Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!-Chapter 72

Lixue’s breath caught as the words left Nangong Jiantao’s mouth. Her hands clenched at her sides, trembling with the force of her rising anger.

"No," she said sharply, stepping between him and her mother. "She’s not going anywhere."

Nangong Jiantao’s sharp gaze fell on her, his demeanor unyielding. "You misunderstand, child. This isn’t a discussion. It’s a decision."

"And who gave you the right to make it?" Lixue shot back, her voice rising. "You’ve been absent her entire life. You weren’t there when she needed help, when she sacrificed everything for me. And now, you think you can swoop in and decide what’s best for her? You don’t get to do that!"

His expression remained cold, but there was a slight tightening of his jaw, a crack in his otherwise impenetrable exterior. "I’m her father," he said evenly. "That is reason enough."

"You’re nothing to her," Lixue spat, her fury boiling over. "A father doesn’t abandon his child. A father doesn’t disappear and then show up when it’s convenient for him, pretending to care. If you had any decency, you’d leave her alone and let her live in peace."

"She isn’t living, Lixue," Nangong Jiantao countered, his voice low but forceful. "Look at her. She’s a shadow of the woman she once was. You think this is peace? This... existence?"

Lixue’s throat tightened. She didn’t need him to remind her of her mother’s condition. She saw it every day, the vacant stares, the moments of confusion, the heartbreaking absence of recognition in her eyes. But it wasn’t his place to judge, not after all this time.

"She’s my mother," Lixue said, her voice trembling but resolute. "I’ve been by her side through everything. You don’t get to come here and act like you care, like you know what’s best for her. You’ve forfeited that right."

Nangong Jiantao stepped closer, his towering presence casting a shadow over her. "You speak with the passion of youth," he said coolly. "But passion alone won’t protect her. I can give her the care she needs. I can ensure she spends her remaining days in comfort."

"And what do you think I’ve been doing?" Lixue shot back, her eyes blazing. "She doesn’t need your money or your influence. She needs love, understanding, and someone who truly cares for her. And that’s something you’ll never be able to give her."

For a moment, they stood in a tense standoff, neither willing to back down. Nangong Jiantao’s expression betrayed a flicker of something—regret, perhaps, or frustration—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Stubborn," he muttered, more to himself than to her. "Just like your mother."

Lixue’s heart ached at the comparison, but she didn’t let it show. Instead, she straightened her spine, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination.

"You can leave now," she said, her voice firm. "Whatever guilt or unfinished business brought you here, it doesn’t matter. You’ve done enough damage. Leave us alone."

Nangong Jiantao studied her in silence, his piercing eyes searching hers. Finally, he gave a curt nod to his bodyguards.

"We’ll speak again," he said, his tone both a warning and a promise. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Don’t bother," Lixue replied coldly, watching as he turned and walked away, his entourage following close behind.

As the sound of their footsteps faded, Lixue sank into the chair beside her mother, her hands trembling with residual anger.

"It’s okay, Mama," she whispered, taking her mother’s frail hand in hers. "I won’t let anyone take you away. I promise."

Her mother didn’t respond, her gaze unfocused as she stared out the window. But Lixue held on, her grip firm and protective. No matter who tried to interfere, she would stand her ground.

Lixue sat by her mother’s side, her hands trembling slightly as she brushed a stray lock of hair from Nangong Leili’s forehead. The tension in her chest had not eased since Nangong Jiantao’s abrupt departure. His cold declaration still rang in her ears, and she felt a mix of anger and helplessness clawing at her insides.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke her thoughts. A moment later, the door creaked open, and Dr. Zhao, her mother’s attending physician, entered the room with a clipboard in hand. His expression was grave, his movements deliberate.

Lixue’s heart sank instantly. "Dr. Zhao," she greeted, her voice tight. "Is something wrong?"

The doctor hesitated, glancing between Lixue and her mother. He adjusted his glasses, his features softening with an edge of sympathy. "Miss Lixue, I’m afraid I have some updates regarding Madam Nangong’s condition."

Lixue’s grip on her mother’s hand tightened. She wasn’t sure she could handle more bad news, not after the emotional upheaval she’d just endured. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dr. Zhao sighed, setting the clipboard down on the small table beside the bed. "We’ve been monitoring Madam Nangong closely, and while her physical health has stabilized, her cognitive decline is progressing faster than we anticipated. The Alzheimer’s is advancing into its later stages."

Lixue felt as though the ground beneath her had shifted. Her pulse quickened, and her breath came shallowly. "What does that mean? Is there... is there anything more we can do?"

"At this stage," Dr. Zhao said gently, "our focus is on making her as comfortable as possible. We can adjust her medication to manage the symptoms, but..." He hesitated, the weight of his next words evident. "Her memory loss will continue to worsen. There may come a time when she no longer recognizes anyone, including you."

Lixue stared at her mother, the words cutting deep into her heart. Her mother had already forgotten so much, her once-vivid eyes now clouded with confusion and vacancy. To think that even the faint glimmers of recognition might vanish was unbearable.

"Is there any way to slow it down?" she asked, desperation creeping into her tone.

"We can try," Dr. Zhao replied. "But these measures will only delay the inevitable. I want to be honest with you, Miss Lixue. You should prepare yourself for what’s to come."