Chapter 2

Ever since ruining my health, I had to rely on specific targeted medication every day to stay alive. The medication was incredibly expensive. However, stopping the medication would be akin to giving up on my life.

I recalled the past when Stella first learned about my condition. She'd reacted as though the sky had fallen as she knelt before the doctor, begging him to save my life.

The moment she learned about the existence of the targeted medication for my treatment, she said, "Noah, I swear to God that I will never give up on you! We'll continue with your treatment no matter how expensive it gets!"

But now, the cheap medicine box lay before me in the bag like a joke.

I inhaled deeply and swallowed the metallic taste of blood welling in my throat. Then, I grabbed my phone and sent my doctor a text message.

"I've decided to give up on my treatment, Dr. Peterson."

…

Stella seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth for the following week. I also stopped staring at her text messaging window like I always used to, waiting for her replies that never came.

I was quite content with the peace and quiet I had at home without her around.

Some days later, she seemed to have finally remembered about my existence and came home to bring me over to her parents' for the family dinner.

"Can't you put in some effort to perk up and make yourself look more spirited? What's with you always looking so sickly like this? You look like bad luck."

She wouldn't stop nagging at me while tugging at my necktie in a dissatisfied manner. This was the first time that I'd found her nagging actually annoying and ear-piercing.

I shoved her hand away as she tried to redo my necktie and caught sight of the shocked look in her eyes.

"Well then, that's on the person who thinks I'm bad luck," I said rather self-deprecatingly before stepping aside.

I walked into her parents' apartment building first, with her coming in after me much later. Her footsteps were hurried as she kept her eyes trained on me.

"You're still mad, aren't you? I'd already given you a whole week to cool off, and you're still holding a grudge against me? Must you force me to apologize in your face before you're finally happy with it?"

I sighed softly and felt my heart hurting, quite literally.

"I'm not mad."

Stella looked at me doubtfully. However, her attention was diverted very soon.

She'd told me that it was a family dinner, but I didn't know why Damon ended up being there as well. He was getting along with Stella's parents like a house on fire.

Yet, the moment they saw that I'd arrived, the warmth died down, and the atmosphere turned awkward.

Stella seemed to forget about everything unpleasant as soon as she saw Damon. She went over and sat down right next to him at the table without a second thought. I hesitated for a second before taking the seat the farthest away from her.

"Since everyone's here, we're going to be frank about things right now," Stella's parents, Perry Nielson and Kate White, said, before turning to look at me.

"Stella, we'll set the date for your engagement to Damon for the 15th of this month."

My hands froze mid-air as I was reaching for the table salt. Then, I looked up and met Stella's eyes straight-on. She averted her eyes in guilt and lowered her head without another word.

"Noah, I know that you've been good to my daughter over the years, but your illness won't be getting any better, and you're only going to be a burden to Stella.

"If you really loved her, you should leave on your own. Stella doesn't have the time and energy to be taking care of you all the time!"

I knew what Perry and Kate would be telling me before I came here. They had always looked down on me. However, they finally agreed to let Stella and me date until today because she was head-over-heels in love with me.

I tried proving my love to Stella by using all of my connections to set her up with clients and suppliers, bringing her to drinking parties and such for her to network with the people there. However, that also meant that I was constantly drinking on her behalf, which took a toll on my health.

I nearly gave up my life helping Stella get to where she was today, being the CEO of her own company. Yet, I didn't ask for a single share from her. My only request was that she marry me in the end.

However, ever since my health began to fail, the topic of our marriage kept being put off and delayed.

At first, it was Perry and Kate who opposed the idea of it. Then, Stella also kept coming up with excuses to postpone the discussion.

Ultimately, they just thought that I was a burden to them.