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After all this,fate circled back to the start.
Emily’s chapped lips brushed my arm.
I stared at the white walls,pensive.
“Honey,don’t worry.We’ve found a kidney.Surgery’s ready.”
Her friend hesitated,looking at Emily with worry and pity in his eyes.
I tried to pull my hand away, but it was no use.
Sighing deeply,I said seriously,“Get the divorce finalized,and I’ll agree to surgery.”
Emily froze,dazed.
“You’d rather die than be with me?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“Emily,we’re done.”
Her friend,agitated,spoke up,“James,you don’t know what Emily—”
She cut him off.
“Fine,I’ll sign.”
Her hand relaxed, and the warmth in it faded away.
The day we got the divorce certificate,I was wheeled into surgery.
Two weeks post-op,her friend said I was recovering well.
This time,Emily stayed by my side 24/7,never leaving.
If I opened my eyes,she was there.
Unlike three years ago,when she was mostly absent,with Nathan.
I tried shooing her away,but she remained silent and motionless.
I gave up caring.
Once I was fully recovered,I’d leave again,carefully this time,ensuring she’d never find me.
But before that,Nathan burst into the ward with police.
No longer the well-groomed prince, his hair was greasy, his hospital gown filthy.
Emaciated,his eyes sunken,he screamed hysterically.
“Emily,you lunatic!You kidnapped me and forged my donation consent!”
“I’m not a fool like James—I’ve kept evidence all these years.Go to hell!”
It clicked.
No wonder the kidney came so fast.
It was just returning to its owner.
Emily remained calm,unfazed.
As police cuffed her,she didn’t resist,only looked at me deeply.
Before being led away,she said she’d left one last letter and told me to read it.
In the following days,her secretary visited often and made me sign stacks of documents.
Emily had planned to dismantle her company and assets,all transferred to me.
I learned more.
After I collapsed,Emily exposed Nathan’s theft of my painting,which led to his ruin.
The gallery, artworks, jewelry, and cars she’d given him—since she couldn’t reclaim them, she burned them all.
In the flames,she laughed.
“Nathan,you messed with a devil.”
“No one’s kidney will match you now.Suffer and die slowly.”
“You’re the one falling from heaven to hell.”
With multiple charges,Emily faced a heavy sentence.
I didn’t visit her.
I used her vast wealth to start a foundation,hoping it would help those in need.
Call it earning some merit for Emily.
I bought a boat ticket,embarking on a journey to wander the world.
Opening a yellowed letter,I saw youthful handwriting.
It was Emily at 15.
“Uncle John and Aunt Mary passed suddenly.I’ll take care of James and never let him be sad.”
At the end,a new line:
“I became the one who hurt James the most.I’m sorry.I love you.”
Someone offered a tissue.
“Sir…are you okay?”
I realized tears had soaked the letter,blurring the words.
I’d never love Emily again,but I’d never forget her.
The woman entwined with my life for 28 years.
The only girl I loved since my heart first stirred.
We loved each other,but not at the same time.
When love comes too late, it’s as worthless as grass.
Emily,goodbye.
