Chapter 4

Before I could question him, the hospital called.

"Is this Miss Rivers?"

I sniffled and quickly answered: "What's wrong?"

"The patient has spontaneous pneumothorax. We're preparing emergency treatment. Please come over."

"Wasn't she fine before?"

My heart sank. "I'll be right there."

Someone gripped my wrist.

I said urgently:

"My grandmother is in trouble!"

He lowered his eyes, his gaze indifferent.

"That excuse won't work."

"Apologize."

I didn't have time to argue with him. I just wanted to leave...

"Fine. I'm sorry. It's my fault. Can I go now?"

The grip on my wrist didn't loosen one bit.

He laughed softly.

"Just 'I'm sorry'?"

I looked at him in disbelief.

Asher's eyes were actually quite beautiful—slender phoenix eyes.

I had looked at them for so many years, but this was the first time they felt so unfamiliar.

All these years of love and hate seemed to condense into one word: fool.

I was so stupid, to have loved him for so many years.

More and more people gathered around.

People from other private rooms also came out to watch the spectacle.

"What's going on?"

"Seems like they got divorced and she's not willing to accept it, so she hit that girl."

"Ah, she cheated on him herself and still has the nerve to get physical? How disgusting."

I didn't. That's not true.

I wanted to say something, but when I moved my lips, only a choked sob came out.

"Fine. I'll apologize."

The next second, the dull sound of knees hitting marble floor echoed as I slapped myself hard across the face.

"I'm sorry."

"From now on, I won't appear in front of you two again."

No one expected me to kneel directly in front of Lily.

Even Lily was stunned for a moment.

My action was too quick. No one had time to react.

After speaking, I supported myself against the wall, stood up, and turned to leave.

I didn't give anyone another glance.

Everyone present could barely breathe. The atmosphere was oppressively terrible.

No one dared look at that man's expression.

I drove toward the hospital.

Because I was in such a hurry, the car even crashed into a railing. Warm blood slid down from my temple.

I couldn't wait for the elevator. I ran all the way up.

Pedestrians hurriedly avoided me in fright.

I couldn't care about any of that.

My high heels twisted my ankle.

I just took them off and ran to the tenth floor carrying them.

I ran straight into the attending physician coming out of the hospital room.

Before I could catch my breath, I grabbed the doctor and asked:

"My grandmother—"

A nurse pushed out a hospital bed reflecting cold light.

A withered hand hung down from under the white sheet, a very familiar red string bracelet around the wrist.

I blinked slowly.

The doctor removed his mask and sighed, lowering his eyes.

"We were just about to notify you. We couldn't save the patient."

I didn't immediately understand what the doctor meant.

My ears were ringing.

I couldn't believe it as I lifted the white sheet.

My hands were shaking so much that it took several attempts.

Those eyes that had always looked at me with a smile were now peacefully closed.

I wanted to say something...

My throat felt like it was filled with razor blades. Before I could even open my mouth, tears fell like blood.

One after another in a continuous stream, drop after drop landing on the yellowed, sagging skin.

"Grandma, does it look good! I made it for you!"

"My Jade has such skillful hands. Grandma loves it."

Later, when I had some money, I bought her a big gold bracelet.

The little old lady didn't wear it:

"Grandma likes what Jade made by hand better. It's like Jade is always with Grandma..."

"Grandma, I got into North Ivy University!"

"I knew my Jade was the smartest! Got into the best university in the whole country!"

Past moments of acting spoiled and playing around flashed through my mind like a film reel.

"Miss Rivers!"

"Miss Rivers, are you alright..."

In the last moment before losing consciousness, an anxious figure ran toward me and caught me steadily in their arms.

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling in a daze.

From now on, I don't have a grandmother anymore.

Tears slid down from the corners of my eyes, tear tracks drying on my cheeks.