?<strong>Chapter 339:</strong>


    Rather than kneeling, it was more urate to say Michael fell due to running too quickly.


    As he fell forward, Adrian and Joelle both instinctively reached out to steady him. Grasping their hands, Michael cried, “Lacey is dying!”


    Lacey, one of Adrian’s closest friends and even closer to Michael, had long suffered from a hereditary heart condition—a fact that haunted Michael more than anyone else. Adrian’s face tensed with concern. “What happened?” Joelle supported Michael to his feet. “Michael, please, tell us everything.”


    “There’s no time! You need toe to the hospital with me now!”


    Without hesitation, Joelle and Adrian followed Michael to the car, postponing all other ns.


    Shawn and Katherine were tied up with urgent workmitments, and Joelle had initially nned to pick up her two children from the Finch family, but that n was now on hold.


    In the car, Michael, sitting between Adrian and Joelle, was visibly shaking.


    “She lied to me. She told me her health was improving. But that wasn’t true! If she hadn’t fainted suddenly, I would have never known the truth. The doctor now says she might only have six months left if her condition keeps deteriorating.” Overwhelmed by grief, Michael hid his face, his sobs filling the car.


    Adrian, at a loss for words, simply ced aforting hand on his shoulder.


    “Michael, is there anything at all we can do to help?” Joelle asked.


    Overwhelmed, Michael nced up, his voice breaking. “Yes, Joelle, I…”


    He paused, the spark in his eyes fading momentarily as if the weight of his worries was too much to bear.


    Joelle, interpreting his silence as despair, reassured him gently. “It’s okay. Let’s go see Lacey first.”


    Upon reaching the hospital, they found Lacey surprisingly upbeat,fortably ensconced in her VIP room amidst an array of snacks and games, not appearing sick in the slightest. Joelle and Adrian, seeing her vibrant demeanor, let out simultaneous sighs of relief.


    However, Michael remained tense, barely speaking since their arrival.


    Brushing off Michael’s earlier rm, Lacey chuckled. “Don’t mind Michael’s gloom. I’m fine, really. The doctor even mentioned that with proper rest, I could keep going for several more years!”


    This statement hung heavily in the air as Joelle and Adrian remembered Michael’s dire prognosis of only six months. “Several more years? Is that all you aspire to?” Frustration suddenly boiled over in Michael.


    A heavy silence filled the room. Lacey, choosing to ignore his outburst, continued nonchntly, “Oh, ignore him. He’s just been overly tense these days.”


    Unable to contain his emotions, Michael stormed out of the room after a tense re at Lacey.


    Sharing a concerned look with Joelle, Adrian quickly followed. “Michael, why are you doing this?” Adrian asked.


    Michael’s fist collided with the wall, his frustration palpable.


    “You don’t understand. It’s all just absurd!”


    Adrian waited for Michael’s anger to subside.


    Observing Michael’s red, sleep-deprived eyes, he realized the depth of his friend’s distress.


    “Sorry, I lost my cool,” Michael apologized, his voice hoarse with emotion.


    Adrian understood. Their friendship was strong enough to withstand such moments.


    “Michael, you’ve always been there for Lacey. Now’s not the time to have regrets.”


    Michael remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor, his body shaking slightly from the emotional toll.


    The mere thought of Lacey’s mortality was unbearable.


    Back in Lacey’s room, Joelle was earnestly trying to convince her. “Medical advancements have reduced surgical risks significantly.”


    “No.” Lacey refused, her interest in her surroundings visibly waning as she slumped to the floor, hugging her knees. “What if that slim chance fails? If I die during surgery, what about Michael?”


    Joelle responded with sincerity, “Michael cares deeply for you—it’s clear to everyone. He’d be devastated without you.”


    “I understand,” Lacey confessed to Joelle, her usual cheer dimming as she embraced her vulnerability. “I’m fully aware of how Michael feels about me. But I’m sick, Joelle. How can I promise him a future or happiness when I’m not even sure how long I’ll be here? It’s reckless to give him hope. The thought of dying on that surgery table terrifies me. If I don’t make it, I won’t ever see Michael again. Just being able to wake up each day and see his face is enough for me.”


    Ovee with emotion, she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she wept. The weight of her words hung heavy in the room.


    Outside, the mood was just as heavy.


    Joelle and Adrian, feeling the gravity of the situation,ter joined Michael to speak with Lacey’s doctor.


    The doctor was cautiously optimistic. “Considering Miss Hudson’s condition, the chances of sess for a heart transnt are quite promising. However, such surgeries always carry significant risks. It’s natural for her to feel scared. Ultimately, the decision to proceed must be hers to make.”


    That discussion seemed simple, but Michael knew better. Every attempt to broach the subject of surgery with Lacey ended in an argument or her avoidance.


    After their earlier conversation, Joelle sensed Michael’s desperation more acutely.


    “Michael, isn’t there any way to convince Lacey to consider the surgery?”


    Michael looked up, his face etched with resignation, and spoke hesitantly. “There might be one way. I once made a bet with Lacey…”


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