Chapter 351: Tired and Defeated

He felt so utterly tired and defeated. He falls to the floor as he experiences pain more significant than anything he had ever felt. He closed his eyes and listened to the wind blowing outside. He could see Edie. More than that, he could feel her presence inside him. "For now, we are friends. One day it’ll be more," he said in a low incoherent voice.

***

The next morning Dr. Clark came into the room and saw Donald twitching and cramping. "Donald, why didn’t you ring the bell?" Dr. Clark said as he rushed over to the bedside.

Donald shook his head and waited for the symptoms to ease before he spoke to Dr. Clark. "I’ve decided to get the treatment. I would like to leave as soon as possible," he said,

Dr. Clark looked relieved and said, "I’m glad you’ve changed your mind. I’ll book you a flight first thing this morning for Beijing." He shook his head, reassuringly.

Dr. Clark and Donald stood in front of the cab, preparing to get in, and Donald looked at him and said, "Would you mind meeting me at the airport? There’s something I need to do before I leave."

"Donald, I don’t think..." Dr. Clark hesitates. "Okay, but you don’t have much time. Please hurry." Dr. Clark agreed to Donald’s wishes only because he knew there would be no way of convincing him otherwise.

Donald got in the cab and drove away, and He went to a farm on the outskirts of the city. It was where he had taken Karen. He got out of the cab and opened the door to the cabin, and there stood Karen looking out the window with a blank expression on her face. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at her. "Karen, it’s me," he said in a low voice.

Karen’s eyes widened in surprise. She gasped. "Donald, you’re here..." She stops talking and is reluctant to finish her sentence. "If you’re here, then that means you and Edie are together. Is it true?" she asks with shakiness in her voice.

There was a faint smile on Donald’s lips. "I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I decided it would be better if I were to let her go. I want Edie to be happy," Donald said, sounding sincere.

Karen shook her head in disbelief. She lifted her head and looked Donald right straight in the eye. "I don’t understand. Why are you giving up so easily? What happened to you?" she asked suspiciously.

Donald took Karen by the arm and sat down on the sofa. He pulled a contract out and set it in front of her. She opened it and stared at Donald with a confused look on her face. "What does this mean?" Karen’s voice trembled. "Why do you want to give it to me?" she said as she threw the contract back at him.

Donald’s expression became serious. "I need you to listen to me. I’ve gotten sicker, and I’m going to get treatment, but there’s a possibility I may not make it. If something were to happen to me, I want the company to go to you and not to our mother."

Karen shook her head. She started to cry and said, "Nothing will happen to you. I’ll make sure of it."

Donald lowered his head. "You have no idea what I’m up against. My illness has worsened, and I need you to understand that it may be too late for me," he said, lowering his voice.

Karen took Donald’s hand. "Okay, I understand," she said as the tears streamed down her cheeks.

Donald lifted his head and looked into Karen’s eyes. "I know what I’ve done to you was horrible, but I need to ask you for your forgiveness. I want you to come with me while I go through the treatment," he said as he let out a loud sigh.

Karen’s voice trembled again with nervousness. "What happened to you? Why are you different?"

"I’m getting worse every day, and I could never give Edie the life she deserves in the state that I’m in. I had to let her go." Donald tried to keep his voice calm.

Karen shook her head again. "You’re willing to give Edie up, and it doesn’t bother you, she’s with another man?" she asked.

"Yes, it does. I will always care about Edie. It wasn’t until last night when I realized she doesn’t love me anymore. I want to be there for her, and I want to live because of her. There will come a day when Edie will need our help, and I can’t help her in the shape I’m in," Donald said.

Karen realized what Donald’s true intentions were. He only wanted to get himself better because of Edie. He wasn’t doing it for himself, but for her. She took a deep breath and sighed. "What about Joanna and our mother? Are you going to let them go?" Karen asked.

"No, they will be fine. No one will hurt them," Donald replied.

"Taking control of the company. Will it work?" Karen asked, sounding confused.

Donald lips curved into a faint smile. "Why won’t it?" he said.

Looking at Donald, Karen could see how thin he had gotten. "You look so pale, Donald. I’ll take care of everything," she said. She clenched her fists in despair. "I will make sure the treatment is successful. Edie can’t be left alone because she needs you. Therefore, I know you will recover."

Karen’s words seemed to give Donald hope. "You’re right. I have handed her over to another man only until I recover. Stuart will make sure Edie’s safe." He took a deep breath. "I will live and be stronger than ever," he said with determination in his voice.

Karen didn’t know how to respond. She hated seeing Donald suffer, but she knew how much Edie and Stuart loved one another. There was never any hope for Donald, and deep down, they both knew it.

The shooting of the film began early in the morning. Bob had a restless sleep thinking about Clyde insisting on deleting the kissing scene. "Clyde wants the kiss deleted from the script what’s stopping him from wanting to delete other parts in the film?" Bob muttered to himself.