Chapter 238 Trying to Continue Being Together

Chapter 238 Trying to Continue Being Together

"The more I think about it, the more I blame myself."

Elizabeth's voice was faint, her breathing shallow as she spoke. "When I think back to how I treated her unfairly because of Hazel, and because she hadn't gotten pregnant, it breaks my heart."

Karen tried to console her with difficulty. "But if you can't eat or sleep properly, how can your body handle it?"

Elizabeth let out a long, mournful sigh. "I don't have much time left anyway."

"Mom! Don't say that. You're the backbone of this family. You need to take care of yourself."

Karen continued pleading, but Elizabeth wouldn't listen.

"Don't flatter me. I haven't helped any of you, and I've only made Joanna suffer. What kind of backbone is that? Joanna is such a sensible, gracious girl. Even though she doesn't show it, she must resent me deep down."

Hearing Elizabeth's words, Joanna stood in the doorway, looking down at her feet.

If she was being honest with herself, she had never resented Elizabeth.

Elizabeth favored Hazel because Hazel had no parents and was so pitiful.

Elizabeth treated Hazel the same way Samuel and Luna cherished her.

She understood that.

As for the pressure about having children...

Elizabeth hadn't pushed her to take fertility treatments right after she married Justin.

At first, Elizabeth had only suggested they focus on building their relationship first, and children would come naturally.

It was only after Joanna was diagnosed with fertility issues that Elizabeth became anxious.

The Lawson family had so few members. Elizabeth was worried—and Joanna could understand that too.

She had never resented this woman who had lost her husband in middle age and her son in her twilight years.

Hearing Elizabeth so heartbroken and pessimistic because she and Justin were divorcing, Joanna thought of Samuel and Luna.

When they first heard about the divorce, they too had been devastated.

Joanna's heart ached.

In that instant, the question she'd been wrestling with all this time suddenly had an answer.

From the day she fell down that cliff, Joanna had stopped hating Justin.

After learning that Leon had nearly killed Justin, even her lingering resistance toward him had faded.

As for the drugging incident—she didn't want to pursue it anymore.

Just as Cathy had told her privately some time ago:

"If Justin really doesn't want a divorce, and you can't bear to completely sever ties with the Lawson family, it's not impossible to try staying together."

"If Justin truly cares about you—if it's not just his pride refusing to let go—then use this time to ask yourself: have you really let him go?"

Had she really let Justin go?

If someone had asked Joanna this before, she would have said without hesitation: yes, she had.

But during this time, Joanna had discovered she couldn't let go.

She couldn't coldly cut all ties with the Lawson family. She couldn't take things to court and force Justin into a divorce.

If that was the case, then she might as well let things take their natural course.

Let time decide which path she should take.

Having made up her mind, Joanna walked straight in.

Under Karen and Elizabeth's gazes, she stopped and spoke calmly, as if she hadn't heard what they'd just said. "Grandma, take good care of yourself. When you're discharged, I'll go home with you."

After she spoke, Joanna held her breath—and felt the weight in her chest lift in that very moment.

Karen and Elizabeth stared at her in shock.

Hazel was the first to react. She clapped her hands together, the sound crisp and clear, and took a little hop forward. "Joanna! You're finally willing to come home with us!"

"Really?"

Once she was sure she hadn't misheard, Karen stood up, both surprised and overjoyed.

She grabbed Joanna's hand, tears streaming down her face as she smiled, repeating over and over, "Good. Good."

Elizabeth, lying in the hospital bed, struggled to sit up and reached out toward Joanna.

Seeing how thin Elizabeth had become—practically skin and bones—Joanna's eyes filled with sympathy. She stepped forward and took Elizabeth's hand.

Elizabeth looked Joanna up and down, her eyes glistening with tears.

She made promise after promise. "You're a good girl. I'm saying this here and now: from this day forward, no one in the Lawson family will ever mistreat you again."

She looked pointedly at Hazel and asked sternly, "Do you understand?"

Hazel had been so happy, but Elizabeth's sharp tone startled her. She lowered her head sheepishly. "I understand. I won't be as thoughtless as I used to be."

Out of the corner of her eye, Hazel noticed Justin standing there stiffly like a statue. She pulled him forward and deliberately raised her voice to shift the focus.

"Joanna's giving you a chance. You'd better not be thoughtless either."

Justin bent his index finger and knocked her lightly on the head in reprimand for her cheekiness.

Hazel yelped in pain and quickly sidled up to Joanna, pouting pitifully. "Joanna! Did you see what he did?"

Joanna turned at the sound—and suddenly met Justin's burning gaze. Her heart skipped a beat.

The sudden acceleration made her nervous.

She quickly looked away, glancing at Karen, then at Elizabeth, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Karen and Elizabeth could both see Joanna's awkwardness.

Neither of them pressed further. Instead, they thought to themselves: there's plenty of time ahead.

"Come, pour me some soup. I'll eat more and recover faster. Joanna's waiting for me to go home together—I can't delay her discharge."

Elizabeth's spirits lifted, and her appetite returned.

Karen hurried to comply, unable to stop smiling.

Hazel stayed close to Joanna's side and said shyly, "Thank you."

The thanks was for Elizabeth's sake.

Joanna gave a slight nod in acknowledgment—not cold, but still distant.

Hazel wasn't discouraged. She kept smiling.

Thoughtfully, she reminded Justin to take Joanna back to her room to rest so she wouldn't tire herself out.

On the way back to the ward, Joanna and Justin walked side by side in silence.

Joanna's eyes darted forward and to the right—anywhere but to the left where Justin was.

Justin's gaze, meanwhile, never left her.

A janitor pushing a cart approached from behind. Justin gently placed his hand on her shoulder and said softly, "Watch out."

Joanna stopped and waited for the janitor to pass. Then she withdrew her gaze.

Justin's hand was still on her shoulder.

Joanna stepped aside, putting distance between them. She looked at him steadily.

"Justin, I need to clarify something. Just because I've chosen to go back doesn't mean I'm accepting remarriage. Do you understand?"

Justin's lips curved slightly, his gaze full of interest. "I should correct you too. We never got divorced. This isn't remarriage."

That wasn't the point.

Joanna pressed her lips together seriously.

She was about to emphasize her meaning when she saw Justin's smile deepen.

His voice was soft and coaxing. "Alright, I understand. You're going back for Grandma's sake. It doesn't mean you're willing to continue being my wife. Until you've fully accepted me, I'll keep my boundaries and not cross the line."