Chapter 1090
Tears welled in his eyes. He gripped the corner of the table, his knuckles white, and his voice broke. “But my heart is in shreds.”
Jared, tall and broad-shouldered, spoke through tears, his pain unmistakable. It was hard to tell whether it was the alcohol or the heartbreak that was pushing him to the edge.
The television kept playing in the background, and the sound seemed to provoke him further. In a burst of anger, he flung his can to the ground. Then he suddenly winced and grabbed his right leg. A large red mark formed at an alarming speed—it looked like his old injury had flared up again.
Chayce had warned Jared about the risk before, telling him to stay away from alcohol and spicy food or he could trigger a relapse. But Jared had ignored it. He needed the alcohol to numb the crushing pain in his chest.
Liza froze at the agony on his face, then her worry took over. She leaned down quickly. “Jared, are you okay?”
When she saw the large red mark spreading across his right leg, dread washed over Liza. She wanted to call for help, but the villagers were already fast asleep. With no other option, she slipped one of Jared’s arms over her shoulders and carefully helped him to his feet.
Jared was taller than Liza, and as his injury worsened, most of his weight sagged against her. Step by slow step, they made their way toward the infirmary. Their footsteps echoed through the empty corridor. When they reached the door, Liza pounded on it, shouting, “Doctor! Doctor!”
The light in the duty room was still on. A middle-aged doctor, likely in his forties, opened the door, looking perplexed at the sight of Liza supporting Jared. Liza guided Jared inside and pleaded, “Please, look at his leg.”
The doctor helped her settle Jared onto a chair and pressed gently around the swollen, reddened area. Jared sucked in a breath and gritted his teeth against the pain.
“Has he injured his right leg before?” the doctor asked.
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Liza nodded, hesitant. “Yes… During the earthquake not long ago, he hurt his right leg, and it took a long time to recover. Doctor, how is it now? Will it get better?”
The doctor paused, then shook his head. “It’s possible the old injury has flared up again, but medical facilities in this remote area are limited. Unfortunately, there isn’t much I can do here. I’ll apply some ointment to ease the pain and bandage it, but if possible, you should take him to a city hospital for proper treatment.”
Liza looked at Jared, worry tightening in her chest. She also knew how difficult it was to access proper medical care in the mountains. Still, she had no choice but to agree.
“Okay… Thank you, doctor,” she said quietly.
In Douburgh, Elena’s voice was gentle and reassuring. “Please don’t worry, Anika. The prenatal examinations are straightforward.”
Anika had been pregnant for over three months. Elena was concerned about her and feared she wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep well in the Brooks family home, so she had moved in to take care of her. Today, Elena accompanied her to the prenatal appointment.
“Mom, I can’t stop feeling worried…” Anika said, rubbing her lower abdomen with her right hand. She had felt uneasy since morning and couldn’t shake the sense that something bad was about to happen. It wasn’t even the prenatal appointment that bothered her.