Father's Unfulfilled Last Wish

Nora's face was flushed with anger, the foundation unable to hide it.

Ethan, still holding his head, looked on with eyes filled with humiliation and restraint.

Seeing his expression, Nora turned back to me and snapped, "Maxwell, do you not understand what I'm saying?"

My gaze grew colder, blood continuing to drip down my face.

Noticing something off in my expression, Nora's eyes flickered with a hint of panic, though she still scrutinized me with a furrowed brow and narrowed eyes.

Ethan, still playing the weakling, tried to mediate. “Please don't fight because of me. I'm really fine.”

"I'm sorry, Maxwell. I should've stayed away. I thought coming back with Nora to explain everything would help…"

He slowly approached me.

Bending down and reaching out to help me up, he had just touched my arm when I forcefully pushed him away.

The force sent him crashing into the cabinet behind him, eliciting a pained grunt.

Nora immediately rushed to him, checking his hand, making sure nothing was seriously wrong before turning her furious gaze back to me.

"Maxwell, don't be ungrateful!"

"Do you even know what Ethan sacrificed for your fake wedding? If you keep acting up, I'll expose your lies right in front of your father at the wedding!"

My wedding?

I couldn't help but laugh, a cold, bitter sound escaping my lips.

"What did he sacrifice? Does he want to be the groom instead of me? That's truly noble."

I clapped for Ethan, blood trickling down from the corner of my mouth, tracing the line of my mocking smile.

"Nora, another wedding? Don't you think that's ridiculous? It won't be necessary—none of it will be necessary."

My voice was colder than it had ever been.

She stared at me, her eyes full of hatred as if she wanted to bore a hole through my face.

She still thought I was just upset about her not coming home last night.

Gritting her teeth, she spoke slowly, each word laced with venom.

"Maxwell, my patience is running out. Think carefully before you speak."

"Don't forget—you begged for this! There won't be another chance like this again!"

"You wanted to marry me because it was your father's dying wish. Or has that changed now? Who are you trying to fool—me or him?"

I looked at her, my eyes filled with scorn. "When did you ever have patience with me? I've thought it over. Thank you for your generosity, but neither my father nor I can accept it. Save the wedding for someone who needs it."

Then I turned and gave Ethan a cold smile.

Hearing the sarcasm in my voice, Nora squinted her eyes and asked.

"Can't accept it? Or are you afraid your father's terminal illness is just a sham?"

"I know missing the wedding was wrong, and Ethan has already scheduled an appointment with the top specialist for your father. Why are you suddenly calling off the wedding? What kind of illness is so afraid of being exposed?"

In an instant, all the blood in my body coagulated, the veins on my neck bulged, and I clenched my fist with all my strength, my knuckles trembling.

"Nora, shut up! What right do you have to even mention my father's dying wish?"

"My father's wish was for me to be happy, not to go through with this sham of a wedding with you!"

"What do you think you are? You think my father should have to use his life to put on a show for you? What a joke! I don't need your fake hospital consultation, and neither does my father! I don't need your false kindness, you pair of hypocrites!"

"Starting today, we have nothing to do with each other! We won't ever need to meet again!"

With every word I spoke, Nora's face grew darker.

Until it was as black as coal.

She spat out her words through clenched teeth.

"Maxwell, I'm warning you—think carefully before you speak! Your father's got a terminal illness, but have you inherited dementia? Or has your brain just taken a vacation?"

Watching her sharp tongue lash out, I felt the love I once had for her disintegrate into nothing but deep-seated hatred.

Nora picked up her phone and called the wedding planning company.

"Cancel the reservation for the wedding venue that I rebooked yesterday. And from now on, don't let any man named Maxwell hold any event at your location! Whether it's a wedding or a funeral, refuse it!"

"If you don't, you can kiss your business goodbye—shut it down and go back to farming!"

She hung up and immediately dialed another number.

"Cancel the specialist consultation I booked last night for Maxwell."

There was a pause on the other end before the voice on the line responded.

"I'm sorry, but Maxwell's consultation was canceled yesterday. The patient has already passed away."