Chapter 4

Maybe the medication hadn’t worn off. I drifted into a deep sleep as soon as I closed my eyes.

When I woke again, I was alone.

I got up, enduring the excruciating pain in my abdomen, to find my daughter’s ward.

But the laughter from the next ward caught my attention. In the blur, I saw Declan affectionately holding a boy, gently caressing the face of a woman on the bed.

“Adeline, everything’s over. You’ll soon be fine. Milo and I will protect you. Don’t worry; I’ll treat him as my own.”

“I’ve invited your favorite designer from Country A to design your wedding dress. The jewelry I ventured to Africa for will be yours. I’ll give you the best of everything.”

“You said you like a seaside villa. I bought one for you and your son. Later, I’ll take Milo to the amusement park. Don’t worry; we’ll bring back your favorite Dorayaki...”

He meticulously planned their future, so tenderly and lovingly.

Turns out he wasn’t a dull man. In these seven years, on every anniversary, he wasn’t home, nor did he prepare gifts, but he remembered everything about Adeline and Milo.

I once cried and argued, but he said long-married couples didn’t need so many ceremonies. Even the most important wedding in life, he kept delaying. I just wasn’t worthy.

He wasn’t busy but took the time to go to the amusement park. Once on Phoebe’s birthday, she asked him to join, but he claimed no interest. He was with someone else.

The three of them, close and planning their future, even sneaked kisses when the child wasn’t looking. Adeline blushed and playfully scolded him.

Each scene stabbed my heart.

Without lingering, I called my mentor to help treat me and my child and to train me in acupuncture and traditional medicine.

My mentor was overjoyed, repeatedly saying “good,” and began preparing to welcome me.

I also bought two tickets for the wedding day, as a final farewell.

As I walked, I finally found my daughter's ward.

Even with my blurred vision, I could see the girl wrapped in bandages, quietly lying on the bed.

Her breathing was weak as if she might vanish at any moment.

At that moment, I gently held Phoebe’s hand and finally couldn’t hold back, bursting into tears.

I didn't linger. I turned around and called my mentor, asking him to help treat my child and me, and to pass on his acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine skills.

My mentor was thrilled and immediately agreed, starting to make arrangements for my arrival.

I also purchased two plane tickets for the day of the wedding, intending them as a final farewell.

While making calls and searching, I eventually located my child's hospital room.

Even though my vision was still blurry, I could make out the girl lying quietly on the bed, her body wrapped in bandages.

Her breathing was weak, as if she might vanish at any moment.

At that moment, I gently held Phoebe's hand and finally couldn't hold back my tears.

A pair of hands appeared on my shoulders, gently embracing me, wiping my tears, and trembling uncontrollably.

"Lydia, don't be too upset. It's not good for your eyes to cry; it breaks my heart. Phoebe might not make it, so let's make her last moments happy, okay? Don't cry and make her sad."

"And you just had surgery. The doctor said the recovery isn't going well, and it might be difficult to have children in the future. Don't worry, I won't abandon you. We adopted Milo, didn't we? We still have a child..."

"Let's think of him as staying with us in place of Phoebe. She would find peace knowing that..."

As he spoke, his voice began to tremble, tears sliding down my neck as if he was enduring immense pain.

If I weren't aware of the truth, I might have thought he was empathetic and understanding.

But I know this is all a web of lies around me. The one losing a kidney, going blind, and possibly dying is me. I'm the one about to lose a child and be forced to accept my husband's lover's child. What did I do wrong to deserve such deceit?

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