Chapter 9

A gust of night wind blew, and Oprah wiped away the cold tears from her face. She walked alone on the street, aimlessly going from one place to another. Suddenly, she was unsure of where she should go.

Should she return to her apartment? It would be empty, and she would be alone.

Should she go back to Harrison's house? But that wasn't her home, and she wouldn't feel the love and care of her family there.

Roxanne would only make her please Burgess and Old Mr. Harrison, creating an illusion of marital bliss and happy children, making everyone believe that her second marriage was highly fulfilling.

Oprah stood beneath a street lamp, staring blankly at the signboard across the street, contemplating that Alfred was genuinely skilled at acting.

Perhaps he saw through her loneliness with just one glance, knowing that she yearned to be cared for and loved by others. That was why he showered her with affection and tenderness every day.

And so, Oprah had fallen into his trap of false affection.

Fortunately, she hadn't completely immersed herself in this false love. Otherwise, she would genuinely have become a laughingstock now.

Yet deep down, she still felt wounded.

A woman holding a little girl approached Oprah, and the girl curiously looked at Oprah, saying to her mother in a sweet voice, "Mommy, her nose is bleeding."

She glanced at Oprah and found her quite peculiar, so she hastily took the girl away.

Perplexed, Oprah touched her nose and felt a hand covered in blood.

Lately, she had been experiencing nosebleeds without any apparent reason. Sometimes, she didn't even realize it was happening. Initially, she attributed it to the hot weather, but now she felt foreboding.

The following day, intending to get a check-up, Oprah went to the hospital.

There were lines everywhere in the bustling hospital, and she waited for two hours before finally having her turn.

Afterward, she approached the doctor for a prescription and got her blood drawn for testing. She anxiously waited for the test results... Finally, at four o'clock in the afternoon, Oprah received the report.

"According to the report, you have acute myeloid leukemia," the doctor concluded sympathetically and regretfully as he read the report. He gazed at Oprah, recognizing that she was still so young.

Oprah's heart sank when she heard the diagnosis. However, she also considered the advancements in medical technology. Leukemia wasn't necessarily a terminal illness. With proactive treatment, there was hope for a cure.

Anxiously, she asked, "Is there a cure? Do I need a bone marrow transplant? How much will it cost?"

"The truth is, it cannot be cured." The doctor shook his head. "Not all cases of acute leukemia can be treated with a bone marrow transplant. Furthermore, finding a matching donor is another challenge..."

Oprah felt her head buzzing. She saw the doctor's lips moving, but no sound reached her ears. A chill ran through her body, leaving her feeling utterly numb.

She didn't know how she managed to leave the hospital. Her mind was blank, her hands and feet icy cold. It wasn't until the sun shone on her that she felt a glimmer of warmth.

She realized she was approaching death.

Oprah pondered to herself whether her mother would be devastated by the news. Would she experience the same regret as the mothers in dramas when they learned their daughters were dying?

She wanted to call Roxanne and share the news, hoping to receive genuine care. However, Oprah knew all too well that Roxanne wasn't that kind of person. Real life wasn't like a drama. Roxanne only cared about her marriage and the Harrison family.

Oprah gazed at the contacts on her phone. There were many people, including her former classmates, teachers, and colleagues. And yet, she realized that there wasn't a single person she could confide in.

There was no one to whom she could express her final words.

As she scrolled through her contacts, she came across his number. Suddenly, Oprah felt an intense urge. She wanted to meet this mysterious man before she died.

He had genuinely helped and cared for her, even though he always teased her.

At that moment, Oprah didn't hesitate. She sent a direct message to him, saying, "I broke up with Alfred. Are you brave enough to come to see me tonight?"

Ten minutes later, she received a reply, "Tonight at 8 o'clock, Room 088, Hilton Hotel."