Chapter 4

Once upon a time, I could have had a child with Mindy. However, she had an abortion behind my back because of her career prospects.

As such, I truly couldn’t sympathize with Henry.

At the end of the day, he was still a homewrecker.

“Sylvester… Yvette’s surgery is scheduled for next week,” Mindy said through gritted teeth, “but we need a huge sum of money for the surgery and post-surgery treatment…”

I looked up at her. “So?”

“We might have to put your research project on hold in order to carve out the money needed to treat Yvette.” Mindy avoided my gaze. “This is huge and a matter of life and death…”

I had worked hard for three grueling months for that research project.

My body was shaking with rage.

“Mindy, do you know what suspending that project means? It means that those few months of effort and the investment of tens of thousands of dollars would be in vain!”

“We can always earn the money back, but I can’t see my daughter die before me!” Mindy yelled.

“Enough!”

I felt faint, my chest feeling as though there was a huge stone crushing it. My blood was surging through my veins in agitation.

My old brain injury left behind from that car accident was suddenly triggered, more intense than ever and accompanied by severe dizziness.

I put my hands over my head as my body collapsed on the ground.

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital. Mindy sat in a daze by the bedside, a piece of paper clenched in her hand.

When she saw me regaining consciousness, she stood up in a flash.

“Sylvester, you’re awake!” She leaned in closer and asked, “Do you feel unwell? Do you…do you still feel dizzy?”

I shook off her hand with a frown. “Mindy, what act are you putting on now?”

Mindy didn’t say anything and simply handed the report in her hands to me.

I took it and read it.

It was a brain and spinal MRI report.

I was stunned.

“Top neurosurgeons in the country have seen your report and scans.”

Mindy went on chokingly as tears welled up in her eyes.

“The doctor said that the blood clot in your brain has miraculously cleared. You only need to go through a minimally invasive surgery and the compressed nerve in your leg can be completely resolved. This is a miracle, Sylvester…”

She was so emotional she wanted to hug me, but she didn’t dare to.

“Dad would be elated to hear about this!”

The look of excitement on her face felt extremely ironic to me.

“Mindy, are you really that happy?” I looked coldly at her.

“Of course! Your leg can be completely healed now!”

“But I’m not.” I pressed down on my legs, which felt nothing, and said icily, “I’m not going for that surgery.”

I pointed to the door.

“Rather than treating my leg and pretending to be in a happy marriage with a woman whose heart is with another man and even has an illegitimate daughter, I’d rather remain handicapped or even die on the operating table.”

“No way!” Mindy yelled, her eyes bloodshot. “These are your own legs we’re talking about. Why should you give up on treatment? I won’t let you do that to yourself!”

“You won’t let me?” I chuckled. “Mindy, these legs are my own. I alone decide whether to treat them or give up on them.”

I sat up and looked piercingly at her.

“Take your pick. Either send Henry and that child overseas and never contact them or allow them to return, or just leave me be.”