Chapter 20

Lisette decided to visit the hospital only because Frederick had been nice to her. While lying on his bed in the ward, Jasper was nothing but skin and bones, looking pathetic. Lisette found it hard to associate the invalid with the Jasper she once knew. Frederick looked tired. "He's diagnosed with liver failure. The doctor said that he won't live past this month." Lisette cast her gaze down, saying nothing. She'd heard the results of Charles' investigation on the way here. After she left, Jasper changed drastically. He began damaging his body from night to day, drinking alcohol to the point of gastrointestinal bleeding. After narrowly escaping the clutches of death, the first thing he did was to continue drinking. With that, the utter collapse of his body was a matter of course. Jasper stared vacantly outside the window, his lips pursed in a straight line. He remained silent. When he was diagnosed with liver failure, Lisette was the first person she thought about. He had ma