Chapter 2

From the hallway, the nurses' chatter could clearly be heard in the room. "Dr. Janke is so devoted to Ms. Quesnel in the VIP ward. He performed her appendectomy himself and checks on her every day. I heard they were each other's first loves. His mentor even asked him to look after Ms. Quesnel before he passed away."

Vernon's expression shifted slightly, and he quickly turned to Yvette. "Yvee, don't listen to what they're saying. Yulianna and I are just friends. I'm taking care of her because of my mentor's request."

"I know," Yvette replied. She opened her eyes and looked at him very calmly. "You're a responsible person. It's what you should do."

Though she seemed to understand, her response still cut deep into Vernon's heart like a dull knife.

Just then, a soft sound came from the doorway. Yulianna was standing there weakly, leaning on the IV stand. The hem of her hospital gown was stained with bright red blood.

"Vernon…" She bit her lip, her voice trembling with tearful emotion. "I heard Ms. Waldner was admitted to the hospital, so I came over to ask how she was doing."

"Why did you get out of bed?" Vernon rushed over immediately to support her, his tone brimming with concern. "Didn't I tell you to stay in bed and rest?"

Yulianna leaned against him and said weakly, "I was worried about Ms. Waldner…"

Vernon sighed helplessly as he carried Yulianna up in his arms. As he left, he turned to Yvette and said, "Yvee, I'll take her back to her room first. I'll be right back to keep you company."

His silhouette faded into the white light of the hallway.

Yvette slowly looked away. She then picked up her phone next to her pillow and opened the email from the African ecological photography expedition team.

Six months ago, she had submitted her application on a whim, thinking at the time that once Vernon was done with his current busy period, she would discuss it with him, and they could go to Africa together.

Now, she didn't need to discuss it anymore.

Her fingertips tapped lightly on the screen as she replied: [I accept your invitation to join this expedition. Yvette Waldner.]

As the notification flashed on her screen, Yvette closed her eyes, and at last, a tear slid down her face.

By the time the IV drip was done, the sky was already turning a pale white. Vernon never came back.

Yvette informed the nurse to have the IV drip removed. She turned down the nurse's suggestion to stay for observation and walked out of the hospital on her own. The early morning breeze was cool against her face, which helped to clear her mind instantly.

She walked along the hospital's boundary wall until she reached the entrance of a familiar stairwell.

Ten years ago, Yvette experienced the darkest moment of her life right here.

She was fifteen at the time. Her mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy at Loneville Hospital. That day, her mother fell into a coma after her treatment, and the doctor called her in to say that things weren't looking good.

She was crouched in the stairwell and weeping softly as she hugged her knees. Afraid of alerting people, she didn't dare make a sound, so she simply let her tears fall to the floor, leaving a wet patch behind.

Just as she was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe, a pair of clean hands handed her a pack of tissues.

"Stop crying. Everything will be okay."

The youth's voice was as gentle as the morning sun, and it dispelled the gloom in her heart. She raised her head and saw an intern in a white coat, with delicate features and a crystal-clear gaze.

He was Vernon Janke.

He squatted down so he was at her eye level and listened patiently as she poured out her heart until she had calmed down. Before leaving, he left a note with his phone number on it: "If you need help, feel free to contact me anytime."

Yvette carefully tucked the note into her wallet.

That was the only light in her darkest days.

In the end, her mother passed away. Yvette endured many long years alone in the empty house. Eventually, she was accepted into college and studied photography, which was a subject she loved. Gradually, she began to climb out of the darkness of grief.

The next time she saw Vernon was at a friend's gathering.

That day, Vernon was sitting in the darkest corner of the box seat, drinking alone in silence. He wore a loose-fitting white shirt with the top two buttons undone. His gold-rimmed glasses lay on the table, and he exuded an air of aloofness.

Her friend nudged her. "That's Vernon Janke, the attending physician at Loneville Hospital. He's single, and he's a great guy. Why don't you go and chat with him?"

Yvette approached him as if drawn by some unseen force.

The moment their eyes met, Vernon's gaze flickered briefly. "Have we met before?"

Yvette took out the note she had kept carefully for five years and placed it in front of him.

Vernon stared at the note for a long time before finally speaking slowly, "So it was you…You still kept it."

That night, he drove her home. As the car pulled up outside her building, he suddenly asked, "Yvette, do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Yvette's heart skipped a beat. She had liked him from the moment they first met.

But she still asked, "Why?"

Vernon was silent for a few seconds before saying, "You're wonderful, and besides, I can tell you like me."