Chapter 785

Aaron Truman was in a state of utter shock.

He stared, dumbfounded, at the woman before him who was crying uncontrollably, her face twisted into a terrifying mask of anguish.

Cecilia Evans wept, tears and mucus mingling on her face, none of her usual gentle kindness remaining.

Aaron had never seen this side of Cecilia before.

In his memory, she had always been a calm, composed, and emotionally stable woman. She was kind, gentle with him…

He stared at her, asking in disbelief, "Cecilia, did you ever love me?"

Cecilia's sobs hitched. She looked at him.

A flicker of surprise crossed her face, quickly replaced by scorn. "Aaron, I'm about to die. At a moment like this, you're asking if I loved you?"

Aaron kept his eyes locked on her. "Yes. I'm asking. Did you ever love me? When you pursued me, when we got together… was it because my last name is Truman?"

Cecilia let out a cold laugh. "What else? Did you think you were incredibly handsome? Or filthy rich? Or maybe exceptionally capable? Aaron, if you weren't a Truman, why would I ever have gotten close to you? Ha!"

Aaron staggered back a step, his footing unsteady.

Cecilia glared at him venomously. "I told you, I'm a love child. I've yearned since childhood to return to the Vance family, to become a true heiress! But what about my father? No matter how much he doted on me, he refused to give me a legitimate status. Because his wife gave him a son! A son!"

She cried harder. "A son can carry on the family line. A daughter isn't important. He thought throwing a little money at me would be enough… But why? How am I any less than Julian Evans? Just because I'm a girl and he's a son, is that how he treats me?"

She covered her face with her hands. "So, I swore from a young age. I would make something of myself. I would make my father see my worth. I would make the Vance family beg to acknowledge me! Do you know how happy he was when I told him I was dating a Truman? He said he would openly welcome me home. He said I could marry as a Vance daughter! But what happened?"

She lifted her head, her gaze turning viciously toward Alexander Vance. "Because my uncle suddenly returned to the country and took over Vance Group. The pressure on my father suddenly increased. The Truman family's status suddenly didn't seem good enough anymore! And you… my husband, what did you do for me then?"

Cecilia turned her furious eyes back to Aaron. "I asked you to come home with me just once. Just once, to meet my parents. But you said the Truman family keeps a low profile, doesn't get involved in outside affairs. Your brother! He wouldn't let you come! Ha! Meeting your girlfriend's parents, and you had to listen to your brother. Are you not weaned yet?!"

Aaron choked, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to explain, but no words came out. "I… I…"

Sebastian Truman spoke for him. "The Truman family rules are clear. If Aaron used the family's influence, he would be cast out. The Truman family's position is unique. We do not take sides in any external conflicts."

"Bullshit 'unique position'! You're just hypocrites pretending to be above it all!" Cecilia spat the words, her expression crude and vulgar.

That coarse demeanor left Aaron even more stunned.

Sebastian frowned as well.

Mia Truman couldn't hold back. "Who are you calling hypocrites? If my father interfered in any domestic family business, who could stand against him? With great power comes great responsibility. Even I, his own daughter, have never used the Truman family's influence to act recklessly outside. Why should my brother help you suppress the Vance family?"

Cecilia sneered. "Exactly! So what use is he? He's useless to me! What does love have to do with it? Could love help me go home?"

Aaron's jaw tightened. "Cecilia, I never imagined you thought this way…"

"Of course you didn't. You lost your parents, but you're a Truman. Who would dare bully you? All these years, you've probably never even tasted what it's like to be looked down upon, have you? Aaron, living such a smooth, privileged life, how could you possibly understand me?"

Cecilia covered her face again, weeping. "I fought my whole life. I resented my whole life. And in the end, I end up like this. Colon cancer… Why didn't you tell me I had colon cancer?"

Aaron faltered. "I just wanted you to live a little longer. The doctor said if you knew, you might… go quickly…"

Cecilia was taken aback.

She gave a bitter smile. "But if you had told me, I would have cherished these last days… Because at this moment, I realize, in the face of death, all that status, all that position, all that fame and fortune… it's all empty!"

