Lahat ng Kabanata ng Drawing a Cage for You: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 19

(1st POV)At last, I began my journey along the Silver Peak Highway.Beyond the windshield, snow-capped peaks stretched endlessly into the distance, while the brilliant blue sky seemed close enough to touch.I pulled over at a scenic overlook and raised my camera.As the shutter snapped, I found myself lost in thought.It had been years since I had last picked up a camera.Once, I had given up my career, my dreams, and even myself for Audrey.As I stood there again, I realized those passions had never truly left me.Yet, one regret still lingered.Dad was gone.He would never get to share this view with me.As I was thinking about that, a commotion ahead caught my attention.A black motorcycle was leaning awkwardly by the roadside while its rider crouched beside it and inspected the engine. It had broken down.I had no intention of getting involved.But as I walked past, the rider suddenly looked up.“Hey there, handsome.”She flashed me a smile.“Could you help me out

Her question struck me as nothing short of absurd.I pulled my hand away from hers.“Audrey, is that really how little you think of me? You can have an ambiguous relationship with your male coworker, but I’m supposed to beg you to stay, cling to your side, and keep doing everything for you?”Audrey was left speechless.But she had always been arrogant. Or perhaps my years of love and countless compromises had made her that way. She clearly would not believe a word I said.Her gaze fell on Melanie, filled with barely restrained hostility.“Answer me first. How long have you known this woman?”I had no intention of getting trapped in a cycle of explaining myself, so I simply said, “That’s none of your concern. We’re divorced.”“Divorced!”Audrey suddenly raised her voice, her eyes brimming with tears.“When did I ever say I wanted a divorce?”My tone remained calm.“You signed the papers yourself. Do you need me to remind you?”She finally broke down.“I didn’t know it was

After that call, I rushed back to my hometown overnight.At the hospital, Mom was still receiving emergency treatment. The doctor stood in the corridor, his expression grave.“The patient is in critical condition and requires immediate surgery. Unfortunately, this hospital doesn’t have the necessary facilities. We recommend transferring her to another hospital as soon as possible.”My blood ran cold.It was as if I had been thrown back three years.Back then, another doctor had told me the same thing as Dad lay in his hospital bed.I lost Dad then. Was I going to lose Mom too?I swayed where I stood, on the verge of collapsing.Just then, Audrey arrived.“I’ll do it.”Everyone froze.Recognition flashed across the doctor’s face.“You’re… Dr. Audrey Levingston?”Audrey gave a brief nod.“Let me see her chart.”Within minutes, she had made her assessment.“The surgery can be done. Prepare everything immediately. I’ll perform it myself.”The surgery lasted a full eight ho

I called the police, and Ryan was taken away.The consequences awaiting him went far beyond losing his job.He would have to answer for deliberately provoking a post-surgery patient and causing her condition to worsen, along with the investigation into the previous postoperative bleeding incident.But I no longer had the time or the desire to care about what happened to him.Mom’s condition had suddenly taken a turn for the worse.Outside the ICU, the doctors handed me critical condition notices again and again.I went two full days without sleep, standing outside the glass and watching Mom lie there with tubes running through her body.Every change in the numbers on the monitor felt like a dull blade carving away at my nerves, bit by bit.Audrey stayed at the hospital the entire time as well. She slept even less than I did, dark circles forming beneath her eyes.But when I looked at her, I felt no gratitude whatsoever, only a deep, lingering disgust that I could not shake.I

I looked at Audrey, my voice calm and steady.“From the day Dad died, we were never meant to have a future together.”Audrey remained rooted to the spot.After a long while, she suddenly laughed.It was bitter and full of defeat, like a gambler who had finally lost everything.“I understand.” She nodded, her voice hoarse.“Luke, I won’t bother you anymore.”With that, she turned and left. Her pace was slow, but she never looked back.I stayed where I was, watching her figure gradually disappear into the glow at the end of the corridor.I felt neither relief nor sadness, only a quiet, almost imperceptible sense of peace, like a book that had finally reached its final page.Five years later, Evan and I sat by the Selvara River in Piremont, Faronne, having drinks together.The years had sharpened him into an accomplished professional. He had become one of the most renowned lawyers in the industry, carrying an air of precision, confidence, and decisiveness in everything he did