Chapter 4

I watched in silence as Gavin instantly dropped Leo’s backpack and walked toward the door.

Everything was unfolding exactly as I had anticipated.

For the past three years, whenever Gavin took time away from the twins to spend it with me, they would throw a fit and threaten suicide.

If it wasn’t swallowing vitamin supplements pretending they were sleeping pills, then it would be holding an eyebrow razor against their wrists.

In the past, I would block the door and scream hysterically:

“You know they’re posing! They just wanna lure you over there!

“What would happen if you don’t go this time? You think they’re really gonna kill themselves?”

Back then, Gavin would shove me aside, his gaze cruelly cold.

“If something actually happens, can you take responsibility for it? Those are two human lives!”

Yet this time, seeing that I made no move to stop him, Gavin paused at the doorway.

I held out the car keys to him: “Hurry up and go check on them. What if something bad happens?”

He stood rooted to the spot, some emotion I couldn’t decipher flashing within his eyes.

“I’ll have my assistant go with you then…”

His assistant again.

His assistant going along to the amusement park, his assistant keeping me company at birthday dinners, his assistant helping pick out anniversary gifts...

In my past life, clueless paparazzi had even assumed I was having an affair with Gavin’s assistant.

I nodded indifferently, turning around to pack up my things.

My wrist was suddenly seized by Gavin.

“Evelyn, have you ever considered that you’re the one pushing me further and further away?

“When the twins can’t see me, they cry, throw tantrums, and pull tricks to coax me over. Being with them makes me feel good.

“But you, you always have that expression on your face like I’m wronging you.

“We men have pride, you know. If you show that you need me, I might just stay.”

I looked at him in disbelief, barely able to hold back a smirk from breaking across my face.

Seeing his dead serious expression, I pulled my hand free from his grip.

“Alright, don’t go then. Stay and keep me and Leo company.

“Leo is at the hospital. He—”

Before I could finish my sentence, Luna sent another video message.

On the screen, more than half of Stella’s body was leaning out of the window frame.

It was just two stories up, yet Gavin charged straight out like a madman.

“They’re doing it for real this time. I have to go over right now!”

Fortunately, any hopeful expectation I had held for this man died with me a while ago.

At the hospital, I got the good news that Leo’s cancer cells had not yet metastasized.

The resection surgery could be performed today.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I urged: “Schedule it now! The sooner, the better!”

Leo was wheeled into the operating room. I knelt alone outside the doors, repeatedly thanking God for giving my boy a chance to grow up healthy and whole.

Yet halfway through the operation, the chief surgeon rushed out, still wearing his blood-stained gloves.

“Dr. Bell, what’s going on?”

I lunged forward frantically.

Looking conflicted, he kept moving as he answered:

“We just received an emergency notice from Mr. Fletcher. All of our doctors have to go check on Ms. Wright’s injuries at once.”

My eyes turned bloodshot with fury: “What about Leo’s tumor? Was it removed yet?”

Dr. Bell’s gaze dodged mine: “We got the notice just after opening his skull. We’ll just have to reschedule...”

“Reschedule? My boy’s only three years old! How could you leave him on the operating table just like that? What if the cancer cells spread?

“You’re not allowed to leave! He’s Gavin Fletcher’s son—I’m calling him right now!”

I forced myself to stay calm, my hands trembling violently as I dialed Gavin’s number. “Leo is in surgery right now! You can’t reassign the doctors at a time like this—”

“Evelyn,” his voice oozed with impatience and rage, “are you weaving stories on our son’s life just to throw a jealous fit?”

The line went dead immediately after.

When I dialed back, I realized he had blocked my number.

“Give me your phone!”

Overwhelming despair and powerlessness made it nearly impossible for me to stand. I lunged to grab Dr. Bell’s phone, my voice all raspy and ragged.

Yet a hand reached out from the side and stopped me.