Chapter 6
822words
Then he appeared outside the small cottage I'd just purchased.
I was returning from dinner when I spotted a figure standing under the dim streetlight in the distance.
Leo turned at the sound of my approach.
As he walked closer, I notice a light dusting of snow on his shoulders.
He must have been waiting for a while.
I sighed wearily and looked up at him.
"Leo, what do you—"
The next second, I was enveloped in that familiar, clean scent of his.
Leo trembled slightly as he pulled me into a tight embrace, holding me so close it felt like he thought I might vanish if he loosened his grip.
He buried his face in the curve of my neck, his warm breath ghosting across my skin.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his voice rough with emotion.
"Sylvia, why didn't you tell me you were sick?"
I remained silent for a beat before pushing him away.
I studied Leo with a critical gaze.
"What's this? Heard I'm dying and rushed over to pay your last respects?"
"Thanks for the sentiment, but you can just wire the money. No need for the personal delivery."
After saying that, I turned to unlock the door and go inside.
But Leo stubbornly caught my hand, his eyes bloodshot.
"The person who bought your apartment found the cancer diagnosis you left behind… When were you going to tell me?"
"Or is this another one of your game? Are you playing hard to get to force me into marriage?"
Hearing that, anger surged through me. So in his mind, marrying me had become something to be coerced.
I let out an exasperated laugh and looked at him impatiently.
"Yes, it's all a game."
"Now that you've figured it out, you can leave, right?"
This time, it was Leo's turn to fall silent.
After a long moment, he finally spoke,
"Sylvia, I'm sorry."
Hearing his emotionally charged apology, I felt surprisingly calm.
I simply withdrew my hand out of his grasp and replied flatly, "What good is an apology now?"
"Leo, you'd better not be saying all this because you pity a dying woman. I don't need your pity."
"If you're truly sorry,the best thing you can do is never appear in front before me again."
With that, I stepped through my doorway.
And closed the door on Leo.
Another week passed in the blink of an eye. It was time for another round of hospital treatment.
The doctor frowned when she saw me and asked irritably, "Can't you just stay in the hospital properly? And take your treatment seriously?"
I just smiled without answering.
If not for the fear of a painful death, I wouldn't want to spend a single day in this hospital.
I've always hated hospitals more than anything.
Because I'll never forget that eight years ago, the last time I saw my parents was in a hospital.
The memory drew a bitter laugh from me, "Such terrible luck. A family doomed to die young."
Then I took out my wallet and retrieved a faded photograph—the only family portrait we had.
Looking at my parents' faces, slowly fading with time, tears instantly blurred my vision.
Then a large drop fell onto the photo.
"Mom, Dad, we'll see each other again soon."
"Leo, that promise-breaker, went back on his word… but don't blame him…"
"After all… he truly loved me for a few years."
Why did it hurt so much?
Probably because in so many moments with him, I genuinely felt happy.
But things don't always go as planned. In the end, we still fell apart.
Just then, the hospital room door opened.
My heart clenched. I quickly wiped my tears, put the photo away, and turned to look.
It was Lina again.
She smiled brightly at me, holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
"Oh~ those red, puffy eyes. Crying alone again?" she teased lightly before placing the flowers on the table.
I took a deep breath and looked at her without expression. "What are you doing here again?"
Lina maintained her smile. "Last time you said you were dying, and that I could take your place as Leo's wife."
"Well, I have to keep an eye on you, in case you change your mind, fight to get better, and come charging back to reclaim your position."
She finished speaking and settled comfortably on the sofa across from me.
Watching her casual demeanor, I couldn't help but ask again, "It was you, right? The one who texted me?"
This time, she didn't avoid the question.
She nodded.
I was stunned. "Why? Did you just want to see me suffer? To watch Leo protect you?"
But as soon as I said it, the words felt wrong.
Because if that were her goal, she wouldn't have send those last two messages of encouragement.
