Chapter 1

“You have blood cancer, leukemia. This is your diagnosis. ”

The glaring, stark words on the paper were numbingly surreal. I calmly took the diagnosis. I heard my own voice ask, “How much time do I have? ”

The doctor sighed. “Six months at most. ”

“Okay. ”

Without another word, I immediately stood up to leave. That’s how it is when your heart dies. You lose all will to fight. The doctor quickly called out to me. “Ms. Hamilton, don’t give up. There’s still a chance if you find a matching bone marrow donor. ”

It wasn’t that I didn’t know a bone marrow transplant could save my life. But my family might not even want to get tested for me. Thinking this, I chuckled self-deprecatingly. “No need, thank you. ”

“Oh, you’re so young, only 29. ”

The doctor couldn’t bear it and tried to persuade me a few more times. But seeing my silence, he said no more. I put the diagnosis away and called a cab. Outside the window, snow fell heavily, blurring my vision little by little. Back home, it was still cold and empty. Liam was probably “working overtime” again. He used to send a message, just to let me know. But ever since his first love, Aria Vance, returned to the country. He couldn't even bother to send a single message. I didn’t turn on the lights, sitting quietly on the sofa, gazing at the myriad of lights outside the window. For two thousand days, I had waited for Liam to come home. Today was my wedding anniversary with Liam. And today, I received the notice of late-stage cancer. I clenched my hands, crying silently, wondering if it was me who was pathetic, or this hollow marriage. I had waited for Liam for five years. I couldn't wait any longer. I dug out the divorce papers I had drafted two months ago and sent a message to my lawyer. “Mr. Davies, I’ve decided to go through with the divorce. Please draft a new agreement for me. ”

Soon, a reply came. “Okay, same terms as before? ”

“Yes, but I want it done quickly. ”

“The fastest it can be is a month. Let me draft the agreement and we can set a time to meet. ”

“Okay. ”

“By the way, are you really sure? ”

My finger hovered over the screen for a long time before I typed one word. “Yes. ”

In that instant, I felt as if all my strength had drained away. I put down my phone, staring blankly out the window. As long as Liam agreed to the divorce, I would be free of this marriage in a month. A month…

That would also be enough time for me to handle all my affairs. My marriage to Liam was an accident. Liam was the one who proposed to me. Back then, his first love, Aria Vance, left him to study abroad. I knew his heart belonged to someone else, but I still said yes. After all, he was the only one who had been kind to me after my grandmother passed away. Even after we got married, he was like ice, impossible to approach. But I told myself, again and again. Liam was different. If I was good enough to him, even the hardest ice could melt. For so long, our life together wasn't passionate, but it was normal. But less than a year after Aria Vance returned, his ice turned into a sharp blade. Carving into me, leaving me battered and bleeding, again and again. I was truly tired. I didn't want to fight with him anymore. As I was lost in thought, the sound of the door opening echoed through the silent house. The lights flickered on. I shielded my eyes from the sudden glare and heard the familiar sound of his shoes being taken off. “Why are you sitting in the dark? ”

Hearing Liam’s question, devoid of any real concern. I simply replied with two words. “Didn’t want to. ”

Liam paused in the act of taking off his jacket. He sensed I seemed… different today. He dismissed the thought in an instant and continued changing. I watched him, then spoke his name seriously. “Liam. ”

Liam replied without looking up: “Hmm. ”

His response didn’t sound like a familiar husband, but rather a distant stranger. “Let’s get a divorce. ”

2. Liam finally looked at me. “Don’t be silly. ”

Those two simple words dismissed my statement as a joke. “I’m serious. ”

“I had four surgeries today, I’m exhausted. ”

Before, whenever he brought up work, it was his signal for me to shut up. Liam unbuttoned his cuffs and walked into the living room as if nothing had happened. I caught the scent of Aria’s favorite plum blossom perfume. A wave of nausea washed over me. I closed my eyes and continued. “I’ll draft the divorce papers. You can look them over then. If you don’t…”

My words were interrupted by a ringing phone. “My Sunshine, answer the phone! My Sunshine, answer the phone! ”

Aria’s voice chirped from Liam’s jacket. “My Sunshine” was the nickname Aria had given Liam. An exclusive nickname since middle school. Only Aria ever used that intimate name for him. Liam glanced at me: “I didn’t know the ringtone had changed. ”

Even his explanation sounded utterly perfunctory. When he answered the phone, his voice was incredibly gentle, a complete contrast to just moments ago. “Aria, what’s wrong? ”

It was always like this. Sometimes I couldn’t tell who was Liam’s actual wife. After hanging up, Liam looked down at me. “Aria has a low fever today. She said she wants your pumpkin soup. ”

I clutched my pants tightly, looking at him in disbelief. “Liam, do you know what time it is? ”

The clock on the wall had long since passed midnight. Liam said blandly. “You’re a freelancer.