Chapter 4

Claire followed me backstage and draped her coat over my shoulders.

My body stiffened on reflex, but I didn't push her away.

This would be the last time.

I asked quietly, "Will you be there for the surgery?"

She looked at me, her voice certain.

"Yes. I'll take Julian home tonight, and at eight tomorrow morning I'll walk you into the operating room."

I nodded.

She seemed relieved and reached up to smooth my hair.

But Julian called to her from a few feet away.

"Claire, I can't find our wedding rings."

Claire pulled her hand back at once.

"Evan, you head back first. I'll come find you once I've sorted this out."

I watched her walk toward Julian.

She didn't look back once.

At seven the next morning, I changed into a hospital gown in the pre-op room alone.

A nurse came in to confirm my information.

"Mr. Reed, we haven't been able to reach your wife. This surgery carries some risk. You can sign for yourself, but it'd be best to have a family member or friend here with you."

"Don't wait for her."

The words had barely left my mouth when Richard walked in with Julian.

"Cancel the surgery for now. Julian's having his official comeback party today. Claire's already there, and you need to show up too."

"I'm not going."

Richard's face went cold.

"Julian's been dragged through the mud for this long because of you, and you can't even show your face? Claire's right. This illness of yours comes from overthinking everything."

Julian stood behind him and said softly, "Evan, don't get the wrong idea. Claire was going to come be with you. I'm the one who stopped her.

"There's only one item left on the wish list. Once it's done, I'll give her back to you."

"What's the last item?"

He smiled and took out the old notebook.

"For Claire to admit in front of everyone that I'm the love of her life."

I saw the date on the last page.

It was also yesterday.

So the supposedly years-old list could be added to whenever he liked.

As long as Julian wanted something, Claire would always owe it to him.

The nurse stepped in to stop them.

"This is a surgical area. I need you both to leave."

Richard refused to go and reached to snatch my surgical consent form.

In the middle of the scuffle, Claire's voice came from the hallway.

"Dad, don't touch him."

She'd finally come.

I glanced at the time.

8:07.

Claire came over to the bed.

"Evan, the surgery is being rescheduled. The overseas specialist agreed to make an appearance at Julian's comeback party, and I need to be there to host him."

I didn't understand.

"Which specialist?"

"The one who was supposed to operate on you."

Dr. Collins looked alarmed.

"Ms. Bennett, Professor Feldman leaves the country this afternoon. Mr. Reed's surgery can't be postponed."

Claire's voice was even.

"The private hospital has other doctors. The risk isn't much different. Julian's comeback needs an industry endorsement, and an opportunity like this is harder to come by."

"So you pulled my surgeon so he could vouch for Julian in public?"

"It's only two hours."

"In two hours, he'll be heading to the airport."

Claire went quiet for a moment, then reached for my hand.

"Evan, your condition isn't life-threatening. Julian already lost his career once. I can't let him fail again."

I pried her fingers off mine one by one.

"And if I never hear again?"

Hesitation flickered in her eyes.

Outside the door, Julian teared up.

"Claire, forget it. I won't make a comeback. Stay here with him. I haven't had anything these past few years anyway. What's losing one more thing?"

Claire closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she had made her decision.

"I'll find you another specialist."

She turned to go after Julian.

I called out to her.

"Claire, did you ever love me?"

Her back went rigid.

Richard answered for her impatiently, "If Julian hadn't dumped her back then, why would Claire have married you?"

Julian hurried to stop him, "Mr. Bennett, please, don't."

"What's there to hide? Back then, Claire bet Julian she'd make him regret the divorce within three years. Marrying you was just a show for Julian's benefit."

The ringing in my ear suddenly got louder.

Claire turned back, and her lips seemed to move.

But I could no longer hear her voice.

Dr. Collins rushed over to steady me.

In that moment, the world went completely silent.

I looked down at my phone, sent the signed divorce agreement to Daniel, and accepted an invitation for treatment from a medical center overseas.

Claire came to stand in front of me, still seeming to explain something.

I watched her lips, slowly making out the words.

She was saying, "Wait for me to come back."

I took off my wedding ring and placed it in her palm.

Then I typed a line on my phone.

"Don't bother coming back."

But when I looked up again, Claire was already gone.

All I saw was the operating room door slowly swinging shut.

...

Claire had been focused on fulfilling the wish. But looking at Julian standing shoulder to shoulder with Professor Feldman, she suddenly remembered Evan typing on his phone in the operating room.

A vague unease rose inside her.

The next second, a message from the hospital popped up on her phone.

"Ms. Bennett, your husband, Mr. Evan Reed, has canceled all further treatment. He may never regain hearing in his right ear. We're informing you as his next of kin."