Chapter 2
Eleanor slowly awoke to a dimly lit room, her mind gradually piecing itself back together. It was only then she realized she had been placed in a shared hospital ward.
There was no one by her bed, not even a cup of warm tea on the bedside table.
Her throat felt parched, almost as if it were on fire, and Eleanor had no choice but to drag her post–surgery, aching body step by step towards the kitchenette to get some water.
She had barely taken a few steps when the sound of familiar laughter reached her ears.
Eleanor paused, turning toward the source of the noise. Through the window of the ward door, she saw what was unfolding inside.
In the brightly lit private room, her mother and fiancé were gathered around Lillian, chatting and laughing as if they were the closest family in the world.
In that instant, Eleanor felt as if someone had pierced her heart with bitterness, which spread rapidly, bringing a stinging sensation to her eyes.
Just then, her mother, Selene, happened to glance up and spot Eleanor standing at the door. A flash of awkwardness crossed her face, but she quickly plastered on a smile and called out, “Ellie, you’re awake!”
Kane chimed in, as if offering an explanation, “You were sleeping so soundly, I thought I’d come over here to keep Lillian company.”
Eleanor didn’t respond. Her gaze instead fell upon the table inside the room.
It was laden with an array of meticulously prepared meals that were clearly meant for Lillian’s recovery.
Seeing Eleanor’s expression, Selene assumed she was hungry, so she pushed the food toward her. “They’re a bit cold now. Your sister can’t have anything cold after her surgery, so you should eat.”
Eleanor felt as though something heavy had settled in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Lillian had just had surgery, but hadn’t Eleanor also undergone a grueling bone marrow procedure?
Lillian couldn’t eat cold food, but was Eleanor supposed to?
The truth was, it seemed she had never truly existed in their eyes, Eleanor thought bitterly.
Even if she was just a source of bone marrow, she was still flesh and blood from her mother,
wasn’t she?
How could her mother not spare even a little affection for her?
People often say a mother’s love is instinctual, yet Eleanor couldn’t find a reason to convince
16:51 0
herself why her mother’s heart was so cold toward her.
She could never understand, which was why it hurt so deeply.
The pain from the bone marrow extraction site flared anew, causing Eleanor to gasp. She clutched her side and turned to leave.
“I’m not hungry. I’ll head back to my room,” she mumbled.
Behind her, she could hear Lillian’s plaintive voice.
“Kay, Mom, do you think Ellie’s upset because you only prepared food for me?”
Selene’s momentary guilt was swiftly replaced by irritation.
“You’re not well, of course we need to take better care of you. Isn’t that right?”
“If she’s upset over such a small thing, she’s the one without a heart!”
Kane added, “Lillian, you’re too kind and considerate. We want to take care of you, and no one can stop us.”
As the door closed behind her, Eleanor felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow. She didn’t look back, forcing herself to make the slow journey back to her room.
Once she was lying on her bed again, the pain returned with full force, causing her to break out in a cold sweat.
There were other patients in the room, so she bit down hard on her lip, refusing to make a sound.
Not long after, Kane rushed in, his face full of concern.
“Ellie, why are you sweating so much? Are you in a lot of pain?”
“I’ll massage it for you.”
Hearing this, Eleanor’s eyes misted over, a wave of emotion washing over her. Maybe it was because she was so weak, or perhaps it was the twenty years of shared history she couldn’t let
- go.
Looking at the man in front of her, Eleanor couldn’t hold back any longer. She sobbed, letting out all the pent–up sorrow of the past years, “Kay, you’re all I have. Promise me you won’t leave me, okay?”
Her plea softened Kane’s heart. He gently patted her head and said warmly, “Silly Ellie, I’d never leave you. I’m always here.”
“And after our wedding next week, we’ll be together forever.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Selene’s urgent voice called from outside the room.
“Kay, come quickly, Lillian is suddenly very sick!”
On the bed, Eleanor felt Kane’s hand slip away. In a blink, he was gone, racing out of the room
16:51
like an arrow shot from a bow.
Moments later, she heard the doctor scolding outside, “I’ve told you many times, keep her diet light after surgery! Too much rich food at once, her stomach can’t handle it.”
“This is indigestion. It’s good she’s vomiting, I’ll prescribe something to help her digest.”
Meanwhile, Eleanor’s stomach growled loudly in protest, having had nothing to eat all day. But no one noticed, and no one cared.
As the noise outside gradually died down, Eleanor gazed at the now–dark hallway. She knew deep down, Kane likely wouldn’t be coming back tonight.
