It seemed that Blake wasn't aware that the man before her was the esteemed Zayn Carter of Havenpoint. She remained unfazed, devoid of the trepidation and deference exhibited by her colleagues.

Blake adjusted her glasses as she asked with a puzzled tone, "You were unaware that the patient has stomach cancer? Are you sure you're a relative of hers?"

Before Zayn could utter a word, Blake furrowed her brow and remarked, "She's in such agonizing pain and yet, she still refuses to take any medication! She's truly taking her own health for granted!"

Zayn's body froze, his mind struggling to grasp the overwhelming emotions that surged through him.

He was unaware that Willow had late-stage stomach cancer.

Yet, there was one thing he was well aware of. Willow didn't refuse to take her medication. Instead, he had thrown away her pill, preventing her from taking it.

Zayn's heart was gripped by

"It's not a dream, Lolo."

Zayn's voice was filled with reassurance as he gently clasped Willow's delicate hand. "I'm here, Lolo. I'm truly your beloved Zayn."

Zayn's grip was so strong that Willow felt a slight pain, which jolted her back to reality. She realized that she wasn't dreaming.

She was utterly shocked! She was about to ask him why he was acting so strangely when he rasped, "Lolo, why didn't you tell me you're sick? Why didn't you tell me you have cancer!"

Willow's eyelid twitched as she realized that Zayn had found out about her late-stage stomach cancer.

"Zayn, I've brought this up before, but you refused to believe me."

Willow's statement sent a jolt through Zayn, and he suddenly recalled that she had previously mentioned her cancer when she had approached him for money to help with Aaron's treatment.

What did he say back then?

He actually told her that she was bette

Suddenly, the sound of a wine bottle breaking filled the private room as Zayn viciously smashed the bottle onto John's head. 

Zayn's inexplicable actions left everyone dumbfounded, but no one dared to question him. All they could do was remain silent and walk on eggshells around him.

Zayn completely disregarded the bloodied and wailing John, and forcefully pulled Willow away from his embrace amidst the stunned silence of the crowd. As a searing surge of fury possessed him, he made his way toward Bordello.

When she was in the private room moments ago, Willow had exerted every ounce of her strength to prevent herself from collapsing.

She was already plagued by a dangerously delicate stomach. After having consumed so much alcohol on an empty stomach and being subjected to the violent jolts of the speeding car, she felt an excruciating pain in her stomach—as if her insides were being ripped apart.

As soon as they reached Bordello, Zayn threw her roughly onto the bed.

Willow was in so much pain that she could barely breathe. She didn't have the time or energy to deal with his anger. She just wanted to find some painkillers to alleviate the agonizing pain in her stomach.

She struggled to feel her way around, eventually locating the medicine bottle on the bedside table.

There was only one pill left in the medicine bottle. When she saw it, she felt as if she had clutched the last lifeline that would rescue her from the clutches of pain.

She popped the pill out of the bottle and quickly brought it to her mouth. However, Zayn suddenly snatched the pill from her hand before she could swallow it.

"Willow! How could you stoop so low!"

"Zayn, please, it's just painkillers…"

Willow reached out her trembling hand, pleading, "Zayn, please give it to me. My stomach is in so much pain…"

"In pain?" 

Zayn laughed derisively, sending shivers down the spine. "You deserve every bit of it!"

Zayn's eyes flashed with icy disdain as he unceremoniously hurled the pill toward the window.

"Please, Zayn, don't!"

Willow desperately lunged for the pill, but her attempts were futile.

In the final stages of cancer, the pain was the most unbearable ordeal. Many patients had not succumbed to physical exhaustion, but rather to the agonizing pain itself.

As the excruciating pain intensified, Willow's lips turned a ghostly shade of purple. She wanted to alleviate the pain on her body, yet the painkiller pill was mercilessly thrown away by Zayn. With no way to ease her suffering, she was left utterly helpless.

