Chapter 3

"Vivian, do you really love me?" I asked.

"Julian, of course I love you."

She leaned in and kissed my forehead.

"I know this is hard for you right now. Don't worry. I'll face every challenge with you."

As Vivian gently comforted me, she subtly waved one hand behind my back.

The doctor immediately understood and stepped closer.

Still consumed by my disappointment in her lies, I finally said the words that had been weighing on my mind for so long.

"Vivian, we should get a—"

The next second, a cold sensation entered my veins, drowning out the final word, "divorce".

A familiar voice sounded beside me.

"Jules, get some good sleep tonight. Once the surgery is over tomorrow morning, all of this will be behind us."

My consciousness grew hazy until I finally passed out.

In a daze, I could only feel the ceiling fan spinning above me. The constant beeping and clattering of medicine filled my ears.

I forced my eyes open and realized I was lying on an operating table, with several doctors preparing the equipment around me.

With what little strength I had left, I grabbed the attending doctor's hand and pleaded desperately.

"Doctor, please. I don't want the surgery. Please, just let me go."

The doctor, William Brown, didn't seem surprised that I was awake. His face was filled with reluctance, but he still pulled my hand away.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Reed. I can only follow Ms. Rhodes' orders. She owns this hospital. I don't have a choice."

Looking at him, I knew there was no escaping this.

I grabbed his hand again and pleaded, "Then please, just take the cornea. Please don't remove my eye.

"I know my vision problems are only temporary, caused by pressure on my optic nerve. And I know what she really wants is my cornea—to help Andrew regain his sight. I'll give her my cornea. But please leave me some hope. Don't remove my eye."

William stared at me in silence.

He didn't give me the answer I wanted. When he spoke, his voice was cold and emotionless.

"Mr. Reed, it's time. We're administering the anesthesia process."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sedative entered my system, and I slipped back into unconsciousness.

A tear rolled down my cheek. I had given up all hope.

When I woke up, the surgery was over.

Everything was pitch-black. My eyes were tightly wrapped in layers of gauze. I didn't know whether my eyes were still there. I raised a hand to touch them, but someone stopped me.

Vivian's worried voice came from beside me. "Jules, you're awake. Don't move. You just had surgery. You could get an infection. The doctor said the bandages can't come off for 30 days. Get some rest.

"If you want anything to eat, tell me, and I'll get it. If you're feeling something wrong, tell me, and I'll get the doctor."

Her voice was gentle and attentive, as if she truly cared about me.

I shook my head and turned away.

"I'm fine. Don't you have work? Just go."

Sensing my frustration, she held my hand reassuringly.

"I took time off. It's fine. The company can manage without me for a day or two."

"I just want to be alone right now."

Vivian held my hand, her warm fingers gently stroking mine. Then, she gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

"I'll come back tonight. I'm going home to freshen up."

After Vivian left, I pulled out my phone and called a divorce attorney. I asked him to draft the divorce papers for me.

As soon as I hung up, someone opened the door. It was the caregiver Vivian had hired, Ben Miller.