Prepare herself. How could she prepare for losing her mother, piece by piece, memory by memory? The thought alone made her chest ache.
Dr. Zhao's voice softened further. "There's one more thing I need to discuss with you."
Lixue looked up sharply, dread pooling in her stomach. "What is it?"
"Your mother's medical expenses," he said carefully. "Her current treatment and care regimen are quite costly. If her condition requires more specialized care in the future, the costs will increase significantly. I know this is a sensitive topic, but it's something we need to plan for."
Lixue's mind reeled. She had known her mother's care wasn't cheap, but hearing it laid out so bluntly made the weight of it all feel suffocating. Her marriage to Mo Ran had provided her with stability and resources, but even that had limits. And now, with Nangong Jiantao's sudden appearance, everything felt precarious.