Chapter 4

"Isn't your girlfriend some sort of CEO?" Dr. Peterson asked. "She used to accompany you here all the time. Why wouldn't you have the money to afford the surgery? You've already been on targeted therapy for such a long time. How could you just say that you're giving up now?"

His eyes were round as he stared at me incredulously. After all, Stella always came with me to the hospital for my appointments last time, and he knew who she was.

Yet, when he realized that I was firm about my decision, he sighed in defeat and looked at me with pity.

After leaving his clinic, I was about to leave through the hospital main entrance when someone suddenly called out after me.

I turned and saw a young woman walking up to me. She looked rather familiar. I racked my brains for a name to match her face and finally recalled that she was my college junior, Audrey Carter.

If I recalled correctly, Audrey had studied abroad for several years in the medical research field. She had also kept in touch with me now and then over the past few years, trying to persuade me to get my illness treated abroad.

I just never thought that she would end up coming back here.

"Noah? I've taken a look at your medical report. Are you still not planning to accept my invitation?" she asked. "If you're worried about the medical expenses, you can just leave it to me. I'll take care of it somehow!"

She looked a lot more anxious about my illness than I was. Previously, she'd told me that the drug she was currently researching seemed very suitable for my condition. Once it was successfully developed, my chances of recovery would increase greatly.

I'd rejected her invitation very decisively in the past. After all, Stella had only just taken the CEO position at her company at that time, and I didn't think that she could handle all of the company matters on her own just yet.

But it was evident now that she didn't need me anymore.

I looked up at Audrey and nodded, accepting her invitation without any hesitation.

"Alright. Then, let's go now."

Audrey didn't seem prepared for my answer. In fact, she was probably getting ready for me to reject her instead because she was so stunned at my response that she just stood there for a few seconds, staring at me in disbelief.

I didn't bother explaining much to her and just went back home to grab my things and pack up my suitcase.

There weren't many of my belongings at the apartment anyway, aside from my medication and some empty syringes.

While taking my clothes out, a yellowed envelope fluttered down to the floor from the corner of the wardrobe.

Stella's writing was on it.

"I don't know when you're going to read this, Noah, so just take it as a surprise. Don't worry, I know that you're going to recover completely!

"I purposely got this emerald amulet for you because I heard that it will help restore your health and bring you peace. But I know that you'd have already recovered completely by the time you read this letter! And when that time comes, I will marry you."

A small green amulet then fell out of the envelope.

I stood rooted to the ground for a long time, keeping my head lowered as I read the words on the letter. I stayed there for such a long time that the tears streaming down my face wetted the letter paper completely.

Stella had always liked hiding little surprises for me here and there and waiting for me to discover them myself.

But now, I still hadn't recovered as she had hoped in the letter; in fact, my health was rapidly deteriorating. Meanwhile, she'd also gone back on her promise and wasn't marrying me after all.

I haphazardly wiped off the tears from my face and left the letter and the amulet behind. I also left behind the proposal ring I'd prepared a long time ago and the many photos we'd taken together over the years.

I wasn't bringing with me anything that didn't belong to me.

It wasn't until the entire apartment was finally clear of my belongings that I finally nodded my head in satisfaction.

Whatever happened in the past wasn't important anymore.

…

On the way to the airport, Audrey turned to me with a confused look on her face.

"Aren't you going to tell Stella about this?"

I instinctively pursed my lips when I heard her mention Stella's name. I guessed that Stella was having fun with Damon elsewhere without me at the moment.

"There's no need," I replied. "Whatever happens to me in the future doesn't have anything to do with her anymore. It doesn't matter if I'm dead or alive."

The plane soared to the skies, and the city I desperately tried establishing myself in gradually receded from sight. Suddenly, I was bombarded with text messages from Stella.