?<strong>Chapter 1004:</strong>


    “Don’t cry; I’m not dead yet,” Lucas said.


    “Don’t say that!” Molly sniffled, her usual fiery temper nowhere to be found. For the first time, she waspletely subdued. “Do you feel okay? Should I call for a doctor?”


    “Don’t bother,” Lucas gave her a tired smile. “My dad’s a doctor.”


    “Oh, right.”


    Lucas turned to Aurora. “Aurora, are you okay?”


    “I’m fine.”


    “Is Rnd okay too?”


    “Everyone’s fine,” Aurora’s voice softened. “Take care of yourself.”


    “Okay.”


    As a doctor, Rafael had always been the one to closely monitor Lucas’ health, especially when he was sick. This time, it wasn’t serious. They had nned to head back to Bristania in a few days, but the ident happened.


    “We’ll leave when Lucas is discharged,” Rafael said casually.


    Molly fought to hold back tears. “But Lucas isn’t fully recovered yet.”


    Rafael gently patted her head, reassuring her. “He needs to go back to school, but don’t worry, he’ll be back for the winter break.”


    Molly hesitated, her reluctance clear, but she could only nod in response. Lucas watched her, noticing her swollen, red eyes. He couldn’t tell if it was from crying or from staying up all night.


    “Molly, go rest,” he urged.


    “No,” she replied immediately, her voice thick with emotion. “I want to take care of you. You got hurt saving me. I need to make sure you’re okay.”


    ?????????????? ???????????????? ????????: ??????????ν??????.??????


    “Molly, you don’t have to carry this burden.” Allie’s voice broke through the tension.


    “Mom, I need to be alone with her for a while.”


    The room exchanged surprised nces, even Molly taken aback by Lucas’s request. But Rafael always respected his son’s wishes.


    “Alright, I’ll step out with everyone.”


    The room fell silent, with only Molly and Lucas left behind. As Adrian left, he kept the door slightly ajar, allowing anyone passing by to see Molly, her head bowed low, like a student caught in wrongdoing.


    “You don’t have to be like this,” Lucas’s voice was soft. “I don’t me you.”


    A sharp pang struck Molly’s heart. At her age, emotions came too easily, and this one cut deep.


    “It’s my fault. If I hadn’t been arguing with you on the road, I would have seen the caring.”


    “Molly, let’s not talk about it anymore.”


    “I know you’re not telling the adults because you’re worried they’ll punish me, but I was wrong. I admit it. I was really thoughtless,” she said.


    Her head was lowered so much that Lucas couldn’t see her face, but he could sense the sadness radiating from her. She was hurting, deeply hurting. “I know I’m a failure. Ever since I was little, I’ve never done anything right. I’m not as good at studying as Aurora, not as thoughtful as you. I can’t even measure up to Kalel, who’s so young but already helps my uncle and aunt make so much money. But I’ve got nothing,” she continued.


    .


    .


    .