Chapter 6

Evelyn Reed POV

I was admitted to the hospital's burn unit.

The burn on my leg was extensive, and coupled with my weakened state after the miscarriage, I developed a high fever.

In a daze, I felt someone wiping my forehead with a warm towel. The touch was light, carrying a cautious, almost pleading, gentleness.

I opened my eyes and saw Nate's bloodshot eyes.

"Evelyn, you're awake?" Nate's voice was hoarse, his hand shaking slightly as he held mine. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know your burn was so severe. After I took Sophia to the hospital yesterday, I came back for you, but you were already gone..."

I looked at him coldly, as if at a stranger.

"Is Sophia okay?" I suddenly asked, my voice hoarse.

Nate paused, seemingly unprepared for my question, and his eyes darted away: "She's fine, just a little shaken."

"Is that so?" I forced a smile, a trace of mockery in my voice. "Being shaken requires you to stay with her all night? Nate, you truly disgust me."

Nate's face instantly turned ashen. He abruptly stood up, trying to explain: "Evelyn, listen to me. Sophia has a severe kidney condition; she can't handle any stress. It was just an instinctive reaction at the time..."

"Instinctive reaction?" I cut him off, my gaze as sharp as a knife. "Your instinct was to abandon your wife, scalded by hot soup, to embrace a woman who was completely unharmed. Nate, don't use her illness as an excuse; you simply don't love me."

"No, that's not it!" Nate desperately refuted, taking a step forward to embrace me. "I love you, Evelyn, I truly do. Sophia is just like my sister; my care for her is purely out of responsibility..."

"Enough!" I violently swatted his hand away, pointing towards the door. "Get out. I don't want to see you."

Nate stood frozen, his face ashen.

"Okay, I'll go out. You get some rest; I'll come back later to see you." Nate conceded, turning and walking out of the ward.

The moment the door closed, I shut my eyes, a single cold tear tracing a path down my cheek.

For the next few days, Nate stayed by my side in the hospital like a madman. He canceled all his work, personally feeding me, wiping me down, and changing my dressings. He humbled himself to dust, trying to atone for his mistakes in this way.

But I remained silent, treating him as if he were invisible.

On the fifth day, the ward door opened, and Sophia walked in.

She wore a patient gown, her face pale, carrying a fruit basket, looking utterly pathetic.

"Dr. Reed, I'm so sorry." Sophia walked to the bedside, her eyes red. "It's all because of me that you got such serious injuries. Nate has been taking care of you these past few days; he feels terrible. Please don't be mad at him, okay?"

I leaned against the headboard, coldly watching her performance.

"Sophia, your acting is quite good," I said, my voice flat. "It's a shame you're not an actress."

Sophia's face stiffened, then she bit her lower lip, tears falling: "Dr. Reed, I know you hate me. But Nate and I really have nothing going on; we're just like siblings who grew up together. Please don't let me ruin your marriage."

"Siblings?" I scoffed. "Do siblings plaster each other's photos all over their bedroom? Do siblings fill their diaries with declarations of love for each other?"

Sophia's face instantly turned deathly pale. She looked at me in disbelief, clearly not expecting me to know so much.

"You snooped in Nate's diary?"

"That's my husband's home. Why shouldn't I look?" I looked at her, my eyes disdainful. "Sophia, you're truly pathetic. You think Nate loves you? If he truly loved you, why didn't he marry you back then? He married me, using my professional expertise to save your life. In his eyes, you're nothing more than a beggar in need of charity."

This remark struck Sophia's sore spot with precision. She lunged forward, grabbing my wrist, her voice sharp: "You're lying! Nate loves me! You're just a stand-in!"

My leg injury hadn't healed. Her sudden tug made me gasp in pain. I forcefully shook Sophia's hand off: "Get away from me!"

Sophia, seizing the opportunity, stumbled backward and fell heavily to the floor, letting out a cry of pain.

"Sophia!"

The ward door was violently flung open, and Nate rushed in. Seeing Sophia on the floor, he scooped her into his arms.

"Nate, I'm in so much pain..." Sophia clutched her stomach, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

Nate's head snapped up, his gaze fixed on me, filled with anger and disgust: "Evelyn Reed, are you insane? She's a patient! If anything happens to her kidney, I swear I won't let you off!"

I looked at his murderous expression, and my heart died completely.

"Fine," I said to him coldly. "Nate, I'll be waiting."