Chapter 2

Rachel's face turned pale. She gripped her phone for a moment before accepting the call eventually. "What's wrong, Chris?"

Joel momentarily stopped biting on his bagel when he heard the nickname "Chris".

He couldn't hear what was spoken on the other end of the call, but Rachel sounded extremely gentle when she replied.

"Don't worry. Even though I got caught in the rain, I'm not sick."

"Alright, alright. I'll go get changed now."

"You don't have to worry about me. Just take care of yourself when I'm not around, okay?"

"I'll buy them for you every day if you like the bagels there."

Looking at the bagel in his hand, Joel suddenly lost his appetite.

Rachel's bright expression turned gloomy once again after she ended the call.

She said in a low voice, "Christopher had another episode last night. You know how he gets whenever it rains."

Joel asked, "Did you buy two portions of this bagel?"

No wonder it was already stale. Rachel must have brought it to Christopher first before bringing it home.

Rachel did not deny it.

Joel asked calmly, "Is Christopher alright?"

This time, Rachel replied, "I got there in time, so nothing serious happened. But his mental state is really unstable. He could snap at any given time."

"So you'll have to constantly stay by his side, am I right?" he asked.

She replied, "Yes."

Joel asked, "Are you a doctor, Rachel? Can you cure his depression?"

Rachel's temper flared. "I've told you countless times. He got depressed because I was already married to you! I have to take up this responsibility!"

"What about me? I'm your husband. What about your responsibility toward me?" Joel asked.

Rachel looked incredulously at him. "You're healthy, and he's sick. How could you even compare the two?"

Joel retorted, "So, is being healthy my fault now?"

"Why have you become like this, Joel?" she asked.

He said, "How have I become now?"

Rachel replied, "You're cold, selfish, and even turning a blind eye to those in need!"

Joel looked at her coldly. He took a deep breath and asked, "What if I told you I'm also sick now?"

Rachel frowned. "How are you sick now? Aren't you healthy enough to fight with me now?"

Joel chuckled, lowered his head, and closed his eyes. He slowly let out a deep breath.

Rachel continued, "Can you stop making a fuss, Joel? I only went to save his life last night. That's all."

Joel smiled slightly. He then looked up at her and asked, "Do you need to kiss him to save his life?"

He must have touched a nerve, as she suddenly lost it. "He was having an episode then, and he's standing right at the edge of the rooftop! What if he had a meltdown and jumped down if I refused him?"

Joel stood up as well. "But you already had him in your arms, didn't you? You could've pulled him away from the edge, so why did you still have to kiss him?"

Rachel said coldly, "You're truly impossible, Joel!"

She left, slamming the door behind her. The loud bang echoed through the house.

However, all Joel could feel at that moment was a sharp pain coming from his stomach. He rushed to the washroom and vomited violently.

He let out a bitter laugh when he saw the bright red blood in the toilet.

Joel had advanced-stage cancer. He had less than a month left to live.

All this while, he had been going to the hospital for check-ups and chemotherapy. His hair fell out in clumps, noticeably thinning—yet his wife had never noticed.