Chapter 11

When Cassidy arrived at the hospital, she heard Kate's voice from the doorway. "Mr. Zahn, I've read through the will you drafted. There's no problem with it." Bernard Zahn replied, "Alright. I'll need you to sign here." Cassidy pushed the door open. Inside the room were Kate, a middle-aged man in a suit, and a young man about her own age. "A will? What will?" Cassidy looked at Kate, shock and pain evident in her eyes. "Why did you hire a lawyer and wrote a will, Mom?" Why would Kate secretly make a will when she wasn't around? Did she think her cancer couldn't be cured? Cassidy felt a sharp pang in her heart. Kate avoided her gaze. "Cass, I'm doing this for your future interests." Cassidy instantly teared up, her eyes turning red. Choking up, she said, "Mom, you'll be fine. Your cancer can definitely be treated." "Ms. Sherman, we'll take our leave now," Bernard said. Cassidy turned to him and said, "Wait, Mr. Zahn. Can I see the will?" Bernard looked at Kate. She immediately said, "Don't look at it yet, Cass. When I… When the time comes, you'll get to see it." "Why can't I look at it?" Cassidy asked, confused. "You'll understand in the future," Kate replied, giving Bernard a look. Taking his cue, he left with his assistant. "Cass, have you eaten?" Kate asked, changing the subject. Seeing that her mother didn't want to discuss the will further, Cassidy didn't push it. "I have." "You haven't been sleeping well lately, have you? You've got dark circles under your eyes," Kate said with concern. She lifted her thin, bony hand to gently touch Cassidy's eyes. Cassidy closed her eyes, leaning into Kate's touch. "It's fine. They're just dark circles." To cheer her mother up, Cassidy forced a smile and joked, "Don't you think I look like a panda now?" The pain in Kate's eyes deepened, and she forced a smile in return. When she was gone, Cassidy would be all alone. How would she go on with life by then? Cassidy said, "Mom, after I'm done with my finals, I'll take you to Norville for treatment. Zoe can help us get an appointment with an expert at Haven Hospital. The standard of medical care in Norville is better than in Jervia. Let's go there." Kate hesitated. "But the expenses in Norville…" Cassidy squeezed her hand and said gently, "Don't worry about that, Mom. I'll figure it out." They continued talking for a while. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?" Cassidy stood up to open it. When she saw the person outside, her eyes widened slightly. The woman standing outside smiled and said, "You're Cassidy Sherman, right? I'm Quinn Underwood. Isaac has probably mentioned me to you before." Cassidy's face went pale. "Let's talk outside." She turned back to Kate and said, "Mom, my friend wants to talk to me. I'll step out for a moment." However, Quinn shoved Cassidy aside and barged into the room. "No need. Let's talk right here." She then stood by the hospital bed with her arms crossed and chin raised as she looked at Kate arrogantly. "Are you Cassidy's mother?" "Yes. Are you Cass' friend?" Kate asked nicely. Quinn sneered and mocked her bitingly. "Friend? Like I'd want to be friends with a woman like her. Cassidy's a mistress! She stole my boyfriend! Is this how you raised her? How shameless!" Kate hadn't expected such hostility, nor words like those. She couldn't believe that Quinn would accuse Cassidy of stealing her man. Kate's lips trembled with anger, and her eyes reddened instantly. She shouted, "My daughter is not that kind of person! You're lying!" "Get out!" Cassidy panicked when she saw Kate getting worked up. She was afraid the stress would worsen her condition. She hurriedly pushed Quinn toward the door. "Get out! Get out of here!" Quinn sneered again. "Cassidy, if you have any shame left, leave Isaac on your own. I've seen plenty of women like you. You dream of hooking up with a rich heir and marrying into money. Dream on!" "Get out!" Cassidy shoved her harder, her eyes filled with disgust and rage. With a malicious smirk on her face, Quinn said, "Since I was able to find you, that means I have connections in this hospital. I heard your mom has cancer. Looks like you got what you deserved. You became a mistress, and your mom is paying for it. You'd better watch out, your mom—" A loud smack rang out in the room. Cassidy couldn't take it anymore. She had raised her hand and slapped Quinn hard across the face. "Get out!" Cassidy roared with a murderous glare, sounding like she had put all her strength into it. Quinn, who was finally shoved out of the room, started screaming furiously. "How dare you hit me? Who do you think you are!" A nurse rushed over after hearing the commotion. "What's going on? This is a hospital. Please keep your voices down." Quinn started fighting with Cassidy right outside the room. Several nurses hurried over to pull them apart. Cassidy's expression was terrifyingly grim as she said through clenched teeth, "She came here to cause trouble. Please kick her out." Seeing how serious their fight was, two nurses dragged Quinn away. After Quinn was taken away, another nurse said unhappily to Cassidy, "What were you arguing about? This is a hospital. You should keep quiet." Frustrated, Cassidy demanded, "Does your hospital casually leak patient information? She said herself that she has connections here. I don't even know her, yet she found my mom's room and knew what illness my mom has. Is this your hospital's policy?" The nurse frowned and retorted impatiently, "Why are you taking it out on me? I wasn't the one who leaked it. If you have an issue, talk to our director." With that, she turned and left, muttering a complaint under her breath. Cassidy took a few deep breaths to calm herself before turning back into the room. "Cass, who was she? What did she mean by those words?" Kate asked with tears in her eyes, her face pale. Seeing Kate's haggard expression, Cassidy felt her heart breaking. She hurried over and sat by the bed to hug her. Choking back tears, she explained, "Mom, she was talking nonsense. I would never do something so shameful. Don't listen to her." Kate's body had become skin and bones due to her cancer. As Cassidy held Kate, she could feel her bones pressing painfully against her own body. Sorrow and anguish overwhelmed her. She felt as if her heart was being torn apart. Tears slid down Kate's pale, thin face. "Cass, I know you wouldn't do something like that," she sobbed. "I raised you myself. I know what kind of person you are. I just feel so sorry for you. You must have suffered and endured so much." Kate started crying toward the end of her sentence. At those words, the wall Cassidy had built inside herself suddenly collapsed. Her tears poured out uncontrollably as she buried her face in Kate's arms and cried like a child. "I'm sorry you had to suffer in silence," Kate said softly while patting Cassidy's back gently, just like she had when Cassidy was little. Cassidy might look gentle on the outside but she was deeply resilient. Even after being deceived by Isaac and almost assaulted by Shawn, she hadn't said a single word about all her misfortunes in front of Kate. She shouldered everything alone. But at this moment, she was just like a child again. When no one comforted her, she could endure it all without breaking down. But once Kate knew and tried to soothe her, the grievances she had been holding back could no longer be contained. The more she was comforted, the harder she cried.