Willow dragged herself to the window, her gaze falling upon the bustling cityscape below.

Outside, the city lights twinkled like a sea of stars, each house a beacon of warmth and comfort. Yet, not a single one belonged to Willow. She suddenly recalled a conversation she once had with Zayn.

"Zayn, look at all those lights!"

"Willow, wherever the light shines, that's where our home is."

At that moment, Zayn was the one who had whispered sweet nothings to her.

Yet Zayn was also the one who had destroyed their supposed home.

A cruel twist of fate had taken their home away. In the end, Willow was left with nothing.

Zayn's accusations pierced through Willow's reverie, bringing her back to the harsh reality. She felt a wave of pain wash over her, similar to a fish struggling for survival out of water. She could only curl up into a fetal position, desperately trying to catch her breath. 

"Zayn, I only have you in my life. Only you…"

Zayn sneered with disdain and said, "Willow, you make me sick!"

Afterward, Willow tumbled off the bed in a disheveled state, her stomach pain causing her to retch uncontrollably.

Amidst the acidic bile she regurgitated, traces of blood were discernible. A droplet of this blood-tinged vomit dripped onto Zayn's foot.

There was unfiltered disgust in his gaze.

"Willow, you're truly disgusting!"

Willow's consciousness was clouded by the intense pain, and she could only shake her head in denial.

"Zayn, I'm not impure, I'm not defiled... I'm sick… I'm really just sick…"

When he saw Willow's distressed expression, Zayn couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt in his heart. As he recalled her intense vomiting, driven by disgust, his gaze grew even more somber and unreadable. 

Willow found him repulsive, yet felt no such aversion toward Louis. 

Zayn was such a fool to pine over her for all those years!

Another wave of anger washed over Zayn, and with a sudden burst of force, he flung Willow onto the nearby couch.

As he was about to torture her again, a mouthful of blood gushed from her mouth. Soon after, she fell to the ground, lying motionless and unresponsive. 

"Willow!"

Zayn's eyes were bloodshot and even he was oblivious to the overwhelming panic his voice carried at that moment.

Without a moment's hesitation, he picked up her limp body and rushed toward the hospital.

As he held her in his arms, he realized how alarmingly light she was.

He vividly remembered her previous figure, once full of flesh and vitality. When had she become so emaciated?

How long had it been since he had properly held her in his arms?

As soon as they reached the hospital, the doctor, Blake Smith, swiftly whisked Willow away to the emergency room for immediate medical attention.

Zayn waited outside, his heart pounding with anxiety. Finally, when the emergency room door swung open, he rushed forward and asked, "How is she, Dr. Smith?"

Blake's face was etched with disapproval as she exclaimed, "She's already in the late-stage of stomach cancer and still drinking so much alcohol! She's putting her life at grave risk! You might as well start planning for her funeral!"

Zayn froze in disbelief. It felt as if ages had elapsed before he managed to utter, "Who are you talking about? Who has late-stage stomach cancer? Who are you asking me to plan a funeral for!"

It seemed that Blake wasn't aware that the man before her was the esteemed Zayn Carter of Havenpoint. She remained unfazed, devoid of the trepidation and deference exhibited by her colleagues.

Blake adjusted her glasses as she asked with a puzzled tone, "You were unaware that the patient has stomach cancer? Are you sure you're a relative of hers?"

Before Zayn could utter a word, Blake furrowed her brow and remarked, "She's in such agonizing pain and yet, she still refuses to take any medication! She's truly taking her own health for granted!"

Zayn's body froze, his mind struggling to grasp the overwhelming emotions that surged through him.

He was unaware that Willow had late-stage stomach cancer.

Yet, there was one thing he was well aware of. Willow didn't refuse to take her medication. Instead, he had thrown away her pill, preventing her from taking it.

Zayn's heart was gripped by an excruciating torment as he recalled Willow's hopeless expression, futilely reaching for the pill

Chapter 17