Now They Want My Forgiveness - Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Eleanor hit the table, shattering the porcelain vase, and passed out.
Instantly, Anna and Andrew cried out.
Fiona originally wanted to shield Anna. When she saw what was caused by her action, she was stunned.
Eleanor was rushed to the hospital.
Despite the excruciating pain wracking her body, Stella fought to stay strong.
The entire family was consumed by worry in the hospital.
Stella felt she was on the verge of collapsing into unconsciousness. Just in time, someone held her.
"Lionel." When Anna spotted Lionel, she immediately stood up.
"I'll be right back," Lionel said as he hurried away with Stella in his arms.
Max frowned slightly and said, "Anna, wait here. I'll go to check."
Anna couldn't sit still any longer and bolted after them.
As Lionel examined Stella, he noticed the needle marks on her arm. His eyes brimmed with apology and guilt, shadowed by bitter self-reproach and deep regret.
Lionel was never one to cry easily, but in an instant, tears welled up and spilled down his face.
He said, "Stella, I'm so sorry. I knew you weren't well, but I still let Henry draw your blood. I had no choice. My father—"
"What did you say?" In utter disbelief, Max burst into the room, seized Lionel by the collar, and stared at him.
Seeing this, Anna hurried over to intervene. She said, "Max, let go of Lionel."
"Let him say what exactly he did?" Max demanded.
Anna said, "Even if Lionel did something, he must have had his reasons. Max, let's hear him out."
Anna desperately tried to pry Max's fingers open from Lionel's collar, but no matter how hard she struggled, his grip remained ironclad.
Lionel gave Anna a weary look and said, "It's alright, Anna. Step aside. This is between Max and me."
Anna remained uneasy.
But Lionel said, "Max, I wronged Stella. When I had the nurse drug her, and when I drew her blood, I felt my heart was bleeding."
Anna stared at Lionel in disbelief. "Lionel, why did you do that?"
"I had no choice. Henry was blackmailing my father. I had to do it," Lionel said.
Max gradually released his grip on Lionel's collar. But as something suddenly occurred to him, he grabbed it again with renewed fury.
Max said, "Lionel, Stella trusts you more than anyone. I let it slide after what you did to her before, but now you've hurt her again. Have you no humanity left at all?"
Lionel said, "You're right. I'm a monster. I always end up hurting her. But Max, if you were in my shoes, what would you have done?"
Max was stumped. He thought, 'Had it been my dad... No, even now, the Hayes family still ends up sacrificing Stella.'
Max gradually loosened his grip.
Anna comforted Lionel by saying, "Lionel, this isn't your fault. Henry is truly wicked. You were just being a devoted son. How could anyone expect you to stand by and watch Mr. Charles Quinn suffer?
"If anyone is to blame, it's me. Even though Stella and I are twins, our blood types don't match. If it were possible, I'd gladly let you draw my blood instead."
"Not yours," Max blurted out without a second thought. "You have poor health. Drawing your blood would be like killing you."
Everyone fell silent.
After a long moment of silence, something dawned on Max. He looked at Stella, who lay motionless on the bed, and asked, "How is she?"
Lionel replied, "After having so much blood drawn, she is extremely weak now. She actually needs a transfusion herself."
Max said, "Then do that."
After all, Stella was his sister. Even though the Hayes family had gone through so much because of Stella, Max couldn't just stand by and watch her suffer.
Lionel said, "But her blood type is extremely rare. I've been searching for a match in blood banks for days, but it's nearly impossible to find."