Chapter 228: The Unfairness

Maggie couldn't articulate why, but her heart inexplicably tightened, adding a touch of nervousness.

"Okay," she said.

She accompanied Samuel to a nearby seat and extended her wrist across the table. Samuel gently took her pulse, his concentration unwavering. Timothy stood nearby, a slight furrow creasing his brow.

With each passing moment, Maggie's heart grew heavier. Samuel's demeanor lacked optimism, signaling a worrisome development.

After some time, Samuel slowly withdrew his hand, deliberating before speaking. Maggie and Timothy refrained from pressing him. Finally, Samuel asked, "Ms. Adam, do you have any particular tastes in food? Have you been prescribed any medication?"

Maggie pondered. "I haven't been on any medication lately. Could you clarify what you mean by 'particular food'?"

"Something that might contain poisonous substances," Samuel elucidated.

Maggie was startled, her spirits plummeting. Poisonous substances in her food? Was he insinuating she'd been poisoned? Perhaps not. It might have been a subtle warning.

"Are you suggesting I'm showing symptoms of poisoning?" Maggie asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Samuel paused. "Based on your pulse, it seems the effects of poisoning have been building in your body for quite some time. It's a serious situation."

Maggie was shocked. I was poisoned?

But in her previous life, she'd never heard… Hold on. Mr. Hudson's remark about prolonged poisoning suggested it wasn't recent, not since her rebirth. Could she have been poisoned in her previous life, too?

Maggie tried to grasp elusive thoughts slipping from her mind like quicksilver.

"Is there a remedy?" Timothy asked, his brow furrowed with worry, his voice resonant.

Samuel contemplated. "It's a formidable predicament. I don't hold out much hope. Ms. Adam," he began, "illnesses arrive swiftly like a crumbling mountain but depart slowly like unspooling silk. Poisoning follows a similar course. If the poisoning had been recent, I'd be roughly eighty percent certain, but considering the situation…"

His statement remained incomplete, but Maggie and Timothy understood.

"How long do I have?" Maggie locked eyes with Samuel, silently pleading for confirmation of her fears.

"Considering the present circumstances, you probably have about five to six years remaining," he replied solemnly.

Maggie's heart sank. So that's it.

This year was her twenty-fourth. In five or six years, she'd be approaching thirty. In her previous life, she'd been precisely thirty when Joseph abducted her, threatening Nathael.

What had previously perplexed her suddenly became clear. Nathael had shielded her from the truth in her previous life, protecting Joseph and the Camerons. As long as she lived, they had a chance of survival. Otherwise, Nathael would have eradicated them. Yet, at thirty, Joseph had abducted her, demanding a ransom.

It was a sudden, drastic turn of events. Looking back, she'd often wondered why Joseph had waited so long, only to act when Nathael's patience seemed to be wearing thin. Why the drastic, risky kidnapping?

Now, if Mr. Hudson was right, it all made sense. Her impending death before thirty meant that, once she was gone, Nathael would show no mercy. Ronald, Joseph, and the others understood this, prompting their risky gamble. A faint glimmer of hope remained. But if they remained passive, their fate would be sealed.

What about Nathael? Does he know?

She reflected on the past year or two, a period during which her hostility towards Nathael had lessened. Aside from occasional mood swings due to her blindness and disfigurement, she'd been able to interact with him calmly. She'd grown accustomed to his company. Yet, she remembered her health declining over those two years, frequent coughing up blood, and frequent hospital visits. Despite Nathael devoting more time to her, his hectic schedule, influenced by the powerful Harrises and familial plots, kept him busy.

After one hospital visit, she awoke and asked, "Is my condition terminal? Am I facing a life-threatening illness?"

He was quiet for a moment, then hugged her, murmuring, "You harbor disdain for me; it's only natural you won't leave without a struggle."

Maggie's face paled. She laughed softly. "Once I'm gone, you'll be free. No one will trouble you again."

She felt like a heavy burden, prone to mood swings. He was the only one who fully accepted her, yet she weighed heavily on him.

Nathael's eyes filled with tears as he held her hand. "But you haven't suffered enough. You'll pull through, live a good life for many years to come."

Maggie chuckled softly. "Then why am I ill? Why have I been feeling unwell recently?"

Nathael's fiery eyes, adorned with long lashes, whispered, "When Sierra orchestrated your abduction, you suffered significant injuries to your heart, lungs, and other organs, leading to complications."

"Is my end near?" she asked, her emotions steady. She rested her head on his shoulder, hesitant to acknowledge the comfort she found in his embrace.

"No, wait a couple more years. A few minor surgeries will be enough," Nathael comforted her gently.

"Alright," she said.

Maggie fell silent, placing her faith in his assurances. However, she recalled the unexplained discomfort over those two years, starting mildly and escalating to intense agony. Despite her blindness and Sierra's trauma, she'd frequently fallen ill, attributing it to pre-existing conditions. Now, it seemed more complex. It was poison.

Maggie lowered her eyes, masking the bitterness within. She'd hoped to change her fate in this life, but destiny had already decided. So, when Master Cameron mentioned a few more years… when he insinuated that even if she were no longer…

A dull ache settled in her heart—deep sorrow and righteous anger brewing. Who did the Camerons think they were? How dare they decide my life and death? How could they exploit me and decide my fate! They are beasts! What right do they have to end my life like this? Is there any fairness in this world?