Chapter 199: There Aren’t Any Other Serious Problems With My Body, Right?

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: There Aren’t Any Other Serious Problems With My Body, Right?

"No..." Bella Thorne shook her head gently. "He explained it to me, saying Miss Hughes was feeling ill and had specifically asked him for help. He was just looking after her a little more because of their past relationship."

Hearing this, Vesper Grayson’s brow furrowed. Her mind instantly flashed to the cheesy soap operas she’d seen recently; it was such a familiar trope.

’It really proves the saying: art imitates life!’

"She doesn’t have any family to turn to? She had to ask Mr. Forrester for help?"

Bella Thorne sighed softly, her tone full of empathy. "She has no close relatives left. The grandfather who doted on her most passed away six months ago. Her second uncle’s family not only seized the assets and company her grandfather left for her, but they’re also determined to disown her."

This was what Tristan Forrester had told her.

As an orphan herself, Bella Thorne understood all too well what it felt like to have no one to turn to, to be completely helpless. If her parents hadn’t entrusted her to Patriarch Forrester before they died, she would probably still be struggling to make a living.

Vesper was inwardly surprised. She hadn’t expected Justine Hughes to have such a tragic backstory; it was truly pitiable. But it was a classic case of when it rains, it pours. Now she had cancer, too.

"When Tristan Forrester decided to help her, did he ask for your opinion beforehand?"

"No..." The disappointment in Bella Thorne’s eyes grew deeper. "He only mentioned it to me casually afterward. Even this time, when he brought Justine Hughes to White Horse Estate, Grandpa and I were the last to know."

"Patriarch Forrester didn’t object at all?"

"This is President Hawthorne’s territory. Even if Grandpa wanted to stop it, he couldn’t interfere. Besides, Justine Hughes is sick right now. Grandpa wouldn’t do something like kick her out in front of everyone."

"But what do you actually feel about all this?"

Bella Thorne shook her head blankly, her voice as light as a falling feather.

"I don’t know... I can’t tell if I should believe him or not."

"If you don’t have an answer, just let things take their course. Take it one step at a time, and time will give you the best answer." Vesper patted her shoulder gently. "But if you’ve never considered separating from Tristan Forrester, then as the rightful Mrs. Forrester, you need to learn to defend your position and assert your identity. If you just keep backing down, ignoring your own feelings and the wrongs you’ve suffered, why would you expect anyone else to care?"

A relationship could never be perfected by constantly compromising and swallowing one’s grievances. One had to learn to voice displeasure, dare to refuse, and protect their own boundaries.

"I understand. Thank you, Vesper." Bella Thorne pressed her lips together and turned as if to head for the room. "I’m going to check on Grandpa."

But Vesper reached out and stopped her, laughing in exasperation. "Grandpa Forrester just had his acupuncture and is resting now. Don’t go in and disturb him."

’I just spent all that time giving her heartfelt advice, and this girl didn’t take any of it to heart,’ she thought, both amused and annoyed.

As Bella Thorne hesitated, Vesper pulled her downstairs without taking no for an answer.

Hearing the footsteps, the small group downstairs stopped their chatter and looked up.

Vesper casually placed her medical kit on the coffee table and spoke with a smile, "What were you all talking about? It sounded so lively."

"Just reminiscing about the old days in New York." Jared Hawthorne reached out, pulled her down to sit, and handed her a cup of tea. Vesper took it and had a sip. When she looked up, she saw Bella Thorne still rooted to the spot, like a lifeless statue.

"Bonnie, have a seat."

Bella Thorne snapped back to reality, secretly glanced at Justine Hughes sitting primly beside Tristan Forrester, and ultimately walked silently to a lone armchair on the side and sat down.

Watching this, Vesper sighed inwardly with frustration.

"Miss Grayson, how is my grandfather’s leg condition recovering?"

Vesper smiled lightly. "It’s recovering very well, thanks in large part to Bonnie diligently soaking and massaging the Patriarch’s feet every day. Grandpa Forrester is truly blessed to have such a thoughtful and attentive granddaughter-in-law."

