Chapter 2

Only then did River notice that I was breaking out in cold sweat, unable to even stand steadily.

His expression changed instantly. He scooped me up and headed outside.

At the center of the banquet hall, Damien, who had been nodding in conversation with others, felt something and turned his head.

Watching River's back as he hurried away carrying me.

Luna followed his gaze:

"Oh my, what a skillful act. Seducing River even at the gala, he just can't hold back anymore."

"Damien, when she was seducing you back then..."

CRASH!

A sharp sound of shattering glass suddenly exploded.

Luna looked at the wine glass crushed in Damien's hand, too frightened to say anything more.

In the parking lot, River practically burst open the car door, roughly placing me in the passenger seat, and began rummaging through my bag for my emergency medication. He poured out the last two pills, twisted open a bottle of water, and pressed it to my lips.

The medicine entered my system.

After resting for fifteen minutes, my complexion gradually improved.

River's expression only grew darker. He asked me anxiously:

"What's really going on with your stomach problem?"

"You've been treating it for a year and it's still not better. Tomorrow I'm taking you to the hospital for a full physical exam!"

I didn't respond, my eyes somewhat unfocused.

Initially, I stayed with River because I wanted to survive, to investigate the truth from back then.

To tell Damien personally that I wasn't the one who leaked the secrets.

But today, seeing Damien's cold eyes and hearing the poisonous insults from Luna and others, nothing seemed to matter anymore.

I just felt like there was a gaping hole in my chest.

Wind whistling through, my whole body cold.

It couldn't be healed.

I raised my head again, looking at River:

"River, I don't want to stay with you anymore."

"Let me go."

River stared at me for several seconds, then suddenly scoffed.

He stroked my face soothingly:

"Throwing a tantrum? I know, tonight was hard on you."

"I promise you, from now on, if you don't want to go to these events, I won't take you. If you want money, I'll give you another five hundred thousand. Is that okay?"

I dodged his reaching hand, still insisting.

"No."

"River, I don't want to stay with you anymore."

River said nothing more, just darkened his face, helped me fasten my seatbelt, and drove away.

I thought he'd take me home, but soon I realized we were going the wrong direction.

"Where are we going?"

River snorted coldly, his voice hard.

"The hospital."

"You're not feeling well and throwing tantrums at me. I'm not going to argue with you. Once the doctor fixes you up, we'll talk about other things."

I smiled lightly, hearing the concern in River's words.

"River, thank you."

I said it very seriously.

Perhaps the most heartfelt thing I'd said to him in these three years together.

River raised his eyebrows proudly, a smile just forming at the corner of his mouth.

Then he heard me slowly accept my fate:

"But there's no need. I probably... don't have long to live."

The instant those words fell, the sound of screeching brakes suddenly erupted.

River's throat rolled, his voice hoarse.

"What did you say?"

He suddenly grabbed me, eyes wide as he demanded:

"What do you mean you don't have long to live? How could... it's not a stomach problem, is it? You lied to me?"

I looked into River's eyes.

Strangely, saying it out loud brought a bizarre sense of relief.

"Do you know... about heart failure? The average survival time doctors give is three years. This year is the third year."

I lowered my eyes and saw warm wetness falling on the back of my hand—first a few drops, then torrential like a rainstorm.

Those weren't my tears.

River was crying.

A crazy thought surged to mind. I couldn't help but exploit River's sympathy.

This was my last chance.

"Could you... help me find out the truth about the leaked Cross family secrets from back then? I don't want to die being wrongly accused. River, I'm begging you."