it wouldn't. But Cecilia believed Patrick would wake one day, and she wanted to ensure he lived the rest of his life without worry.
She only smiled faintly, offering no explanation.
She knew Brad would give in for Blair's sake.
"If you won't agree, then this negotiation ends here. I can promise you this—if I have to die, it won't be on that operating table. I'll take everything down with me."
Brad hadn't expected her to threaten him. His jaw tightened. "You wouldn't dare."
For the first time, Cecilia met his gaze directly. He looked older now, worn in ways she hadn't noticed before. She smiled softly. "You're welcome to find out."
Minutes passed. In this silent battle of wills, Brad was the first to break.
"Fine. I'll agree. But I need time. I'll handle everything you said, including the notary, within fifteen business days."
Before leaving, he couldn't resist one last jab. "I don't know when you turned into this."
Cecilia found herself wondering the same. What was "this"?
His tone was all business now, and she felt nothing in response.
Just before he left, Brad hurried to sign an initial deal with her — as though afraid she might change her mind and push the price even higher.