Wedding Night: My Disabled Husband Made Me Cry-Chapter 158: I Must Keep Him

"Who said you could take him to the hospital!" Jett Sterling’s expression was grim. "With that face, anyone can tell he’s my son. Do you want the whole world to know the Sterling Family has a hereditary illness?"

"If I don’t take him to the hospital, how will I know how he’s doing? Am I supposed to just ignore it?" Shirley Wentworth yelled, losing control.

"Easton Rivers, call the doctors."

"Yes, Master Sterling." After making the call, Easton Rivers explained to Shirley Wentworth, "Miss Wentworth, we have a professional medical team that specializes in this very illness. They’ll be here soon to diagnose the young master. He’s asleep now. You should take him to a room."

Shirley Wentworth clutched Elle tightly. "No, I’m not leaving my child’s side for a second!"

Seeing Elle asleep in Shirley Wentworth’s arms, Vivian Quinn’s heart ached, and she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

"What’s wrong?" Jett Sterling, startled, quickly wiped the tears from her face. "Don’t worry too much. He’ll be okay."

Vivian Quinn said through her sobs, "He’s so little. How can he endure that kind of pain?"

Jett Sterling said nothing, but the look in his eyes darkened...

...

The medical team arrived quickly and immediately began running a battery of detailed tests on Elle.

It wasn’t until noon that the lead doctor entered the living room to report to Jett Sterling.

"Master Sterling, I’m very sorry to report that the young master has indeed inherited your condition."

Jett Sterling slowly closed his eyes, concealing the unreadable emotions within.

"What does this illness entail?" Shirley Wentworth asked anxiously. "What will my child have to endure?"

The doctor sighed. "He will have episodes at unpredictable times. When they occur, he’ll suffer an agonizing, splitting headache that’s worse than death. For over twenty years, Master Sterling has relied on medication to suppress the symptoms, but the drugs are not only addictive, they also have severe side effects."

Shirley Wentworth’s knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the sofa. "And then what? Does he... die by thirty?"

The doctor was noncommittal. "To date, no one has been able to break this curse. In fact, the frequency of Master Sterling’s own episodes has been increasing over the past two years."

Shirley Wentworth shook her head in anguish. "No, Elle can’t die. I’m not asking for him to live to be a hundred, but he absolutely cannot die at thirty!"

"Miss Wentworth, we are constantly researching Master Sterling’s condition, but as of now, we have yet to make a breakthrough."

Shirley Wentworth covered her mouth and let out a choked, devastated sob.

Over the course of the afternoon, an incredibly oppressive atmosphere descended upon Sycamore Bay.

Elle slept through the afternoon and didn’t wake until evening. Much of the color had returned to his face, but he was still very weak. "Mommy, what happened to me?"

"You’re okay, Elle." Shirley Wentworth forced a smile and kissed his forehead. "You probably just wore yourself out playing the last few days. You’ll be all better after a good rest."

"Vivian is amazing!" Elle suddenly remembered something. "She stuck me with needles, and then it didn’t hurt anymore." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Vivian Quinn, who was standing nearby, walked over and took his pulse. "His pulse is steady," she said to Shirley Wentworth, "but he’s still a little weak. It’s best to avoid strong medication for a child his age. We should try to build up his strength with nutritional therapy. I’ll go have a word with the kitchen staff."

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome." Vivian Quinn hesitated, then said, "Miss Wentworth, could you come with me for a moment?"

Shirley Wentworth rose and followed her to a corner. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes. I have some medical knowledge, but I don’t have a cure for Jett Sterling and Elle’s condition yet. I have, however, been researching it," Vivian Quinn said honestly. "I can’t claim my skills are superior to the medical team’s, but when an episode occurs, using acupuncture is a safer way to manage it than relying on suppressive drugs."

"So, I have a proposal. Elle’s condition isn’t entirely stable right now. For the sake of his health, I don’t think you should take him away so soon. If he stays here, it would be easier for me to look after him. What do you think?"

"I’ve seen what you can do. For Elle’s sake, I’ll do whatever you say," Shirley Wentworth said urgently. "But Jett will never agree."

A flicker of determination crossed Vivian Quinn’s eyes. "I’ll convince him."

Shirley Wentworth shook her head. "Even if he agrees to let Elle stay here, he’ll make me leave. And I will absolutely never leave my son!"

"I understand how you feel. I’m not so heartless as to separate a mother and child. Let me go talk to Jett first."

"Miss Quinn, I’m putting my trust in you."

...

Vivian Quinn went to the kitchen, made two bowls of noodles, and carried them upstairs, knocking on the door to the study.

The man in the wheelchair had his back to her, staring absently out the floor-to-ceiling window at the night sky.

"You barely ate anything tonight. I made some noodles. Let’s eat a little something."

"I’m not hungry."

"But I haven’t eaten either, and I’m starving," Vivian Quinn said, putting on a playful pout. "Just have a few bites with me, okay?"

Only then did Jett Sterling wheel himself over. "Go ahead and eat."

"Okay." Vivian began to eat, then said, "I think Elle should stay at Sycamore Bay to recover."

Jett Sterling paused, his chopsticks hovering. "Why?"

"He’s just a child. His tolerance for pain is nowhere near yours. If he has an episode, I can ease his suffering."

"And if I refuse?"

"You will." Vivian Quinn looked at him. "Jett, I know you care about Elle. You’re just too stubborn to admit it. Forget for a moment that Shirley Wentworth tricked you into having him. The fact is, you two are father and son, as close as can be. You can lie to others about the pull of blood ties, but you can’t lie to your own heart."

"I couldn’t bear to let Elle leave now. I would be constantly worried, wondering if he was having an episode, if he was able to withstand the pain. I know you couldn’t bear it either. That’s why, Jett, Elle has to stay."

"Won’t it bother you to see him?" Jett Sterling asked bluntly. "He’s the child I had with another woman. He’ll be a wedge between us, don’t you understand?"

"I used to think that way, too. That’s why, even though I’m so fond of him and couldn’t bear to see him go, I didn’t interfere with your decision." Vivian Quinn sniffled. "But Jett, in the instant he collapsed, my heart ached so terribly. It hurt even more than when you have an episode. I even had this insane thought... that as long as he could be safe and healthy, I would gladly trade my own life for his!"

"I don’t know why I would think something like that, but in that moment, nothing else mattered. All I wanted was the chance to take care of him and cure his illness."

"Vivian..." Jett Sterling took her hand. "I know how kind you are, but I don’t want your kindness to end up hurting you."

"This has nothing to do with kindness. There’s a voice inside me telling me that I have to take care of him!"

"You don’t understand. If he stays, it will lead to endless trouble." Jett Sterling closed his eyes. "You’ve seen for yourself that Shirley Wentworth won’t give him up. And according to my investigation, the Wentworth Family has no idea she ever had a child. Once they find out she has a child with me, it will stir up a massive storm."

"No storm is more important than Elle’s life!" Vivian Quinn said with conviction. "Jett, I believe in you. You can handle anything that comes your way. And all I can do is stay by your side, ready to face and shoulder all the unknowns with you!"