The remaining three days were not easy for Evelyn.
Her headaches grew more frequent.
It was no longer the dull, intermittent ache from before, but a sharp, piercing pain—like a drill twisting inside her skull—accompanied by sudden dizziness and blurred vision.
She knew this meant the tumor was progressing. Time was running out faster than she had expected.
Fortunately, the visa process went smoothly, and confirmation from Silverpine had already arrived.
She quietly began packing. There wasn't much to take—just a few clothes she wore often, and an old photo album filled with pictures of her and the children from Starlight Home.
She didn't take a single thing Adrian had given her.
There had never been much in this home that truly belonged to her.
Before leaving, Evelyn wanted to visit the orphanage where she had grown up, to say goodbye to Lillian Brooks—the orphanage director.
When she called Lillian, the old woman's warm laughter came through the phone. "Evelyn, Ethan is coming to visit today too. I'll have him pick you up at the gate."
At the mention of Ethan Wells's name, Evelyn hesitated for a moment.
Ethan had grown up with her at Starlight Home, a few years older than her.
He had been adopted when she was ten. Later, she heard he got into a top medical school and went abroad, with a promising future ahead of him.
"Alright, I'll appreciate Ethan's help." She didn't refuse the offer. Forcing herself up, she changed into clean clothes and headed out.
But the moment she stepped out of the gate, the suffocating pain struck again without warning—stronger than ever before.
Her vision went black, and she collapsed, the back of her head slamming hard against the cold asphalt.
Pain exploded through her skull, inside and out. The world spun violently.
She lay on the ground, driven by instinct, using every last bit of strength to inch forward, reaching for her phone lying out of reach.
After a tremendous effort, her fingers finally brushed against the cold edge of the phone.
Her vision had blurred into a haze of red.
Relying on muscle memory, she unlocked the screen with trembling fingers and, through the shaking contact list, tapped the number she knew by heart.
"Adrian…" Her voice was hoarse, barely audible. The pain broke her words apart. "Help me…"
On the other end, Adrian seemed to be responding to someone beside him. It took him a few seconds to realize Evelyn had spoken.
"What did you say? I'm out walking with Vanessa, it's windy here. Say that again."
"I…"
Before she could finish, a surge of thick, metallic warmth flooded her throat, cutting off her words. Blood choked her airway, and through the phone, only her strained, broken breaths could be heard.
"Adrian, is Evelyn upset that I've been taking up so much of your time?"
Vanessa's soft voice came through clearly from the other end.
"If she's unhappy, she could just say it. Why would she do this just to get your attention and make you go back…"
Before she could finish, Vanessa suddenly let out a fragile cry, completely drowning out Evelyn's faint breathing.
"Adrian… my chest feels tight… I can't breathe…"
"Vanessa! Don't be scared, I'm here!"
Adrian's voice changed instantly.
"Doctor! We need a doctor here, now!"
Through the phone came his hurried reassurances, chaotic footsteps, and the urgent voices of nurses.
She tried to speak again, but her throat felt completely sealed. No sound came out.
Warm tears slipped silently from the corners of her eyes.
On the other end, Adrian picked up the phone again, speaking quickly, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Evelyn, I really can't leave right now. Vanessa's condition is bad! Whatever it is, we'll talk when I get back. Be good."
The call ended.
Her consciousness faded with the busy tone. Cold darkness surged in like rising water.
Her body grew colder, the pain slowly dulling.
It seemed she might really die here today.
Evelyn slowly closed her eyes, just as the last thread of awareness began to slip away.
A car screeched to a halt, followed by hurried, frantic footsteps rushing toward her.
A pair of trembling hands lifted her blood-covered face.
"Evelyn! Stay with me!"
