Chapter 237 Justin, I Can’t Bear It

Chapter 237 Justin, I Can’t Bear It

Just moments ago, Joanna had quickly shut off her phone, but in that split second, Justin still caught a glimpse.

Her screen had been frozen on the contacts page.

And the first entry was a call record with Claire.

In the hallway, Justin sat in his wheelchair with one hand on the armrest and the other holding his phone to his ear, his voice cold. "You told her?"

On the other end, Claire was so nervous she momentarily didn't know what to say.

Justin had no patience. His voice turned threatening. "You broke your promise. Do you want to leave the country too?"

"No..."

Claire scrambled to explain. "Mr. Lawson, I didn't mean to... But even if she knows, it's not a bad thing. She'll only love you more..."

"Don't try to be clever!" Justin cut her off coldly, threatening again. "If something happens to her health because of this, I'll have you thrown out of Harbor City too!"

Claire quickly realized what must have happened and asked anxiously, "Her health? Hasn't she recovered from her injuries yet?"

Justin had no interest in explaining. He hung up directly.

On the hospital bed, Joanna's breathing was even, but her eyelashes trembled once, then again.

Justin wheeled his chair to the bedside and took Joanna's cold hand in his warm palm.

"I know you're not asleep."

His voice was soft and gentle. "Don't overthink it. You have no responsibility. I did it willingly."

Joanna's eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened, her gaze hazy as she looked at the man beside her.

Justin leaned forward, lowering his head closer to her, and spoke again. "If someday something really does happen to me because of you, that's my own choice. You should never feel guilty about it."

"Shut up." Joanna's eyes instantly cleared. She frowned and sat up, bracing herself with both hands. "Don't say such unlucky things!"

Justin looked at her serious expression, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. "You're superstitious too?"

It wasn't superstition—it was warding off bad omens.

"Justin, I can't bear it."

He propped a pillow behind Joanna so she could recline more comfortably, then took her hand and tucked it under the blanket.

He didn't let go. He kept holding it.

Meeting Joanna's solemn gaze, Justin's lips curved slightly as he spoke in a gentle, negotiating tone. "How about this—if you really want to make it up to me, just give me one more chance. Okay?"

Under the blanket, Justin wrapped his large hand around Joanna's, emphasizing gently, "I'm not asking you to commit yourself to me. Just give me one more chance."

After speaking, Justin looked at Joanna quietly for a few seconds.

Then he released her hand, leaned back in his chair to maintain a safe distance from her, and said, "Take your time thinking about it. No rush to answer me."

Joanna was stunned by this move. The words she'd been about to say suddenly escaped her.

Under the blanket, her fingertips clutched at the sheets, somewhat at a loss.

Her palm still held the warmth of Justin's touch. She bit her lower lip lightly, her mind going momentarily blank.

Justin then asked, "What do you want me to do about Leon?"

The sudden topic change took Joanna a few seconds to process before she snapped back to reality.

Realizing Justin had done it deliberately, and since her thoughts were muddled anyway, Joanna simply followed his lead. "He's paralyzed. If he's convicted, he won't be locked up for long anyway, and it would just waste state resources. Let him stay in the nursing home. At least that way he won't be out harming people. What do you think?"

"I was thinking the same thing."

As Justin lowered his eyes, a cold glint flashed in them.

He would make sure Leon lived a long time.

As long as Leon could endure it.

...

After Joanna's sudden headache, everyone became even more attentive to her condition.

During her physical therapy sessions, two people always accompanied her, strictly controlling her activity time.

If she read for too long, they would forcibly take away her book and make her rest.

Once Joanna could eat normally again, Karen varied her meals daily with dishes she loved.

To avoid wasting food, Karen simply stopped bringing separate meals for Justin.

Karen would let Joanna choose from all the dishes first, to see which ones suited her appetite best.

Then Karen would give Justin whatever was left.

After more than twenty days of recuperation, Joanna's complexion gradually became rosy, and her jawline rounded out.

However, just as Joanna was about to be discharged, Karen suddenly stopped coming. She only sent servants to deliver meals.

Karen said she was busy.

Joanna didn't think much of it.

She could now live normally. Apart from tiring easily, she had no other physical discomfort.

That day, after finishing her physical therapy, Joanna refused the offer of an aide and slowly walked back to her room alone.

As she turned the doorknob, she heard Hazel's crying from inside.

Justin could now walk on his own.

He sat on the sofa while Hazel stood in front of him.

Hearing the door open, Hazel turned to look at Joanna, her eyes red and her face streaked with tears.

Justin also looked at her with a complicated expression.

During this time, Hazel had visited often. Each time she came, she was quiet and composed, her personality considerably more mature.

Joanna's attitude toward her had gradually become less cold.

"What's wrong?"

The moment Joanna asked, Hazel's mouth trembled and she walked toward Joanna. "Joanna..."

Tears burst from Hazel's eyes in an instant. She grabbed Joanna's arm and sobbed, "Grandma... Grandma's sick. The doctor says her condition is very serious..."

On the sofa, Justin also stood up, his expression both complicated and grave.

Elizabeth was already over eighty years old and had long suffered from high blood pressure. At her age, she couldn't withstand a serious illness.

Realizing this, Joanna frowned nervously and was about to ask about the situation when Hazel continued, "Aunt Karen hasn't come to see you these past two days because Grandma's also been hospitalized. She's been taking care of her."

Joanna recalled that the last time Karen came two days ago, she'd looked exhausted.

She'd asked Karen if she wasn't feeling well, and Karen had said she just hadn't rested well.

It turned out she'd been caring for both Joanna and Elizabeth.

"Which room is she in? Take me to see her."

Hazel blinked blankly, stopping her tears. "But they told me not to tell you."

"They told you not to say anything, but you already have. Don't worry about that now. Let's go."

Joanna was anxious. Without waiting for Hazel's agreement, she headed out.

Hazel glanced back at Justin, seeing him watching Joanna's retreating figure with worry and giving her a meaningful look.

Hazel quickly caught up with Joanna. "Joanna, wait for me. Slow down—you can't walk too fast."

Joanna's stamina hadn't fully recovered yet. She couldn't engage in sudden strenuous activity.

After walking briskly for a stretch, she felt her heart pounding wildly and was forced to slow down.

Justin's leg bones hadn't fully healed either, so he could only walk slowly as well.

The three of them took the elevator to the inpatient wing downstairs. Following Hazel's lead, they found Elizabeth's room.

The door was open. As Joanna reached the doorway, she heard Karen's voice from inside. "Even if Joanna doesn't want to come back home with us, we have to respect that. Marriage can't be forced. You can't make yourself sick with worry just because they're separating."

The door was open. As Joanna stepped up to the doorway, she caught Karen's voice from inside: "Even if Joanna doesn't want to come back to us, we have to respect that. You can't force love. You can't let their separation make you this sick."