Chapter 4

Standing before me was the person I loved to my very core, yet I had no words to counter hers. Seeing her in such pain tore at my heart, but what could I do? What could I possibly say? The man I was now—broken and powerless—had nothing left to offer. I coldly let go of her hand. "I'm only offering you a kind reminder, Ms. Smith. Whether you listen or not is none of my concern." Ophelia grew even angrier at my words. "Yes, it's none of your concern. Who I marry has nothing to do with you! But you, of all people, have no right to tell me what to do!" She was right. I no longer had any right to do that. "I wish you happiness, Ms. Smith," I said before turning to leave. Just then, she stopped me in a voice that was filled with a mix of anger and something else I couldn't quite identify, "Don't you regret the decision you made back then? Not even a little?" I paused in my steps and stood there silently for a long time. Finally, I said without turning back, "No. I've never regretted the decision I made back then—and I never will." Hearing this, Ophelia seethed with anger. She hurled the folder in her hand at me. It struck my back, but I felt nothing. Her voice was thick with disappointment and rage as she screamed, "So, it's true! You really left back then because you thought I'd drag you down!" Clenching my fists at my sides, I gritted my teeth and replied, "Yes. That's exactly why. At the time, I wanted someone who could help me rise to success, not someone who was about to go bankrupt. All you and your family did was drag me down. I didn't want to be burdened by someone like you." Without giving her a chance to respond, I walked straight into the elevator without looking back. She glared at me, her voice ringing out one last time as the doors began to close. "Fine. If that's how it is, you'll regret the choice you made back then!" The elevator doors slowly shut, and her figure blurred from my sight. As soon as they closed, I lost control of my emotions. I pulled my hat down over my face, letting the sorrow consume me. I hated myself in that moment—hated that I had hurt her once before, and now, I had hurt her again. Those cruel words, spoken once more, felt like a double-edged blade. Neither of us emerged unscathed. Both of us were pierced by the sharp edges of the other's words. As I stepped out of the elevator, I saw Hayden standing there, waiting. I wasn't sure if he had seen me, but he glanced in my direction. That look—one I would never forget—belonged to the same person who had pushed me into the abyss with his own hands five years ago . After leaving that place, I went straight back to my company. The workload for the day wasn't heavy, but I couldn't help noticing that fewer orders were being assigned to me. Maybe it was just exhaustion catching up with me from staying up too late recently, so I didn't think too much about it. Since I was unable to grab any more deliveries, I decided to head home early. I stopped by the market to buy some groceries, and when I got home, Mom seemed happy to see me. "Why are you back so early today?" "There wasn't much work today, so I came back early. How are you feeling today?" "Not too bad. Ah, I feel bad that an old lady like me is dragging you down." "Mom, what are you saying? You saved me twice back then. Sit at the door and rest. I'll cook dinner, and we'll eat soon." She smiled faintly and nodded. "Alright, alright." I carried the groceries to the kitchen to prepare dinner, and Mom sat by the door as she usually did every day. Recently, though, her health hadn't been great, and she didn't go outside as often. At first, I'd go out occasionally to check on her and chat. But while cooking, I was worried the food might burn, so I decided to finish up before checking on her. When I finally stepped out of the kitchen, I found her collapsed on the ground by the door. The sight of her lying there made my heart tighten as a terrible sense of foreboding filled me. "Mom? Mom! Are you alright?" She didn't respond but was still breathing. I immediately called for an ambulance and rushed her to the hospital. Before long, the doctor came to me with an update. "Mr. Parker, your mother's condition can no longer be delayed. This time, the diagnosis confirms acute leukemia. "We've talked about this illness before. It wasn't severe then, but the situation is critical now. Please decide on treatment quickly. Chemotherapy could help manage the condition, and a transplant might extend her life." I had always known about Celine's condition but had never told her the full truth. I lied, telling her it was something less serious. She always believed it was just her age and declining health causing her symptoms. "Thank you, doctor. I understand the situation. Can you tell me roughly how much the treatment will cost? How much will insurance cover, how many cycles are needed, and what's the long-term outlook?" The doctor glanced at me, seemingly sensing my financial constraints. "The costs might be high, so prepare yourself mentally. For detailed information, speak to Dr. Lewis. He'll explain everything. Right now, stabilizing her condition is the priority." I nodded. "Understood. I'll go find Dr. Lewis right away." After listening to Dr. Lewis' explanation, my heart sank. The cost of treatment far exceeded my current savings. Even if I went forward with it, I could only afford the initial stages, leaving no means to sustain further care. "Think it over," Dr. Lewis said. "Decide whether to pursue conservative treatment or something else and let us know as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly." I clutched the hem of my shirt tightly. "Alright. I'll get back to you soon." When I returned to the hospital ward, Mom had already woken up. She was insisting on going home. "Let's go back. Staying in the hospital costs money, and there's nothing wrong with me." I gently pressed her back down onto the bed. "Don't worry about the cost; insurance covers it. Since we're here already, let's just do a check-up. Didn't the doctor say last time that at your age, it's best to do a check-up every three months? It'll give us peace of mind." Mom hesitated, still skeptical. "Even so, check-ups cost money. Let's just go home." I smiled. "You forgot, didn't you? My company offers free annual check-ups. My boss helped me secure two slots this year. It's all taken care of." Hearing this, she finally relaxed. "This old body of mine doesn't have anything worth checking." I had just managed to reassure her when my phone rang—it was Mr. Curt calling. "Thaddeus, are you available right now?" "I'm a bit tied up at the moment. Is something wrong?" Mr. Curt was silent for a while, as though he was struggling to find the right words. After a pause, he finally said, "There's something I need to tell you." Hearing his tone, I had a sinking feeling. "Mr. Curt, just tell me. What is it?" He cleared his throat, his voice dropping to a quieter tone. "I'm sorry, Thaddeus. I did my best. I don't know what's going on, but complaints about you have increased recently. Upper management just issued a notice that they want to terminate your employment. "They didn't provide any other explanation, and when I asked, they wouldn't say. It seems like you won't be able to work in this company anymore. Did you offend someone? This feels deliberate." Hearing his words, I felt like the ground had collapsed beneath me. At the moment I needed money the most, I lost my job. And the person most likely responsible for my dismissal was the one I had once loved the most.