CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 353: Watch the Stars

After a few more hours, the lead surgeon went out of the operating room, looking very exhausted.

Amy immediately faced the doctor and asked, "How is he?"

"Mrs. Brighton, I will not sugar-coat my words anymore since I was informed by his oncologist that you already made plans about his palliative care. We were able to at least stabilize him but he might not last a week. He already has a deteriorating condition and the two gunshot wounds just added stress to his body." The doctor explained and handed Amy a document.

"His palliative care physician informed me of this and I believe you haven’t seen this. He signed it before coming back to the country," the doctor then waited for Amy to read what was written on the paper.

Amy’s tears fell down as she handed back the document to the doctor. "I understand doc. I will honor my husband’s DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) request. I understand why he did this. And I will let him rest."

"Alright. Now let’s proceed to the next topic I want to talk about," the doctor handed her another document, "It’s a patient release waiver. We will not push you for a 48-hour monitoring anymore. If you want to bring him to the place that he wants to be, our hospital and medical team are more than willing to assist you in transporting him there with the hope that he will reach the place in time, given his critical condition."

"Thank you, doctor. Please do that. He really wanted to be there during his final moments and that is my wish for him too," Amy stated before signing the waiver.

"That’s settled then. We will just wait for him to wake up and we will prepare him right away." The doctor nodded and went back in.

Amy closes her eyes and sighs heavily, "So this is it, huh?" She muttered to Mary who was beside her.

Mary hugged her and said, "You did your best. You gave him a family that he always dreamed of."

When Ash and the medical team were ready, they all went together to the farm. As per Ash’s request before moving back to Monte City, Amy had set up a tent near the mango tree where they used to play when they were kids.

It was not just any ordinary tent, it was a luxurious, air-conditioned dome with a glass roof that allowed them to see the stars above at night. It was part of Ash’s palliative care plan, so all the equipment that he needed was already set up and all he had to do was to be there.

"Mr. Brighton is very weak as of the moment. But our team will be on standby in case he needs us." Ash’s doctor said when he emerged from the tent after settling Ash inside.

Everyone had also set up their own tents under the mango tree instantly turning the place into a camping site.

"Mary, Ash had requested for you be by his side as well," Amy said.

"How about Avery? Is he joining us?"

"No, he will stay with the others. Ash doesn’t want Avery to see him like that. He wouldn’t understand it anyway. He is just too young for that."

"Alright, let me just tell Anton quickly," Mary uttered before leaving Amy who was waiting just outside the tent.

When the medical team allowed Amy and Mary to go in, their heart broke instantly upon seeing how pale Ash was. They can’t even count and name all the devices and apparatus that were connected to him just to keep him alive a little longer.

Ash smiled at them when he saw his two best friends enter the tent.

Amy sat on his right side, while Mary sat on his left.

"Do you feel any pain?" Amy asked Ash who was keeping his smile for them.

"No... I am high on drugs, I feel so light," Ash weakly jested making all of them laugh.

"Thank you, for saving us back there," Amy could no longer prevent herself from crying, her tears flowed freely.

"I did not save you... It’s just that, it is not your time yet to die... You will still need to take care of Avery... As for me, it is my time, so why prolong what’s inevitable?" Ash said. "Thank you for being there for me and Avery."

"Anytime, husband," Amy smiled and Ash chuckled.

"I still ended up with you in the end after you rejected me so many times," Ash said.

"Yeah, you just beat Henry to that. You surely have your ways." Amy replied.

"What are you saying? Henry left Amy first," Mary interjected making Amy and Ash give each other a knowing look.

"You’ll see..." Ash replied before saying, "Join me here. I am too weak to pull you both. Let’s watch the stars together. Tell Avery that Mommy and Daddy are up there watching him every moment of his life."

Amy and Mary lay down on each side of Ash, and each wrapped their arm around him.

"When you see my family and Ava, tell them I miss them so much," Amy said as she sobbed.

"I surely will... Ladies, I am so sleepy. Must be the medicine. I will just close my eyes if you don’t mind."

"Go ahead, Ash. Don’t mind us, just rest... We love you Ashy..." Mary said, joining Amy in her cries.

"Yes, I know... I’m so tired... Kiss Avery for me."

Ash closed his eyes with a smile on his face as his two best friends sobbed beside him. After a few minutes, Amy and Mary heard the flat-line tone from the patient monitoring system.

"Goodbye Ash..."

"Bye...Ashy boy..."

Amy and Mary said before embracing Ash tighter. They remained by his side for hours, shedding tears until they were emotionally spent.

When the two ladies finally went out of the tent the medical team went in to unhook Ash from all the devices and prepare him for his final goodbye. Mary was immediately hugged by Anton and her parents. While Amy was embraced by Auntie Alice, Jayson, Sandra, and Maya. The other children didn’t know what happened yet as they were playing inside the other tent with Uncle Robert.

Amy and Mary’s wail echoed as their loved ones comforted them. Henry stayed beside Rei in the corner away from everyone.

Henry clenched his fist as he watched Amy cry her heart out while hugging Sandra. "Fuck this..." he exclaimed startling Rei. He knows that he made a request to Amy earlier, but he can’t just bear looking at her grieving like that.

’Did she cry like that when she thought I was dead? Or more?’ That question weakened his resolve. Even though he has no plan to reveal himself yet, his legs have a mind of their own. He found himself walking towards Amy, wanting to ease her sadness and pain.

When Amy saw Henry walking towards her, she let go of her cousin and ran towards him. She jumped at him and cried more.

Henry welcomed her with open arms as he whispered, "Pour it all out. I am here, I will not go anywhere."

Mary, Sandra, and everyone who saw Amy hugging Tom dropped their jaw in shock and confusion.

"W-Wait! What’s going on? Why is he hugging Tom?" Mary stopped crying and asked Anton who clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, I thought it was supposed to be a secret? I guess not anymore..." Anton uttered making everyone more confused while Rei and Jayson had a big grin on their faces.