Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

Chapter 1274: I am sad

[FLASHBACK]

A year ago...

"Am I..." Grace kept her eyes down, her mouth slightly open as she struggled to form the words. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the person across the desk. "...

dying?" freewebnovel.com

The doctor seated across from her sighed. "Let's not jump to the worst-case scenario-"

"So, the worst-case scenario is me dying?" she interrupted. "I'm dying?"

"It's a good thing we caught the tumor early, Grace," the doctor responded solemnly, clasping his hands together. "There are a few treatment options."

"You mean chemotherapy?"

"Not necessarily," he replied gently, understanding how overwhelming this news must be for her. "We can try immunotherapy first. Unlike chemotherapy..."

The doctor patiently explained everything-her diagnosis, the available treatments, and the nature of the cancer they had detected. Grace had been experiencing pain for months, but had ignored it. Only when she was rushed to the emergency room did she finally learn what was wrong.

Still...

"How long?" she asked once the doctor had finished his explanation. "What's my survival rate?"

"This type of cancer typically has a 61.1 percent five-year survival rate," he said. "Grace, I know this is frightening, but medical advancements have made a huge difference. Researchers are even seeing promising results from a new drug that could cure certain cancers. There are several treatment options that may shrink or even eliminate the tumor without surgery."

Grace didn't respond-not because she didn't want to, but because she had expected bad news, just not this bad.

Cancer?

She was only thirty.

How did this happen? Was it her lifestyle? She couldn't deny that she had been neglecting her health since becoming a scholar student. She had pushed herself relentlessly, studying day and night to maintain her grades, skipping meals, sacrificing sleep. She had wanted to graduate early, find a job, and finally tell her mother to retire from work.

But even after graduating, the struggle continued. Having a license didn't mean instant success; she had spent years handling minor tasks at a law firm, working long hours. If Penny hadn't reached out to her, she knew she would still be stuck dealing with small cases.

now, after all that hard work, life

laughed a hollow, humorless sound. She laughed until the laughter faded

doctor said, his voice steady and

she said, nodding. "Thank

leave, but before she could, the doctor also

turned back. "Next time, bring your mother or someone to accompany

never quite reached

an answer,

what the doctor meant. This kind of news was overwhelming-she needed a strong support system. But she couldn't

mother had already suffered

had endured years of abuse, why she had stayed with a monster who had hurt them both. It had taken even longer to forgive. They had fought to rebuild their lives, and

career had taken off. She could provide for her

feel if she learned her daughter might die

didn't need

driver's seat for hours. Her phone rang repeatedly, but she ignored it. She just

at the rearview mirror and touched

Not even tears? "It's... going

smile formed on her lips, though helplessness gleamed

at herself, convincing herself to believe

terror under the hands of a

let this

Ring... Ring...

glanced

up,

saw Penny's name

answered. "What's

me what's wrong, a requirement every time I

escaped Grace as she leaned back. "I'm

just say I

"You do?"

cheered, unaware of

face. "Anyway...

"Hmm?"

sad," Penny