She took a step forward, grabbing Aaron's arm. "Aaron, I don't want to die. Can you save me?"

Aaron was startled. "Me? How can I save you?"

Cecilia looked toward Natalie Castillo. "She has medicine that can keep me alive. Then take me abroad for treatment. Please? Even if it's just one more month. I want to experience life without all these burdens! Please, Aaron…"

Following her gesture, Aaron looked at Natalie Castillo. His lips moved. "Can you give me the medicine?"

Natalie shook her head.

Cecilia immediately rushed toward her. "Why? Why won't you give it to us? I told the truth. I revealed the darkest parts of my heart. Why won't you save me?"

Natalie sighed.

Cecilia immediately looked at Evelyn Ross. "Is it her? She won't let you give it? Then I'll beg her!"

Cecilia charged straight to Evelyn Ross and fell to her knees with a thud. "Aunt Evelyn, Uncle Alexander, I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please save me. I don't want to die. I really don't want to die… I still want to live. I want to live…"

Seeing this, Aaron slowly walked over as well. He bowed deeply to Evelyn. "Mr. Vance, Mrs. Vance… I beg you… give her the medicine! I… I will spend the rest of my life repaying you!"

Evelyn looked at Cecilia kneeling before her, her expression complex.

She was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Cecilia, you still don't understand, do you? It's not that I won't give you the medicine. It's that the medicine can't save you."

Cecilia's head jerked up, her eyes filled with despair. "What do you mean?"

Evelyn sighed. "Natalie's medicine can only temporarily relieve symptoms. It can't cure your disease. Your colon cancer is terminal. Even with the best medicine, it might only extend your life by a few months. And…"

She paused, looking at Aaron. "Aaron, are you really willing to give up everything for her?"

Aaron nodded without hesitation. "I am! If it can save her, I'll do anything!"

Evelyn shook her head. "But have you considered, is she really worth it? You heard everything she just said. She never loved you. She was just using you. A woman like that, do you still want to save her?"

Aaron froze.

He looked at Cecilia, a struggle flashing in his eyes.

Seeing this, Cecilia immediately grabbed the hem of his trousers. "Aaron, I know I was wrong! I really know! I was too selfish before. I only thought of myself. I never considered your feelings. But now, I truly regret it! I want to live. I want to live a good life with you. Even if it's only a few months, I'm willing!"

Aaron's heart softened.

He looked at Evelyn, his eyes pleading. "Mrs. Vance, please…"

Evelyn sighed, looking at Natalie. "Give her the medicine."

Natalie nodded, taking a small vial from her bag and handing it to Cecilia.

Cecilia clutched it like a treasure, thanking them profusely. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Aaron helped her up, his eyes full of heartache. "Cecilia, let's go home."

Cecilia nodded, leaning into Aaron's embrace. But a cold, almost imperceptible glint flashed in her eyes.

Evelyn watched their retreating figures, her brow slightly furrowed.

Alexander Vance walked to her side, asking quietly, "What's wrong?"

Evelyn shook her head. "Nothing. It's just… I feel like this might not be over."

Alexander took her hand. "Don't overthink it. We did what we could."

Evelyn nodded, but the unease in her heart grew stronger.

She had a feeling Cecilia wouldn't give up so easily.

Sure enough, a few days later, Aaron suddenly came to their door, his face pale, his eyes full of panic.

"Mrs. Vance, Cecilia… she's gone!"

Evelyn's heart sank. "What happened?"

Aaron was frantic. "I don't know! She was fine yesterday. This morning when I woke up, she was gone! She only left a letter…"

Trembling, he pulled a letter from his pocket and handed it to Evelyn.

Evelyn took it, quickly scanning the contents. Her face changed immediately.

The letter contained only a few short lines:

"Aaron, I'm sorry. I lied to you. I never had colon cancer. I just wanted to use you to get Natalie's medicine. Now that I have it, I'm going to save the person who really needs it. Goodbye. Don't look for me."

Evelyn clenched the letter, a cold glint in her eyes.

Cecilia, you really haven't changed at all.

This time, I won't let you get away.