Chapter 541 Before the End

Yunice asked again, “Has Elsie woken up?”

“She’s still unconscious. There’s a chance she won’t wake up again.”

Elsie had always used her body as a bargaining chip for sympathy, time and time again. That kind of self-sacrifice took its toll. This time, her brush with death brought her even closer to the end.

Yunice had imagined plenty of ways to defeat Elsie, but she never thought it would happen this abruptly.

It felt like a story cutting off before the ending.

If Elsie really didn’t make it, then their only witness would be gone–and Oscar’s chances of clearing his name would be even slimmer.

In the middle of the night, Wyatt’s phone began to buzz insistently.

The sound woke Yunice. She opened her eyes and saw him answering the call.

A tense voice came through the line. Wyatt’s expression turned grim as he looked at her.

Yunice instinctively sat up. The way he looked at her gave her a bad feeling.

“Elsie’s in critical condition,” Wyatt said.

At the hospital, the alarms on Elsie’s monitoring machines blared loudly.

Owen was in a frenzy, yelling at doctors to get into Elsie’s room.

Lily’s legs gave out. She collapsed to the floor, too shocked to stand. Peggy tried to help her up but couldn’t.

Half an hour later, the doctors came out looking defeated.

“Mr. Owen,” one of them said gently, “if you have anything to say to her… you should do it now.”

Owen’s eyes widened. He grabbed the attending physician’s coat in a panic. “What do you mean?! My sister’s still alive–of course she can be saved!”

The doctor, used to scenes like this, kept calm and tried to explain. “We’ve said this before. Ms. Elsie has suffered multiple injuries over time. Many of her internal organs have permanent damage. This time, she lost too much blood for too long. Her organs are now starting to decay from the inside.”

“I don’t care!” Owen shouted, tears pouring down his face. “You’re doctors! Your job is to save people! My sister isn’t dead–why would you give up?!”

He shoved the doctor forward, crying out, “Save her!”

But the doctor had reached his limit. His voice turned firm. “Mr. Owen, you are a doctor. If you have a better way, then save her yourself. We’ve done all we can.”

He yanked his coat out of Owen’s grip and left the room with the others, shaking his head and sighing deeply.

Seeing this, Lily completely collapsed, falling flat on the floor. Her lips quivered with sobs, but she couldn’t even form a coherent sentence.

Peggy helped her up, patting her back and whispering for her to stay strong–but inside, she was rejoicing.

She’d been racking her brain trying to figure out how to get rid of Elsie, and now the woman had just gone and died on her own. It was like food falling into her lap, or an umbrella handed to her in a storm.

In the room, the doctors were all gone.

Owen knelt beside Elsie’s bed, gripping her icy hands in his own, trying to warm them back to life.

Elsie hadn’t died yet. She was hooked up to an oxygen mask, her eyes so red they looked like they were bleeding. She was struggling, clearly unwilling to go.

“Ow… Owen… help… please… help me…” Her slurred, gasping voice cut through him like knives.

The sister he’d always treasured was begging him to save her–and he was powerless to do anything.

Organ failure was irreversible.

If it had just been one failing organ, he would have gladly donated his own to save her. But not even that was an option now.

He gently swept the damp strands of hair from her forehead, his voice hoarse. “Elsie… is there something you want to say? Tell me. I’ll do whatever it takes–I’ll make it happen!”

Elsie’s grip tightened around his hand, and she sobbed, “I want to live… I want to live! Do the surgery! Give me medicine! Take me to the hospital, call the doctors-”

She clearly wasn’t thinking straight anymore. She didn’t realize she was already in a hospital, that the doctors had already given up on her.

Owen bit his lip, silently crying. He didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth.

Elsie was frantic. She couldn’t die now–not when things with Yunice weren’t settled. She hadn’t made her comeback yet. She couldn’t go out like this.

But even with the strongest will to live, her body had reached its limit. Her heightened emotions only worsened the strain on her failing organs. A choking sound rattled in her throat, and then a rush of blood welled up and spilled from her mouth.

Elsie clutched Owen’s hand like it was her last lifeline. Her bloodshot eyes locked on him with desperation and rage.

Owen felt like his heart was being torn apart. “Elsie! Elsie! No, no, no!”

Alongside the overwhelming sorrow, a tidal wave of fury surged inside him. He pulled her into his arms, face contorted with grief.

“Elsie, did Tulio do this to you?! Tell me! I’ll avenge you! I’ll tear them to pieces!”

Elsie’s nails dug deep into the back of his hand, drawing blood. The suffocating pain made her realize she was running out of time.

If she didn’t speak now–she never would.