No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric) novel Chapter 1184

Noelle took a deep breath and said, "The truth is, I don't know."

Carl replied, "I understand. All of us brothers have failed to protect you. It's our fault."

She pursed her lips and asked, "How long will your men need to come up with the improved antidote?"

"About half a year to make it through the testing phase."

Noelle knew that Emma's treatment did not have a time limit of sorts and depended solely on how well the treatment went. As such, Emma's treatment would very well take more than six months to finish.

Emma had been enduring through the pain of the treatment all along. Noelle could not even imagine how Emma had managed to hold on all this time.

She herself could not bear to watch Emma suffer for even a single day more.

Noelle wiped away her tears and asked, "What if I asked you to finish everything within a month?"

Carl explained, "That's a bit much, Noelle. There are many research projects going on all at once at the island after all. I can't just put everyone's work on hold just for a single person."

Noelle's tone was calm. "What's your condition?"

With that, silence fell on the other end of the line.

After some time, Carl finally replied, "I hope that we can go back to how things used to be between us. I want you to treat me like your brother again, and for us to mend our relationship as family. Is that okay with you?"

Noelle felt a sharp pain at her temples upon hearing about his conditions.

She immediately recalled the scene from her past life where she laid on the operation table after Carl took her kidney along with carving a scar on her face for an experiment.

Her heart was filled with nothing but disgust and aversion.

But when Noelle thought about Emma's expression of pain and anguish from earlier, she managed to overcome her fears.

She replied, "I'll try, but I can't just go back to how it used to be all of a sudden."

Carl's tone became happier. "That's good enough. We can take it slow. I'm not in a rush or anything. Noelle, I'm not threatening you into this. I didn't do anything to hurt you this time after all. I'm very sorry for ignoring you all these years. I had no idea that you were having it so hard with the rest of the family. That was partly my fault as well."

It was not a big deal so long as it could lessen Emma's suffering.

Half an hour later, Emma finally returned to the hospital room in her wheelchair.

Her face was a little pale, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I always look rather pale after the treatment, but I'm doing just fine. I feel much better after the treatment if anything."

Noelle's heart ached upon hearing that.

She forced herself to help Emma onto the bed. "You're going to get better in no time, Mrs. Greene."

Emma held onto Noelle's hand. "Of course. We'll go shopping together once I've recovered. I've always wanted a daughter, you see. And now, I finally have one. I'll bring you to join the ladies' club as well. The club is made up of daughters of rich and powerful families as well as high-society women. They could serve to become part of your network of friends or acquaintances."

Noelle felt a pang in her heart as she listened to Emma.

Emma suddenly looked up at her and asked, "What's wrong, Noelle? Why are you eyes red?"