Her body felt steady, brimming with health.

But that very health sent a chill through Nathalie''s heart.

Because if she was healthy, it meant her fate had shifted-and the one who''d made that happen, Nathan, would now carry her burdens. He''d be the one swallowed by illness and loneliness, in her ce.

Pale and unsettled, Nathalie sat frozen for a long time before she finally found the nerve to open the email.

She scanned the report: "Everything looks normal. Maintain a bnced diet. Keep an eye on cardiovascr health."

In that moment, all the energy drained from her. She slumped into her chair, white as a ghost, unable to gather her thoughts.

Just as she feared-her destiny had changed.

Her hands shook as she grabbed her phone and dialed the clinic. "Hi, I''d like a copy of the medical report for the gentleman who came to the check-up with me."

There was a long pause before a staff member answered, voice cautious. "I''m sorry, but that''s private information. We can''t share it with you."

Nathalie''s tone turned cold and firm. "He''s my family. I need his report. This is a legitimate request. If you refuse, you''ll be hearing from mywyer."

She wasn''t trying to be difficult, but she could sense something was off. They were hiding something on purpose.

Sure enough, the staff member caved, stammering, "There''s an issue with his report. He asked us to keep it confidential. Ashley, we''re just respecting his wishes-please, try to understand."

Nathalietched onto the key words. "Tell me what''s wrong with his report? You can trust me. I won''t get you in trouble."fnca29 Th?s chapter is updated by find[?]ovel/fnca29

"Ashley, please, don''t put me in a tough spot..."

"He''s the person I care about most. I know he''s sick, but I need the details if I''m going to help him. It''s the right thing to do, and you know it. Isn''t that what being a doctor is all about?"

A moment''s hesitation, then finally, the truth: "Ashley, he''s been diagnosed with progeria. He probably doesn''t have many years left."

The phone slipped from Nathalie''s hand, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

Progeria. She remembered how, when she''d gotten sick, her hair had turned white almost overnight her skin dost its glow, wrinkles showing up one after another.  s

Nathalie felt like she could barely breathe.

But right then, she found her reason to keep fighting: she''d do anything to save Morris.

A fierce protectiveness rose up

inside her. She''d fight fate itself, find

a way to heal Morris, give him the

warmth of family

he

and make sure found happiness and peace.  s

Vincent Estate.

As soon as Morris returned to Vincent Estate, the whole ce was thrown into chaos.

Jackson from the fourth branch was the first to kick up a fuss. He marched out with a crowd from the other branches, ready to start something.

"Morris, why did you bring that ex-convict back here?"

"If he''s allowed into the Sharp family, how are any of us supposed to feel safe?

What about our inheritance-our security?"

"I won''t have someone with a criminal record living under this roof. I can''t trust my safety or my assets with him around it''s either him or me-there''s no way I''m sharing this house with him." Jackson''s outrage had everyone on edge.  s

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut.

But Morris didn''t flinch. He just looked up at Jules, calm as ever.

Jules stood there, silent, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.