Tristan Forrester looked over at Bella Thorne, his voice softening a little.

"It’s been hard on you lately."

Bella Thorne shook her head gently. "It’s what I should be doing."

’Grandpa Forrester had shown her immense kindness; this small effort was nothing worth mentioning.’

"You men are always all talk. Don’t you know how to show your appreciation with actions?" Vesper teased with a broad smile. "My wedding with Jared is in ten days. Mr. Forrester, when do you plan on giving Bonnie the wedding of the century she deserves?"

At her words, Bella Thorne’s head snapped up to look at Tristan Forrester, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Justine Hughes also looked over, her fingers, resting on her lap, quietly curling.

Jared Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, waiting with great interest for what would come next.

Tristan Forrester’s eyes darkened slightly, and he said slowly, "We’ll talk about it after Grandpa’s leg has completely healed."

Bella Thorne slowly lowered her gaze, hiding the wave of disappointment that surged in her eyes.

’Of course. He never really planned on giving me a wedding.’

’Perhaps in his heart, I was never the person he willingly wanted to marry. Even a proper wedding had become an unattainable dream.’

Justine Hughes, sitting to the side, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

’She had heard long ago that Tyson and Bella Thorne had only registered their marriage back then, without even holding a formal wedding. Very few people in Portclyde’s social circles even knew they were married.’

’It seemed that, deep down, he was ultimately unhappy with the marriage the Patriarch had arranged.’

Vesper secretly clenched her jaw and couldn’t help but curse inwardly. ’How can a man be so blatantly evasive?’

’What does he mean, "talk about it after Grandpa Forrester is healed"? A wedding is between two people, yet he insists on using an old man as an excuse.’

’She hated this kind of vague, ambiguous attitude—stringing people along, making them overthink things and get their hopes up for no reason.’

’She’d had a decent impression of Tristan Forrester before, but now she found him to be a major turn-off.’

Jared Hawthorne seemed to sense her displeasure. He quietly took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze in silent comfort.

Vesper slowly exhaled.

’Pregnancy really does make you extra sensitive. To think I’d get worked up over someone else’s business.’

’Out of sight, out of mind.’

She turned to her side and said softly to Jared Hawthorne, "I’m a little tired. I’d like to head back."

Jared immediately helped her up and nodded to the others.

"We’ll be leaving first. Call us if you need anything."

Tristan Forrester nodded in acknowledgment. His gaze fell on Vesper, and he said, "Miss Grayson, I’d like to ask you to examine Justine’s condition."

’He knew that Chinese medicine was profound and complex, and Vesper Grayson’s medical skills were phenomenal. Perhaps she had a way to treat the illness without surgery, so Justine wouldn’t have to suffer through an operation.’

Justine Hughes quickly seized the opportunity, her voice soft and gentle. "Miss Grayson, I’m sorry to trouble you."

’To be fair, this was the first time she and Justine Hughes had met. Setting aside the entanglements of others, they had no personal grievance. She shouldn’t be prejudiced before she understood the full situation. Besides, the woman was Elias’s friend. Refusing in front of everyone would just make the situation awkward.’

Vesper pondered for a moment before saying lightly, "Let’s go upstairs to a room."

「In the bedroom」

Vesper gestured for Justine Hughes to extend her arm for a pulse reading.

Her fingertips rested on the wrist, reading the pulse. It was deep, thin, and weak—a clear sign of a deficiency in both Qi and Yin. Vesper could tell it stemmed from a weakened spleen and stomach, their functions impaired. This was the result of excessive worry and emotional distress. Prolonged overthinking had harmed the spleen, and repressed feelings had drained her vital energy.

"Miss Grayson, I... Is there anything else seriously wrong with me?" Justine Hughes asked, her heart pounding with anxiety.

’She already had breast cancer; she really couldn’t bear to have another illness on top of it.’