Chapter 4

Lucian was admitted to the hospital. He was lying in bed under the same familiar white ceiling, but his world had gone dark, swallowed by a heavy curtain of night. He couldn't see anything anymore.

The cancer had spread through his body like wild weeds no one could control, and now it pressed right against his optic nerve, pulling him step by step toward the edge of total darkness.

Just then, the door to his room burst open.

"Lucian, I'm back!"

Jonas Reed rushed to his bedside, his heart aching at the sight of his friend. Lucian was so thin that it broke Jonas to look at him. Jonas was Lucian's best friend. The moment he heard about the eye cancer, he dropped everything and flew home.

He gripped Lucian's hand tightly. "I got in touch with the best eye specialist overseas. He'll be here tomorrow. Lucian, you have to have faith. We're going to beat this together."

Lucian shook his head gently, a note of resignation in his voice as he replied, "Jonas, don't bother. It's already stage four. Just having you here with me is enough."

"Don't say that!" Jonas' eyes reddened. "I won't let you give up!"

Lucian forced back his tears and managed a small smile. "It's fine. Hey, you haven't tried any of Port Haven's food since you got back, have you? My treat. Let's go get something good."

Jonas hesitated. "But in your condition..."

"Don't worry, I just got a shot of painkillers. I can hold out a while longer," Lucian insisted.

Jonas couldn't argue with him, so he gave in.

The two of them went to Jade Garden, the most famous restaurant in Port Haven. They shared a rare, good meal together. Having his friend there lifted Lucian's spirits more than he expected.

When Jonas found out Lucian planned to leave everything to Vivian, and had even signed a body donation agreement, he nearly lost it.

"You're already divorced! And you're still doing this for her? And what about Caleb? His kidney failure came on way too fast. Doesn't that seem suspicious to you? I think he's faking it!"

Lucian stayed strangely calm. He had his own reasons. As for Caleb's real identity, he chose to keep that secret. Even Jonas didn't know.

Watching Lucian's silence, Jonas took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. "Fine. I'll look into Caleb myself. But I will not let this disease beat you. I found you the best specialist in the world. You're going to get through this."

Lucian smiled faintly and said nothing. Deep down, he knew that time was running out.

After dinner, Jonas went to get the car while Lucian waited outside the restaurant. Suddenly, the laughter of children broke the quiet of the evening. A group of kids circled around Lucian. Even though he couldn't see them, he could feel their innocent joy.

One of the kids spilled a hot drink, and the scalding liquid splashed across Lucian's arm. He winced and let out a small cry.

Then, a familiar strength pulled him gently into an embrace. A voice he hadn't heard in too long whispered close to his ear.

"What, you've gotten jumpy? A couple of kids scared the color right out of your face?"

Lucian's heart jumped. He never imagined he'd run into Vivian here. Panic gripped him. He was terrified she'd notice his blindness, and instinctively tried to cover it up.

"I... I just wasn't paying attention," he stammered, trying to pull away from her.

However, Vivian had already noticed the angry red mark on his arm beneath his damp sleeve. Her face turned serious immediately. She shot a glare at the kids who'd already scattered, then grabbed Lucian's hand and pulled him forward without another word.

"Vivian, where are you taking me?" Lucian asked, his panic rising.

"To the hospital."

Vivian's tone left no room for argument. She practically shoved him into the car and climbed into the driver's seat herself.

"No, I really don't need to go to the hospital!" Lucian protested.

He fumbled for the door handle and tried to get out, but the door locked with a click. The car shot forward like a horse let loose from its reins.

Pain surged through his body like a thousand needles. Lucian clenched his jaw, his fingers digging into the seat, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Vivian glanced over at him, brows knitting together. "What's wrong with you? Why are you so weak?"

"I'm really fine. Just let me out. Someone's waiting for me," Lucian replied, forcing himself to keep his voice steady through the pain.

"Waiting for you? Is it Sabrina?"

There was a bite of mockery in Vivian's voice. She remembered what she'd walked in on at the office a few days earlier.

"Lucian, I really underestimated you. Divorced for barely any time, and already moving on to someone new."

Lucian had meant to call Jonas, but he froze when he heard her words. She really thought that of him? He stayed silent. In Vivian's eyes, his silence was confirmation enough.

The air in the car turned suffocating, until Caleb's weak voice crackled through the car's speakers, breaking the tense silence.

"Vivian, can you come? I twisted my ankle. It really hurts..."

Vivian slammed on the brakes. Lucian wasn't wearing his seatbelt. He lurched forward and instinctively threw his arm up to protect his head, only to smash his arm hard against the windshield. The pain tore a sharp breath from his throat.

Vivian didn't notice his pain. She unlocked the door and coldly said, "Get out."

Lucian froze for a second, then felt a wave of bitterness that was impossible to put into words rise in his chest. All it took was one phone call from Caleb, and he'd been reduced to this.

He fumbled his way out of the car. The moment his feet hit the ground, he heard the car speed off into the distance. The cold wind cut across his face, and his heart felt colder than the air outside.

'Vivian, I'm hurting too. Why can't you ever see it?'

Just then, the first snow of winter began to fall. The people around Lucian cheered, caught up in the romance and purity of it. Some said that lovers who watched the first snowfall together would be blessed with a lifetime of happiness.

Lucian smiled bitterly to himself. It seemed that he and Vivian were always just a little bit short of that kind of fate. He weakly tilted his head back and let the snow fall on his face and shoulders, until finally, his eyes drifted shut.

Then, he collapsed into the pure white world around him.