Chapter 5

My mom sat on the hospital bench, her hair messy, clutching my father's medical paperwork tight in her hands.

"Do you have enough money to cover the fees?" she asked.

I bent down and pulled her into a hug.

"We have enough," I told her.

I borrowed cash from friends, maxed out every credit card I owned, and called the company finance team to request an advance on my commission.

Every single call left me feeling utterly humble and desperate.

After I finished all those calls, my hands shook too hard to grip my phone steadily.

At the payment counter, a man handed me a card. "Use this first," Lucas Hale said.

I spun around.

A man in a white medical coat stood right behind me.

His features carried a cold, distant calm. His name tag read Lucas Hale.

I froze on the spot.

He glanced toward the emergency ward. "Your father needs admission procedures done as soon as possible. We can sort out payment matters later."

I set aside my pride without hesitation. "Thank you."

He helped me contact a cardiologist and reorganised all of my father's medical paperwork completely.

Two hours later, my dad's vital signs stabilised temporarily.

I sat at the far end of the hospital corridor, utterly drained of all strength.

Simon showed up just before dawn. His shirt hung crumpled, deep dark circles lining his eyes.

"Claire, how's your dad holding up?" he asked.

I lifted my gaze to meet his. I didn't yell at Simon, and I didn't cry either.

I pulled the wedding ring out of my bag.

It rolled to rest beside the payment slip, letting out a faint tiny clink against the paper.

All color drained from Simon's face. "What are you trying to say?"

"Simon, I finally understand everything."

He stretched out a hand to grab hold of me. "Don't say anything reckless right now."

I dodged his reach. "It is not that you lack love for me."

His eyes lit up instantly. "Claire."

"It's just that your love makes you believe I can wait, endure, and be the sensible one." I slid the payment slip forward across the counter toward him.

"But I no longer want to be the sensible one all the time. Let's end this relationship."

He froze in place. "Claire, don't frighten me with words like that."

I stood to my feet.

Lucas stepped out of his office, clutching my father's test reports in his hand. "Ms. Evans, the department director would like to speak with me."

I walked toward him.

Simon scrambled after me. "Claire!"

I did not glance back.

A thin streak of morning light filtered through the window at the far end of the corridor.

At that exact moment, our seven years together came to an irreversible end.