Chapter 546

Jonathan remained silent for a tense moment after Hayden’s words. Finally, he said, “I don’t want to hear you talk about this. Like I’ve always said, Sanford will always be a Thomas, never a Lynn. Not in this lifetime.

“If Sanford ever takes the Lynn name, then I, Jonathan, will renounce it myself.”

Hayden scolded, “You brat. I’ve already agreed to your terms. Do you think I’d go back on my word now? Fine, let Sanford keep his mother’s surname. We’ll just keep calling him that.”

Jonathan asked indifferently, “When are you returning to Nareigh?”

Hayden replied, “Werner already booked my flight ticket. Don’t bother with it.”

Jonathan gave a slight nod and left the villa. As he was leaving, he reminded Hayden to lock the door before he departed.

Hayden glared at Jonathan and asked, “You little rascal, when are you heading back?”

Jonathan replied coldly, “That’s none of your concern.” He no longer showed Hayden the same respect as before.

Liora regained consciousness to find Sanford keeping vigil at her bedside. She was momentarily dazed. Her throat parched, she managed to croak out, “Sanford.”

Sanford stared at Liora with bloodshot eyes. He asked, “Mom, did you know all along that you…?” His throat was painfully dry, the words catching in his throat.

After a long, agonizing pause, he finally managed to choke out, “You have lung cancer.”

“Sanford,” Liora choked out, her voice thick with emotion.

Seeing Liora’s serene composure, Sanford broke down instantly. He said, “Mom, how could you keep something this big from me? Why do you always keep everything from me?”

Liora shook her head wordlessly, tears streaming down her face like pearls from a broken string.

Sanford demanded, “Say something, Mom. Why do you keep everything from me? Am I not even your son? Am I not family to you? What the hell do I even mean to you?”

“I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault, Sanford,” Liora choked out, tears streaming down her face.

Sanford’s voice choked with emotion. He sat on the edge of Liora’s bed, burying his face in her hands, his shoulders shaking even more violently at that moment.

He said, “Mom, it’s all my fault. I never should’ve gone looking for Dad, never should’ve gone back to Nareigh. I shouldn’t have disobeyed you and provoked Jonathan and the others.

“I shouldn’t have made your condition worse because of me. Mom, this is all on me.” With that, he slapped himself hard across the face. He cried out!

“Sanford, stop that,” Liora pleaded, her heart aching as she clasped his hand. She said, “I’ve known for a long time that my time is limited. My illness isn’t your fault. It was wrong of me to hide it from you.

“Please, don’t blame yourself. I just couldn’t bear to see you suffering like this; that’s why I kept it from you.”

Sanford clung to Liora desperately, his arms trembling. He said, “Mom, please, I’m begging you, don’t leave me. You’re the only family I have left in this world. If you’re gone, I’ll be completely orphaned.

“What’s the point of living alone in this world?”

Liora gently patted his shoulder and said, “My dear boy, just find yourself a wife, have a child, and build a little family of your own.”

But Sanford wasn’t one to treat such a serious commitment as child’s play. He did consider marrying Teresa just to get back at Jonathan at first, but his promise was real.

He thought, ‘If I had married a woman, I would’ve kept my word, treated my wife well, and been a proper husband. Whoever my wife might be, I’d always hoped Mom could see my happiness. But now…‘

“Sanford, actually,” Liora’s voice wavered, on the verge of blurting out a truth she could no longer contain.