Love on the Fast Track

Chapter 1406:

This wasn’t the Juliana Norah remembered. The vibrant, strong woman she once knew had become a frail shadow of herself. In just a few years, life had drained her spirit.

Norah took a moment to examine her closely. Juliana’s condition was serious but not hopeless. The stroke had paralyzed her, but with proper care and treatment, especially in a reputable hospital like Peace Ark Private Hospital, her quality of life could improve. With therapy, she could regain some speech and live out her days in a wheelchair—not like this, abandoned and neglected.

Norah straightened and turned to Marlene, her voice firm. “Her condition is treatable. She needs to be admitted to the hospital immediately.”

Marlene fidgeted, looking uncomfortable as Norah continued, “While she’s receiving treatment, make sure you take proper care of her. Stop neglecting her like this. It’s unacceptable.”

“We give her everything she needs. How can you call that neglect?” Marlene bristled, her voice defensive, even though she was one of the people who maltreated Juliana.

Norah’s eyes bore into hers, calm but cutting. “You know exactly what I mean. You’re well aware whether she’s being abused or not.” She paused, then said with quiet authority, “Leave us. I need to speak with Juliana alone.”

Marlene didn’t linger and quickly left, leaving Norah and Juliana alone in the room.

Norah shrugged off her coat and placed it neatly on the sofa. Rolling up her sleeves, she headed to the bathroom and returned with a basin of warm water. She wrung out a clean towel and set to work.

Opening the wardrobe by the bed, she retrieved a fresh set of clothes. With gentle care, she cleaned Juliana, wiping away the grime that had gathered from neglect.

As she worked, her voice softened, filling the room with warmth. “I told you before, Juliana, don’t stress yourself so much. Your children are grown now—they’ll make their own choices, good or bad. You’ve done your part. You should not have worn yourself out like this.”

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She paused, her tone laced with regret. “When I left, you were healthy and full of life. Look at you now… Did you stop taking care of yourself? And Derek—honestly, was he born blind to good judgment? The people he brings into this family are a disaster. Marlene’s been mistreating you, hasn’t she? Taking advantage of your silence to do whatever she pleases.”

Norah shook her head, her hands steady as she cleaned Juliana’s arms. “When Derek came to me, talking about your condition, I couldn’t believe it. During my time with the Carters, you were the one who always made me feel like I belonged. I truly saw you as family. Sharon’s and Kathy’s attitudes never bothered me much, but Derek? His betrayal cut deep. Well, that’s all in the past now. There’s no point in reopening old wounds. Whatever happened between me and the Carter family, my hope for you has always been the same—that you’d be well and happy.”

Norah spoke more than she had intended, her voice filled with unspoken affection. With Juliana, she felt the love and warmth of a grandparent, a bond that stirred up memories she cherished deeply.

After cleaning Juliana, Norah dressed her in clean clothes. The bedsores on Juliana’s waist caught her attention. She frowned, knowing they needed proper care and regular repositioning to heal. She picked up a comb from the bedside and began to brush Juliana’s tangled silver hair, smoothing it gently.

“Juliana, you need to stay positive. A strong outlook can do wonders. I don’t believe Derek’s words—you’ll live to a hundred.”

As Norah glanced down, she noticed tears streaming down Juliana’s cheeks.noveldrama

In her final years, Juliana had endured more hardship than she deserved. Norah could sense the regret and frustration swirling within her—anger at her family’s poor decisions and their inability to value the right people, like Norah, while bringing in disasters like Marlene and Madeline.

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