A confused expression painted Jacob's face as he pondered about his past, present, and future. It was
only then that he realized that his life felt like a swamp. He was stuck there and couldn't get away.
Although he wanted to escape, it was already too late.
Actually, a lot of people have trapped themselves in their lives without any idea of how it happened.
Unfortunately, like dominoes, everything they built would collapse because one pillar became unstable.
Nonetheless, even if everything fell into ruin, we need to stand up again. Otherwise, a lot of people
would be left lying on the ground.
With empty eyes, Jacob stared at the door of the ICU as if the space between was a whole new
universe. He felt like it was a different world outside the door.
Meanwhile, Michael was still unconscious and was lying on the bed. In his dream, he was suffering
from a terrible headache. For so long, he endured unbearable pain. He had no idea when it would end.
By accident, he found out on the news that something happened to the Shi Group. However, he had
nothing to do about it. He spent every day trying to wake up early. Unfortunately, time paced faster
without him waking up.
To prevent anyone from worrying, he kept everything he knew a secret. His body felt worse and dying.
At that moment, he realized that his best time couldn't return.
He never woke up until today. The incandescent lamp made him dizzy. Suddenly, he felt that someone
was with him. Nonetheless, he was having a hard time opening his eyes.
He knew that he would only cause trouble for Jacob. Out of stubbornness, Michael refused to bother
anyone. Bothering other people meant that he was useless and old.
The last thing he wanted was for the people around him to feel sad for him. As such, he didn't want
them to treat him as a weak patient. Therefore, he was always reluctant to go to the hospital or have a
doctor treat him.
He never wanted anyone's sympathy. As such, he never accepted anyone's care for him. People with
dignity should stay away from the sympathy of others.
Additionally, he lived his life as a strong man. There's no way he could endure the pitiful stare of other
people. For him, a proud death was much better than living while being tortured with illness.
No one knew about his situation except for himself. However, even if he wanted to tell his family, he
couldn't make them understand. After all, people only lived once. No one can turn back time.
At the moment, Michael's biggest concern was Jacob's marriage with Sara. The couple had some
problems, which caused his heart to ache. Initially, he wanted to solve everything on his own.
Unfortunately, he messed everything up instead.
Despite his capabilities, Michael had no control over other people's emotions. He remembered an old
saying that said, "Only fate has control over life and death."
Knowing he couldn't see Jacob live a happy life, Michael felt heartbroken. At that moment, he
helplessly struggled on the bed, fighting against his illness through sheer will.
Unfortunately, his efforts were for naught. Despite trying so hard, his eyes remained shut. His eyelids
seemed like it was glued to the bottom of his eyes. It was as if someone had covered his eyes with
their hands. Even if he opened his eyes, all he could see would be darkness.
As he gave up struggling, Michael's consciousness drifted off. He desperately wished to open his eyes
and see Jacob one last time. For some reason, he was sure his son was there with him. Although he
could feel it, his mouth remained sealed.
His mind continued to wander. Nonetheless, his stubbornness took the better of him. Because of his
tenacity, he thought he endured so long. He took the path of self-redemption the moment he gave up
on treatment.
However, he also found the end of his life at the end of redemption.
Meanwhile, three people were waiting outside the ICU for Michael. Anxiety and nervousness seemed
to have frozen time. On the bed, Michael was lying peacefully as if he was in deep slumber.
Nonetheless, everyone realized that it was a mere illusion.
Even if Michael woke up, his body would experience intense pain. Therefore, Jacob was in a dilemma.
If his father didn't wake up, the people around him would be in anguish. However, if he woke up,
Michael would be in so much pain.
As such, no matter the outcome, someone would still suffer. Jacob already prepared himself that it
might happen one day. Unfortunately, he never expected it to happen so soon!
He thought the first operation would already save his father. There would be no need for them to
separate anymore. However, a second operation became necessary. With dull eyes, Jacob stared at
the hospital floor. The scent of disinfectant filled his nose.
Meanwhile, some people were passing by the operating room's door. Only the three of them were left
waiting. None of them spoke a word. They silently struggled deep in their hearts.
Moreover, no one knew what to say. A pitiful expression painted Sara's face as she looked at Jacob.
For two hours, he was sitting like that, motionless.
People might even mistake him for a puppet. As such, his silence made her worry about him. No matter
what had happened, she had never seen him like this before.
It was the first time she had seen him look so fragile. Well, he never showed anyone a weak side of
himself after all. In the past, he always seemed so strong and indomitable in front of Sara.
He wasn't only strong and powerful, but also decisive. It was his inherent talent to make people admire
him. However, at that moment, Sara thought of him as decadent and frantic.
No one could guarantee that he would stay fine in such a situation. As such, they had no idea what he
would do.
Without sleeping, Jacob sat by the door and waited for the whole night. While leaning against Jacob,
Sara wanted to sleep. However, although she closed her eyes, she couldn't fall asleep either.
Meanwhile, James also didn't fall asleep. He was thinking a lot that night. In that aspect, he was more
mature than Jacob. Maybe his experience made him acceptable and tolerant of change.
Deep inside, he thought about Jacob's future. No matter how stubborn Jacob was in the past, Michael
took care of him.
Since Michael was a hard-working person who already created the company, he was quite successful.
As such, Michael had enough resources to support Jacob regarding any decisions. However, Michael's
demise would also mean that several people would start making trouble.
Those people would come out soon enough to count Jacob's offenses, even in the tiniest detail. As
such, James was anxious about it.
For the whole night, he didn't talk much with Jacob. They all just exchanged glances with each other.
James realized he could still understand other people through their gazes.
However, it didn't matter. The important thing for them at that moment was to get through such a
difficult time. Despite everything he'd been through, James thought that today was the most crucial time
for him.
There was no room for error since it's about his brother's life. As such, he pulled a long face. Because
of his previous experiences, he thought nothing could scare him.
However, this situation was enough to terrify him. With furrowed eyebrows, James slightly narrowed his
eyes. Although everything was going on as he predicted, it was still difficult to process.
Awareness and acceptance were two different things. It was also one of the reasons why he was so
anxious. When his girlfriend died, James experienced the lowest point of his life.
That traumatic experience still lingered in his heart. A sigh escaped his breath. Although he forgot a lot
of things, those painful moments somehow flashed across his memories.
He wanted to tell Jacob everything, but the timing seemed inappropriate. Perhaps, it was better to tell
his story. If he didn't tell Jacob, no one might remember him in the future.
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