Chapter 12

Even when Ryan was engaged in the comment war, he could still free up a hand to press a heat pack against my cheek. As I watched him take care of me, I had a feeling that my presence hindered him from unleashing his true potential as a keyboard warrior on the Internet. If I weren't in the ward, I was sure that Ryan would've started bashing the haters right away. I could only let out a helpless sigh. After that, I dispatched Ryan to buy some croissants from a famous bakery for me just so I could divert his attention. That evening, the topic "When will Ms. Jakeman's actual husband die?" went viral on the Internet once again. The netizens even started a specialized thread just to discuss that topic. When I clicked into the thread, I could see the netizens predicting my death in various ways. By the time the enraged Ryan strode into the ward with a bag of croissants in hand, he saw me browsing the threads on the forum. He snatched my phone from me before mumbling, "Don't pay attention to those stupid haters." I just smiled. Honestly speaking, I didn't care about the haters at all. I had to admit, it was pretty amusing to see my potential deaths. This time, Wynnie didn't make a public statement. It seemed that she had tacitly agreed to the netizens bullying me. However, Richard was the one releasing a statement this time. The statement's gist basically claimed that I had nothing to do with his injury. He was the one who got injured out of his own carelessness. Then again, his statement sounded quite aggrieved, not to mention the way he phrased the entire thing was quite manipulative. In a way, he was also proving that I was connected to his injury and that he was just putting out the statement for Wynnie's sake. Seriously, if I didn't know that Richard was the third-wheeler in my relationship, his loyal and loving persona would've moved me to tears. I spent many days in the hospital after that. The doctor refused to discharge me from the hospital, after all. When I asked him why he wouldn't discharge me for the third time today, he was so mad that he broke out into laughter. The doctor closed the file with a loud snap before questioning me, "Don't you know the reason? Why do you, a patient afflicted with late-stage stomach cancer, keep getting admitted to the hospital instead of recuperating at home? How can I ever discharge you from the hospital at this rate?" I fell silent at his words. But it was so boring in the hospital. My life was so boring that I entertained myself by counting the hair strands I had lost due to the chemotherapy every day. Katie did visit me once. She gave me the sketchbook that was filled with my old designs as well as a bunch of markers. That was when I decided to start designing again. I wanted to design the formalwear that Ryan and his future bride would be wearing during their wedding. Then again, I had no idea if said future bride would like my designs. Once Ryan found out about my antics, his ears turned red out of embarrassment. "Nothing is set in stone yet. Seriously, you're even more worried about my love life compared to my own mother." I just smiled mutely in return. Judging from Ryan's reaction, I was very sure that he had a crush on one lucky lady out there. How amazing. Soon, Ryan cut down his spending time with me. My guess was that he was spending more time with that unknown woman. It was a good thing, though. They'd be able to talk things out with each other before their marriage. Hopefully, they wouldn't turn out to be like me and Wynnie. Earlier today, Ryan dropped by to bring me food before leaving in a hurry. But a few moments later, someone knocked on the ward door. At first, I thought Ryan returned to my ward to pick up something he had accidentally left behind. Little did I know that I'd see the person I thought I wouldn't be able to reunite with for the rest of my life. It was Rhonda Fairfield. No… She was Mdm. Fairfield to me. She was also the jewelry expert that Ryan had brought up that day. Not only was Mdm. Fairfield a designer, but she was also an outstanding investor. The prices of the jewelry she crafted tended to triple. Eight years ago, I had cut off all contact with Mdm. Fairfield after I got married. Now that we had reunited, I noticed how radiant and charming Mdm. Fairfield still looked despite her almost turning 60 years old. She was the epitome of a timeless beauty. In contrast to her marvelous appearance, my current appearance and condition couldn't even compare to one-tenth of her condition. Mdm. Fairfield placed the fruit basket she was carrying on the table before taking a seat in front of me. She took off her sunglasses and smiled at me. Her eyes silently drank in my extremely warped and haggard appearance. "Do you regret your decision?" I just nodded with a bitter smile. "Yes, I do." Had I chosen to leave this city with Mdm. Fairfield instead of agreeing to Wynnie's proposal, I'd have lived a wonderful life. Also, I'd miss Wynnie forever. That way, things between Wynnie and I wouldn't have soured to this point. I'd always remember how beautiful and sweet she once was. Mdm. Fairfield patted me on the head lovingly. "I told you long before that things wouldn't go well for you if you chose to marry Wynnie. And yet, you never listened to me. If your mother were still alive, she'd be wrought with heartbreak at the sight of you." I didn't say anything. Memories of my mother stopped forming after I hit the age of five. Now that so many years had flown by, I could barely remember what she looked like. When I was seven, my father passed away. That was when I became an orphan. Compared to my parents, it was a lot easier for me to remember Mdm. Fairfield's first abrupt appearance. Mdm. Fairfield had appeared all of a sudden right after Wynnie's father passed away. Similarly, all sources of her happiness disappeared right after her father's death. Jakeman Group was an extremely scrumptious feast to the other companies. Whoever could get their hands on the ultimate authority over Jakeman Group would be able to rise through the ranks as the new ruler of the business world. When Wynnie's father was still alive, those people dared not act boldly. But somehow, he died due to an accident. Now that the apex predator was gone, nothing could oppress the remaining predators. Thus, they began flashing their claws and baring their fangs while impatiently waiting for their turn to rip a piece of meat out of the carcass known as Jakeman Group. Back then, Wynnie had just turned 18 years old. She didn't know anything about running a company. The only way to save Jakeman Group was to beg for investments. No one was willing to help Wynnie simply because she wasn't worth their investments. I could only watch as she mentally broke down, too helpless to help. I had no right, nor did I have the guts to advise Wynnie to give up on Jakeman Group. It was because she once told me that her father had left the company to her. She must do all she could to protect it. That was when Mdm. Fairfield showed up. She told me she could help Wynnie, but there was a condition. I had to leave with her. I agreed to that condition in order to help Wynnie out. Even now, I could still remember the look of disbelief on Wynnie's face upon hearing that I wanted to break up with her. She wailed and begged me not to leave. At one point, she almost sank down to her knees to beg me to stay. Her eyes were so red at that time. My heart broke at the sight. I wanted nothing more than to hug her and tell her that I no longer wanted to leave her. But that wouldn't do. I had to leave. If not, Mdm. Fairfield wouldn't invest in Jakeman Group. At that time, there wasn't a better solution to Wynnie's crisis. I could only pry Wynnie's fingers off my hand one by one before abandoning her with all the resolve I could muster. Her wails rang out loudly from behind me. I was too cowardly to turn back to look at her. I was so afraid that if I were to look at her, I wouldn't be able to steel my heart anymore. That was when Jakeman Group's fate was truly sealed. That company was the only thing Wynnie's father had left for her. If she were to lose it, she'd be extremely depressed. As for me, I was just a lost wanderer who came from a shitty background. Wynnie was the only woman I cared about. Other than that, I didn't have any family or friends. I could easily survive anywhere in this world. That was why I left without looking back. Just like that, I flew out of the country with Mdm. Fairfield and disappeared from Wynnie's life for the next three years. Till now, I dared not imagine how on earth Wynnie managed to survive the days when she just lost her father and gotten dumped by me. Just how much pain and torment did she go through at that time?