Chapter 401
"Do not think your secret compatibility test will move me."
Vivian Bennett's voice was cold as ice.
"I do not hate you. I am simply disgusted by you."
She stared at the pale man lying in the hospital bed.
"I know all about your schemes."
"You just want a larger share of the inheritance, don't you?"
A mocking smile tugged at Vivian's lips.
"Unfortunately, I will not fall for it."
"Not even if I die."
She emphasized each word with bitter precision.
"You will get nothing from the inheritance."
"I have had enough of your deceit."
Bloodshot veins appeared in Vivian's eyes.
"After all these years of being manipulated by you..."
William White's breathing suddenly became labored.
His face turned deep red.
His chest heaved violently.
His final breath caught in his throat.
His entire body stiffened and fell backward.
Linda White's scream pierced the air.
Brandon White rushed out in a panic to call for doctors.
Dr. Adrian Valentine dropped to his knees to perform emergency CPR.
Vivian remained standing exactly where she was.
She watched the chaos unfold with an expressionless face.
Doctors and nurses swarmed into the room.
The wheels of the gurney screeched against the floor.
Cries and frantic footsteps blended into a cacophony.
A few minutes later, the hallway returned to silence.
Only Vivian stood alone in the empty examination room.
Her heart felt like a hard, heavy stone.
It choked her, making it difficult to breathe.
That night, William was moved to the ICU and never woke again.
Dr. Valentine explained he had reached end-stage liver disease.
His liver function was severely damaged.
He had developed gastrointestinal bleeding.
It was complicated by hepatic encephalopathy and infection.
The worst part was the patient's refusal to cooperate with treatment.
His will to live was weak.
"William has completely given up on living."
Dr. Valentine's words caused Linda to faint on the spot.
Brandon frantically called for more medical assistance.
The White family descended into utter chaos.
Vivian stood like a soulless puppet.
She coldly observed the entire farce.
She walked alone to the outside of the ICU.
She pressed her cold cheek against the glass.
Her empty gaze fixed on the figure inside.
The old man covered in tubes had once been her entire world.
As a child, she believed her father loved her most.
No matter how much trouble she caused, he always protected her.
He would pretend to be angry and pinch her cheeks.
But his eyes were always full of adoration.
Now he lay there, withered and frail.
He could no longer protect her.
Every meeting they had ended only in arguments.
The way he looked at her was filled with pure hatred.
Why?
Vivian's eyes reddened.
She gently pressed her palm against the glass.
It was as if she could touch his face through the barrier.
"Dad..."
She released a breathless, almost silent whisper.
Suddenly, a powerful hand grabbed her.
It roughly spun her around.
A sharp slap echoed through the hallway.