A Vengeful Ex-Wife
Chapter 459 Spare His Life

"I can't figure out how a woman managed to change you so much. James, I used to idolize you from the bottom of my heart. You were an invincible man that nobody could stop. How in the world did you reach a dead end in the form of Maria? And why do you refuse to get out?" Ethan wanted to shove James back to the sick bed, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, for fear of hurting him.

Still, James ignored Ethan's pleas and got out of bed with a surprising surge of strength. Then, he grabbed his phone on the bedside table and asked someone to bring him his suit. With no other choice left, Ethan walked up to him and said, "Fine, I give up. You can go see her if you want. But can't you wait a little longer? Please? Can't you recover first?" "No, I can't wait any longer. She's planning to become a nun," he replied.

"But it's too late, James. Even if you go now, it won't change a thing. Today is the day she's going to shave off her hair,"

Ethan said. After casting Ethan a glance, James went out this time. He didn't even change his clothes.

When the ward was opened, Cooper was standing outside, followed by two bodyguards who brought James' clothes over. The brothers stood face to face.

Ethan felt fortunate that someone was here to help him. "Cooper, hurry up. Let's get James back to the ward."

However, Cooper said, "James, I've already prepared your clothes. Let me help you change, and then I'll go with you."

Ethan was in utter disbelief of what he was hearing. "Cooper! Have you gone insane? Can you not see how terrible James' condition is?"

Cooper patted him on the shoulder; there was an indiscernible emotion in his eyes. "Just let him go, Ethan." If James didn't go to the nunnery to see Maria, it would haunt him for the rest of his life. Feeling defeated, Ethan decided to shut up.

Ten minutes later, James refused to sit in the wheelchair that Cooper had arranged for him. Instead, he went inside the elevator and walked out of the hospital.

His car was parked at the entrance of the in-patient department, followed by three other cars filled with bodyguards and doctors.

Ethan and Cooper entered James' car. Once everyone was settled in, the convoy of cars drove towards JT Nunnery.

The nunnery was dozens of kilometers away from the city. It took them over an hour before they arrived at the foot of the mountain.

JT Nunnery was located at the top of the mountain. In order to reach the top, one must take a thousand flights of stairs.

This mountain wasn't that high nor low, but for a patient like James, it felt like the tallest mountain in the world.

In the beginning, he was still able to take the stairs one at a time. But after having climbed dozens of stairs, he was already drenched in sweat, his face was as pale as a ghost, and he was having a hard time breathing.

At first, only Cooper was helping him traverse the stairs. But upon seeing him struggle, Ethan decided to join in. He latched James' arm around his neck and started going up the stairs.

After traversing five hundred stairs, James was almost drained of his strength. The doctors had been persuading him to give up several times already, but it didn't seem like he heard them.

Seeing him like this was too painful for Cooper, so he thought it best to carry his brother on his back, and go up the stairs step by step.

The sun shone on the James' pale face. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and the sunlight dazzled his eyes. To him, it was as painful as having needles lodged into his eyes. Weakly, he said, "Cooper, please look after the company and Bob. Don't give Bob to her. She still has a chance to come back. If you give the child to her, I will never have the chance to see her and my son again."

Cooper said nothing against his brother's request. He just nodded in approval and said, "Okay."

By the time they reached the seven hundredth stair, James was gradually losing consciousness. This time, Ethan took over the task of carrying James, and took him from Cooper's back. With that, they continued going up the stairs.

Later on, the bodyguards took turns in carrying him on their backs.

The moment they arrived at the top of the mountain, a group of nuns happened to come out of the nunnery.

JT Nunnery wasn't that popular, and today wasn't a special day, so there weren't supposed to be any pilgrims now.

Upon hearing the commotion made by the nuns, James struggled to open his eyes and realized that they were looking at him.

In a daze, he noticed a set of familiar eyes staring at him.

The woman put her palms together in a pious manner, standing at the end of the group. Her white scalp had been exposed, and her long black hair was now gone. She stood at the top of the mountain, staring at the group with eyes devoid of emotion.

The group who was currently climbing the mountain stopped in their tracks. They were several meters away from the nuns now. As they gasped for air, the nun at the end caught their attention. They were too late.

James, who was being carried by a bodyguard, spat out a mouthful of blood, stirring the crowd into a panic.

"Mr. Xi!"

"James!"

"Help us!"

Before he lost consciousness, James looked at Maria one last time. All the nuns came to assist him, but she, on the other hand, just turned away and left.

After this ordeal, he was sent to the hospital.

At night, the hospital was eerily silent. A man and a woman appeared on the floor where James was. When they reached the door of the ward, several bodyguards stopped them.

The man chuckled. "What's going on? Why are you stopping me? Are you afraid that I'll take advantage of him while he's dying like this?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Shen, but Mr. Xi must not be disturbed by anyone for the time being."

The woman took off her sunglasses and asked, "Who's inside with him?"

"Mr. Cooper Xi."

"I'm his mother," said the woman.

'Isn't Mr. Xi's mother supposed to be in prison?' they wondered.

At this moment, Cooper opened the door from the inside.

It looked like he was very exhausted. When he saw the visitors, he said to them, "Come in."

Norman was the first one to go inside. After staring at Cooper for a long time, Gabriela said, "I have nothing else to do tonight. You should go home and get some rest."

Cooper pinched the space between his eyebrows and said, "I can handle it. I'm fine."

"Cooper, James is in danger, and someone must take charge of the company in his absence. Focus on the company, and I'll take care of James!" The second she heard the news of James' state, Gabriela rushed here with Norman.

Cooper looked at her and tried to discern the right decision. This time, he didn't refuse her offer. To her credit, what she said was reasonable. He was the only person who could take the helm of the company for the time being. "Thank you," he said.

Gabriela didn't know how to react to that.

Before Cooper could leave, she stopped him. Without turning around, she said, "Cooper, you are all my sons. I don't want to hear such estranged words again." Cooper glanced at her but he didn't say anything.

In the ward, Norman looked at the dying man on the bed and sneered. "Maria was so soft-hearted. It seems that she spared your life."

"Norman," Gabriela snapped.

He turned his gaze towards her.

Norman and Gabriela looked at James as he lay dying on the sick bed. What once was a man filled with vigor and exuberance was now at his last, dying breath. Everyone felt pity for him.

"What did the doctors say?" asked Gabriela.

"His condition isn't good," Norman answered honestly.

He had already inquired about James' condition, and it took him so much effort to get such a simple answer.

At this point, Gabriela didn't know what to say.

Norman said, "This is the best time to destroy HL Group once and for all."

Silence ensued in the word for a time. A minute later, Gabriela turned to Norman. "Don't do it, Norman." "Why not? What? Are you starting to feel sorry for him? Is that it?" Norman asked indifferently. "It's not just that! It's because you and James are biological brothers."

'Biological brothers?' Those two words struck Norman like a boulder. It changed the look on his face as he stared at his mother. "Make yourself clear!"

Gabriela let out a sigh. Now that it had come to this, she knew that the truth must be said. "You are also my Sebastian's son."

It turned out that he was actually one of Sebastian's sons!

No wonder Sebastian had asked him out for a cup of coffee last time. He had acted so strange and showed his concern for him.

It was no wonder that Mitchell had never once held Norman or showed his love for him during his childhood. On top of that, he even refused to save him in a state of danger.

Perhaps that was why Gabriela, who seldom stuck her nose into someone else's business, always asked him to not fight against James.

Tonight, he had come here to laugh at James. Why did his mother have to tell him that this man was actually his elder brother?

At this point, Norman was at a loss for words.