Chapter 163

"Joann, what do you plan to do if he doesn't show up?" Jaydon asked worriedly.

Joanna shook her head, dazed. "I don't know. I'm a mess!"

Jaydon frowned, his voice filled with pity. "It's a shame our blood types don't match Lilia's."

"If my bone marrow matches Lilia's, I'll donate it to save her, for sure!"

"Stop, Jay! Don't say that!" Joanna choked back a sob. She was distraught.

"Let's wait a little longer! A miracle might happen!"

"I hope so!"

Joanna continued calling Bruce. If he didn't want to donate, he should at least tell her in person, not disappear like that. If he'd called, she could at least give up hope. But the uncertainty, the constant wavering between hope and despair, was driving her crazy!

Doo! Doo! Doo!

Joanna kept calling Bruce, but none of her calls went through.

Seeing this, Jaydon said furiously, "We have so little time; we can't find another match now!"

"Bruce is a jerk! I didn't expect him to be so heartless. How can he not save his own child?"

Joanna had given up hope. Her phone battery died. "Jay, please stop. I'm a mess. I need space."

Through the glass window, Joanna saw Lilia lying weakly on the bed, her head shaved. She looked like a soulless doll. Joanna's tears had dried. She felt helpless, unable to do anything. Besides Bruce, she saw no other way to save her daughter.

Joanna went to the window and prayed to the starry night sky. "If possible, I'll trade my life for hers. Please, God, let my daughter live!"

"Don't worry, Joann. Miracles happen."

In the blink of an eye, it was Sunday night. Lilia's surgery was tomorrow, but Bruce was still nowhere to be seen. The doctor was urging Joanna, but she couldn't reach Bruce.

At the clinic, the doctor said gravely, "If you can't contact the donor, we'll have to cancel the surgery."

Joanna sat opposite him, pale and haggard. "Doctor, is there another way? Please, save my daughter! Please!" She grabbed his hand, her eyes filled with despair.

The doctor pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry, there's no other way. Bone marrow transplantation is the only option. You need to contact the father; we can't proceed without him."

Joanna felt desperate walking out of the clinic. "You're so heartless, Bruce. Are you going to abandon your daughter?"

After muttering this, she suddenly burst into laughter. Why would she expect anything from Bruce? She was naive. He'd always been ruthless and domineering, leaving no room for mercy. Losing a sick daughter wouldn't be a loss for him; there were plenty of women who'd bear children for him. She'd overestimated him.

In the ward, Joanna looked at Lilia, her face filled with sorrow.

Lilia bit her lip, looking at Joanna. "Mommy, doesn't Daddy want me anymore?" Joanna forced a smile. "Lilia, Mommy will always be here."

Lilia blinked. "Mommy, your eyes are swollen. Were you crying?"

"No, I wasn't." But before she finished, tears streamed down her face. Lilia reached out to wipe them away. "Mommy, is my illness incurable?"

"No, darling. You'll be fine."

"Where's Daddy? I haven't seen him for days. Doesn't he want to save me?"

Joanna's heart ached. She didn't know how to explain to her child. She didn't want Lilia to suffer the pain of abandonment before she died.

"No, of course not. Daddy's very busy. He'll be back as soon as he can."

"Really?" Lilia's eyes lit up, and she smiled.

Lilia wasn't a fool. She knew why her father was gone. He probably didn't want her anymore. But she didn't dare cry; she didn't want to upset her mother.

Joanna smiled wryly. "Of course! Daddy and Mommy love you very much!"

"I love Mommy, Daddy, Davian, and Irvin too!"

Joanna wiped her tears. "Darling, is there anything you want to do?"

Lilia thought for a moment. "I want to eat chocolate!"

"Okay, Mommy will buy you lots of chocolate."

"Mommy, didn't you say I can't eat chocolate because I'm sick?"

"I lied. You can have as much as you like before surgery." Joanna smiled, swallowing her tears.

Bruce was missing. He was probably scared and unwilling to donate. If he refused, Lilia's life was at stake. Joanna would fulfill her daughter's wishes before she died.

"What else do you want, Lilia?"

"A family photo with Daddy, Mommy, Davian, and Irvin!"

"Why?"

"I saw it on TV!"

"Mommy, where are Davian and Irvin?"

Joanna's heart broke.

Jaydon stepped in. "Lilia, how about I take a photo with you?"

"Mr. Grimm!" Lilia smiled sweetly at him. She liked Mr. Grimm, but she loved her Daddy more. Even though he was fierce and she'd only seen him a few times, she loved him. With him, her family felt complete. She'd wanted him to be her father since she first saw him. Now that wish was fulfilled, but…

Joanna turned away, bursting into tears. She was heartbroken. Bruce Everett had let her daughter down.

"Don't be sad, Joann," Jaydon comforted her, not knowing what else to say.

"Jay…" Joanna cried, leaning on his shoulder.

"Please don't cry, Mommy! I want to cry too!"

"Mommy isn't crying!"

"I love you, Lilia. Mommy will always love you."

Joanna hugged Lilia tightly. Lilia's illness had been hard on Joanna, but it had also made her stronger. Heaven was cruel to Lilia; she was so young to suffer so much.

"Joann!" Jaydon's eyes welled up.

Outside the ward, Bruce rushed back from Melta. Margaret had tried to stop him, even threatening him, but his daughter was in danger. As a father, he couldn't abandon her. As soon as Margaret was stable, he took a thirteen-hour flight back. He knew Joanna must have been anxious while he was unreachable, but Margaret's condition had been critical. He hadn't had time to call.