Chapter 7: Too Late to Apologize

James drove across the city as fast as he could.

For the first time in years, he wasn't rushing toward a business meeting.

He was racing against time.

The medical report remained on the passenger seat.

Every word written on those pages felt like a knife twisting inside his chest.

"Three to six months..."

He couldn't stop repeating those words.

When he finally arrived outside Catherine's apartment, he immediately hurried upstairs.

His hand trembled as he knocked on the door.

A few seconds later, the door slowly opened.

Catherine stood there wearing simple clothes, her face noticeably paler than before.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

"How did you find me?" she asked quietly.

"I found your medical reports," James answered.

Catherine's expression remained calm.

"I wondered when that would happen."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would it have changed anything?"

James froze.

He couldn't answer.

"Come in," Catherine said softly.

"I don't want Laura hearing us argue."

Inside the apartment, Laura happily sat on the living room floor drawing pictures.

"Daddy!" she said with surprise.

"Did you come to visit me?"

James forced a smile.

"Yes... I did."

"Can I show you my drawing?"

"Of course."

Laura proudly held up a colorful picture.

It showed only herself and Catherine holding hands beneath a bright sun.

"Where's your father?" James asked gently.

Laura thought for a moment.

"I forgot to draw him."

Those innocent words shattered what remained of James's heart.

Catherine quietly led him onto the balcony.

"What do you want to say?" she asked.

"I'm sorry," James whispered.

"I know those words can't fix anything..."

"But I'm truly sorry."

"I was wrong."

"About everything."

"I believed lies."

"I hurt you."

"I hurt Laura."

"Please... give me another chance."

Catherine looked at the evening sky.

"Do you know what I wished for every birthday?"

"Every anniversary?"

"Every Christmas?"

James slowly shook his head.

"I wished you'd come home early."

"I wished you'd smile at Laura."

"I wished you'd call me your wife instead of treating me like a stranger."

"For seven years..."

"I kept waiting."

"You never came."

James lowered his head in shame.

"I know."

"And now..." Catherine continued softly,

"Now that I'm dying..."

"You suddenly remember I exist."

"No..."

"I never stopped caring."

"You stopped showing it," Catherine replied.

"Eventually... that becomes the same thing."

Silence settled between them.

Only the distant laughter of children playing in the nearby park could be heard.

"Can I at least take care of you?" James asked.

"Please."

"Let me make up for everything."

Catherine smiled sadly.

"James..."

"The person I needed was the man from seven years ago."

"Not the one standing here today."

"You're too late."

Those three words echoed painfully inside his mind.

"I don't expect you to love me again," James admitted.

"I only want to stay beside you until..."

His voice broke.

"Until the end."

Catherine remained silent for a long moment.

"You may visit Laura whenever she wants to see you."

"She's your daughter."

"She deserves a father."

"But us..."

"We're over."

"That chapter ended the day you called me a nanny."

James closed his eyes.

He understood.

There would be no second chance.

Only regret.

Before leaving, he quietly knelt beside Laura.

"Daddy has something to tell you," he said gently.

"I'm sorry I wasn't a good father."

Laura tilted her little head.

"Will you come see me again?"

"If you'll let me."

"Okay," she smiled.

"But you have to be nice to Mommy."

"She's the best person in the world."

James felt tears fill his eyes.

"I know."

"I finally know."

As he reached the apartment door, Catherine stopped him.

"James."

He turned around hopefully.

"There's one more thing."

"After I'm gone..."

"Promise me you'll protect Laura."

"Not because you pity me."

"Because she's your daughter."

James nodded without hesitation.

"I swear."

"I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her."

Catherine smiled faintly.

"That's all I wanted to hear."

James quietly walked away.

This time...

He didn't ask her to stay.

Because he finally understood something.

Love could survive many things.

Neglect wasn't one of them.