shuhaige
Chapter 1668
"Fish stew isn't good for you right now. You need to eat lighter meals," Nina said, trying to balance Pharaoh's preferences with his health.
Pharaoh smiled warmly. "Lately, everything tastes like nothing. I'd really like to eat something flavorful."
Before Nina could respond, Nash placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and spoke up. "Let's get you discharged, and once we're home, Nina can cook it for you."
"Alright," Pharaoh agreed, leaving Nina with no room to argue.
Nash drove them home while Pharaoh held baby Scarlett in his arms. Meanwhile, Scarlett and Nina said their goodbyes at the hospital, parting ways.
Once they arrived home, Nina went straight into the kitchen, and Nash joined her to help.
"Dad's not looking great," Nash said quietly as he chopped vegetables. "If he wants to be home, let him. Whatever he wants to eat, whatever requests he has, let's just give him that. And call your brother and tell him to come." Nash's words carried a weight that Nina couldn't ignore. This wasn't just casual concern.
Nash continued, his voice low. "I've seen this before... this was how my grandfather looked near the end."
He had noticed Pharaoh's sickliness, the way his once-sharp eyes had turned dull and cloudy. There was no denying it now that Pharaoh's condition was rapidly worsening.
Nina froze, the words hitting her like a knife. "I can't accept this, Nash. There has to be a way, right? He's going through chemo, his mindset has been so positive. I thought everything was getting better..."
Her voice cracked, tears streaming down her face. She had believed everything was improving, only to be blindsided by this harsh reality.
"Death is something we can't control," Nash said gently. "When I was on peacekeeping missions, I saw plenty of people in their final moments. Let's just give him the best days we can."
No matter what Pharaoh had done in the past, his condition was now undeniable.
Shaking, Nina called Micah. As soon as Micah answered, he seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.
Nina explained, her voice trembling. "It's not terrible, but... he doesn't look good. You should come."
"I'll leave now," Micah replied without hesitation. "Freya and I will be there soon."
Micah and Freya had visited not long ago. Freya had wanted to stay, but it wasn't convenient for her and Micah still had responsibilities managing the affairs of the Yaren Tribe. Reluctantly, Nina had encouraged them to return home, but both had remained on standby, ready to come back at a moment's notice.
Freya was constantly by Micah's side, and though he appeared calm and composed, she knew him too well to be fooled. Deep down, she could see how fragile he really was. Pharaoh was his father. How could he remain unaffected?
Micah squeezed Freya's hand gently. "Don't worry about me," he said, his voice steady but soft. "I'm fine. We'll get there on time."
For Nina, preparing this meal wouldnoveldrama
have been unbearable without Nash's steady presence. His quiet strength kept her grounded as she worked through her emotions in the kitchen. When the food was finally served, Pharaoh ate with visible enjoyment, savoring every bite. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment.
Perhaps sensing that his time was running out, Pharaoh began to speak more openly about his wishes. "Nina," he said, his tone warm yet resolute, "stay home with me for a while and cook my meals. I'll take care of the kids. And there's something I didn't get to mention earlier at the hospital when Scarlett was there."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "When I'm gone, bury me in Birkham's cemetery. That way, when you want to visit, it'll be easy. You'll be able to come by anytime."
Hearing this, Nina froze, her chest tightening painfully. Tears welled in her eyes as her breath hitched. It was almost too much to bear. Even in the face of death, her father's thoughts were solely on her-on how to make things easier for her.