Chapter 132

Isabel's asthma attack flared up again. The housekeeper, Madeline Monroe, was giving her medicine. The room featured a wooden vanity adorned with a bouquet of magnolias. Isabel used to love vibrant roses, but after Anderson once said she resembled the pure and elegant magnolia, she started keeping them in her room. "I don't want it anymore. Take it away," Isabel said weakly from the bed. She clutched her chest in discomfort as she coughed. Madeline couldn't bear to see her suffer. "Ms. Fisher, why are you doing this to yourself? The doctor said you need to keep taking your medicine or all the effort will be wasted. No matter how good of a man Mr. Barlow is, you shouldn't jeopardize your health over him." Isabel shook her head. "Madeline, stop comforting me. This illness has been with me since the fire. It's incurable." "Why are you so foolish, Ms. Fisher? Why didn't you tell Mr. Barlow the truth about that fire? If it weren't for you, he wouldn't even be alive today." With a wea