Chapter 161
161
“Kelly… Kelly… she didn’t die…”
Hearing Xavian say this, Ca
was utterly shocked.
“Xavian, are you telling the truth? My mother… she’s not dead?”
If this was true, it would explain the swap of the ashes.
“Yes, she didn’t die…” Xavian confirmed.
“No wonder I found out the ashes had been swapped. I was looking for her remains, but I never expected she was still alive. Do you know where she is
now?”
Caitlin asked anxiously.
Xavian’s condition had worsened. After speaking a few words, he began to gasp for breath, coughing violently.
“Xavian… Xavian…”
Caitlin noticed that his condition seemed to be deteriorating rapidly. He looked extremely uncomfortable, his body slumped over, gasping as if someone had a grip on his throat.
Something was wrong. Caitlin quickly pressed the bedbell and shouted toward the door. “Sebastian! Sebastian…”
Sebastian rushed in and saw Xavian struggling on the bed.
“What happened?”
“He seems to be having an episode! Call a doctor quickly!” Caitlin shouted..
Sebastian immediately ordered his bodyguards, “Quick, get the doctor!”
The bodyguards ran off in a hurry.
Seeing Xavian in such pain, Caitlin could only plead, “Xavian! Hang in there…”
She had so many questions she still hadn’t asked him. She couldn’t afford to lose him now!
Xavian was thrashing around wildly, as if suffering from seizures, his mind apparently clouded.
Sebastian helped hold him down, trying to keep his hands still, while Caitlin’s concern deepened. The symptoms Xavian was showing didn’t seem to match the usual signs of gastric cancer . It looked more like some other organ was failing.
A young man suddenly ran into the room, ignoring everything when he saw Xavian in distress.
“Dad… Dad…”
Caitlin froze as she recognized him. This was the same man who had secretly sent her blue jacaranda flowers.
So, he was Xavian’s son?
Another set of footsteps echoed outside the room, and the medical staff hurried in. Everyone stepped aside to let the doctors through .
After the doctors quickly assessed Xavian’s condition, they immediately instructed, “Quick, get him to the emergency room!”
They rushed Xavian out, and Caitlin and Sebastian followed closely behind.
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After arriving at the emergency room, Blake, Xavian’s son, was there, looking grief–stricken.
Caitlin walked up to him and asked, “Are you Xavian’s son?”
Blake nodded, his face filled with sadness. “Yes, I’m Blake.”
“I see… you were the one who sent my mother and me the blue jacaranda flowers, right?”
“Yes, it was me.”
Blake was a slim, handsome young man, but his sorrowful demeanor now made him appear even younger.
Caitlin had learned that Xavian and Blake had been living under difficult circumstances for years. Xavian had been dismissed from New York University and had fallen from grace, facing hardships that made his life even more challenging. He had been raising Blake alone while battling cancer.
The conversation didn’t last long before the door to the emergency room opened, and the doctor emerged.
Caitlin, Blake, and Sebastian all hurried toward him.
“Doctor! How is my father?”
The doctor shook his head. “I’m sorry. We’ve done everything we can. Please prepare for the worst.”
Blake froze for a moment, his eyes reddening. He couldn’t believe that his father had left him so suddenly!
Caitlin felt a pang of sorrow. The sadness in the air was almost unbearable. She had only just found Xavian, and now, just after meeting him, he was gone.
How heartbreaking!
“Blake, my condolences…” Sebastian said, his tone more subdued than usual, as he patted Blake’s shoulder in sympathy.
Caitlin stepped forward and stopped the doctor. “Doctor! Can you tell me what caused the patient’s death?”
Sebastian and Blake both turned to look at her.
The doctor explained, “The patient died of heart failure. We tried our best to resuscitate him, but it was too late.”
“But I was told that the patient had stomach cancer and had undergone surgery. There shouldn’t have been an immediate life–threatening risk. Why did he suddenly go into heart failure today?” Caitlin asked, her voice filled with confusion.
The doctor appeared uncertain. “The cancer was advanced. Given the severity, sudden complications like heart failure aren’t entirely unexpected.”
The doctor finished his explanation and left.
A nurse entered shortly after, pushing Xavian’s body on a gurney, covered by a white sheet.
“Father… Dad…” Blake cried out, heartbroken.
The body was taken to a temporary room while the funeral arrangements were being made. Sebastian quickly took charge, ensuring everything was
taken care of.
Standing at the door, watching Blake’s sorrowful figure, Caitlin couldn’t help but reflect. Maybe it was her investigation into her mother’s case that had led to so many innocent lives being affected, including Xavian’s. Una, Gavin, and now Xavian–so many had lost their lives because of her quest for
answers .
Sebastian, noticing her somber mood, placed a gentle hand on her shoulder , offering silent comfort.
Turning to him, Caitlin asked, “Sebastian, do you think… if I hadn’t come here today, would Xavian still be alive ? ”
In this moment, Caitlin didn’t feel hostility toward him. She simply wanted an answer.
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Sebastian paused for a moment, then responded quietly, “Life and death are natural cycles. Xavian had suffered for a long time from his cancer. His death could be seen as a release. This isn’t your fault, Caitlin. You don’t need to feel guilty.”
“But it feels so coincidental, doesn’t it? How could gastric cancer suddenly cause heart failure like that?” Caitlin said, the suspicion in her voice clear.
She couldn’t treat this as just another random event. She felt trapped in a huge vortex, unable to make sense of anything until she could uncover the
truth about her mother.
ཝཿཥཾ་ཥ་ཧ༤་ༀ་ཕ
Sebastian met her gaze, thinking carefully for a few moments before speaking. “If you suspect something, we should do an autopsy. The results will tell you the truth.”
As he said this, Sebastian took out his phone. “I’ll contact the medical examiner.”
He quickly dialed the number, arranging for the autopsy. Caitlin watched him, deeply grateful for his unwavering support and trust.
She then walked over to Blake and spoke, “Blake, I’d like to request an autopsy on Xavian’s body. I want to confirm the exact cause of death.”
Blake, still in grief, looked up at her. “You want to do an autopsy? But the doctor said it was natural causes.”
“I just need to be sure,” Caitlin replied, her voice firm.
Blake sighed, nodding. “Alright. You can go ahead.”
Sebastian, having made the call, confirmed the plan. He arranged for Xavian’s body to be transported for the autopsy, and the report would be ready the next day.
As they were about to leave, Caitlin turned to Blake. “Do you have somewhere to go? If you’re still looking for work, you can call this number. I’ll help recommend you for a job.”
Sebastian, seeing the interaction, quickly added, “Blake, once everything with your father is settled, you can go directly to VEG. I’ll make sure they have a suitable position for you.”
Caitlin gave him a glance. Sebastian’s words didn’t seem like a joke.
Blake nodded, thanking them both. “Thank you, Caitlin and Mr. Vanderbilt. I’ll handle my father’s affairs and get back to you once it’s done.”
After Blake left, Caitlin prepared to go as well. Sebastian offered, “I’ll drive you.”
“I’m fine, my car is already here!” Caitlin replied as Quincy’s car pulled up.
Sebastian watched her leave without a word, but he knew they would meet again tomorrow when the autopsy results came in.
As soon as he got into his own car, Sebastian’s phone rang. It was Tyler.
“Mr. Vanderbilt, the report is ready!”
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