Chapter 4

I sat alone in the hospital's corridor at 8:30 a.m. the next morning.

Vivian never showed up.

At 7 a.m., she sent a message. [John drank too much yesterday. I need to send him back first. I'll be there soon.]

At 8:40 a.m., she said that she was caught in traffic.

Then, at 8:55 a.m., the nurse started calling for me.

I stared at the unmoving elevator and decided to call Vivian one last time.

When the call went through, I heard John speaking. "Vivian, the contract-signing ceremony is about to start. Everyone is waiting for you."

Vivian whispered, "What is it?"

"The nurse called me. Didn't you promise to keep me company?"

She was silent for two seconds before she became impatient. "It's just a regular follow-up. Can't you go through it by yourself? This is the first time John is taking over a project. I can't be absent today."

I stared at the shut doors of the operating theater and said, "Fine. Keep him company."

Vivian sighed in relief. "Send me the receipt after your follow-up. I'll transfer my half of the funds to you."

After she hung up, the nurse handed me the surgery consent form. "Didn't any of your family come?"

I shook my head. "I have no family."

Before I went into the operating theater, the doctor made one final confirmation. "Have you thought this through? If the surgery fails, you might not be able to keep your right kidney."

I took a look at the blurry shadow in the scan.

That wound had been with me for six years.

From the day I shielded Vivian, it had never healed.

We got into a car accident six years ago. When the truck crashed into us, I had instinctively shielded her under me.

A piece of metal broke off and entered my back, leading to my right kidney rupturing. Vivian had held my hand outside the emergency room and said that she would never betray me.

That same wound was sending me into the operating theater, but she was in a contract-signing ceremony with John.

I did not want to tie her down with the fact that I saved her life, much less use the rest of my life proving that I was not after the Marsh family's money.

I signed my name on the form. "I've thought it through."

When I was administered anesthesia, my consciousness started fading.

The moment the surgery ended, I saw that Vivian had sent more than ten messages to me.

[Is your follow-up over?]

[This is the first time John is in charge of a project, and he's quite nervous. I'll be home late tonight.]

[Don't forget to take the medicine for your kidneys.]

She still remembered to remind me to take my medicine, but she did not know that I was already out of the operating theater.

I pressed a hand against my gauze-covered back, but my wound was numb.

It did not hurt.

Suddenly, I understood that the person who shielded her from the car accident six years ago was not worthy of her waiting for him for even half an hour.

It was time to end the marriage.

When I left the hospital, I received an email.

It was from the Auropean partner I had rejected half a year ago. They wanted to hire me to be in charge of an overseas project.

Back then, I was focused on being Vivian's husband and wanted to help her keep the family afloat.

The email was full of sincere, passionate words.

[We saw your proposal at yesterday's reception. The offer will always be available for you. I hope that you will give us a chance to work together.]

As I stared at the words, I remembered what Vivian had said.

She said that if I stopped being her husband, no one would bother looking at my proposals.

At that point, I finally understood.

What was truly keeping my own achievements from being recognized was being her husband.

[I'll take up your offer.]

Ten days later, I had my stitches removed and went back home to pack my luggage.

Vivian never came back.

After taking over the project, John showed that he understood nothing, so she had to stay in the company to help him clean up his messes.

Occasionally, she would send a message over to tell me to send the receipt to her.

I never replied.

Despite living here for six years, my clothes and everyday essentials only fit one suitcase.

Peter had already finished drafting the divorce agreement and sent it to me.

I signed my name on the last page and placed it on the dining table.

Beside it was the medical report after I finished my surgery.

On top of both of them was the wallet worth 99 dollars.

Before I left, I cast one final glance at the house that we had paid for half each.

Then, I set the key down and blacklisted all ways Vivian could reach me.

As the plane took off, the city began to shrink before my eyes.

At the same time, Vivian finally got home.

The house was not lit up, and there were only a few papers on the dining table.

The first thing she saw was the divorce agreement.

Then, her eyes landed on the medical report beside it.

[Name: Zach Xavier]

[Surgery: Right renal artery embolization]