Chapter 2

The doctor left, and I lay on the hospital bed, gently placing my hand on my chest, my heart filled with sorrow.

Truth be told, the pain in my chest hadn't just started a day or two ago. I'd known I had lung cancer for three months now.

I had told Serenity about it, but Liam had just returned to the country then, and she only had eyes for her precious Liam. She showed nothing but impatience towards what I said.

"I know you're upset that Liam's back, but he and I have a lifelong friendship."

"You're a grown man, yet you're making up stories to get my attention? Lung cancer? I can't believe you'd come up with something like that!"

"Enough, stop bothering me. If you're bored, go find something to do. Don't keep pestering me, I'm very busy."

Time and again, I consoled myself, reminding myself that she'd always been this way - careless and thick-skinned.

But today, faced with my desperate pleas, the coldness in her eyes finally made me lose all hope.

Thinking about this, I picked up my phone, intending to contact a lawyer.

But a notification on social media stung my eyes.

I tapped on it, and sure enough, it was a post from Liam. He'd even tagged me, making sure I wouldn't miss it.

In the picture, Serenity was bowing her head, carefully removing strawberry stems, her eyes full of tenderness.

His caption was equally intimate."My little sidekick, always the same as when you were young, willing to meticulously take care of everything about me."

As I read this short line, my heart felt like it was suddenly clenched by a giant hand.

Look at that, I've been fooling myself all along.

There was never any thick-skinned obliviousness, just a heart that never truly cared about me.

Realizing this, I let out a self-deprecating chuckle and dialed Myra's number.

After years without contact, I was hesitating whether she'd pick up when her voice came through from the other end.

"What's up? I'm about to head into court."

"Why the sudden call?"

"You know I specialize in divorce cases, but you love your darling so much..."

I cut her off.

"I want a divorce."

Myra froze, and the line went silent for a long moment.

It wasn't until someone called her name that Myra hurriedly asked for my hospital and room number before hanging up.

Perhaps because making the decision had lifted a weight off my chest, I closed my eyes and drifted back to sleep as soon as the call ended.

I'm not sure how long I was out, but I was awakened by the sound of the door opening.

I looked towards the source of the noise, and there stood Serenity.

As soon as she entered, she brazenly surveyed the entire room."Have they finished checking? What did the doctor say?"

"Why did you suddenly cough up blood? Did you go out drinking again? Is it a stomach bleed?"

"Did the doctor say when you can be discharged? I'll check if I'm free to pick you up then."

I looked up at her coldly, feeling not even a ripple of emotion inside.

"Lung cancer."

"Serenity, I told you before, don't you remember?"

Serenity jumped to her feet, her face full of shock.

"Nash, what nonsense are you talking about! I know you resent me for leaving you halfway!"

"But this is your body, how can you joke about something like this?"

"I know you're angry, but Liam gets faint at the sight of blood, what was I supposed to do?"

I closed my eyes, not wanting to say another word to her.

Seeing that I remained silent, Serenity let out a cold huff, her limited patience completely exhausted.

"Forget it, you're still fuming. I can't be bothered talking to you."

"But I still need to tell you, you're a man, stop being so jealous all the time. It's irritating to watch."

"Alright, alright, I'll come pick you up when you're discharged."

I glanced at Serenity and spoke in a cold voice.

"You don't need to come pick me up."

"You and I, we don't have a future anymore.""Serenity, let's get a divorce."

Hearing my words, Serenity looked up in disbelief. But perhaps considering that I was still lying in a hospital bed, she spoke, suppressing her anger.

"Nash, I know you're upset right now. I'm going to pretend you were just joking."

"Nobody wants this kind of thing to happen, so stop giving me attitude. Liam has been my best friend since childhood, how could I not care about him!"

"Alright, you get some rest. I'll come see you again when I have time."

As she was about to get up and leave, there was a knock at the door.

Myra was standing at the entrance, holding a thermos.

Serenity's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then she turned to look at me, a mocking smile at the corner of her mouth that stung my eyes.

"You're always so critical of Liam, I thought you were so pure."

"Nash, you're no better."

"Not even out of the hospital bed and you're already so eager to find another woman. Nash, I really underestimated you."

I grabbed my pillow and hurled it at Serenity with all my might.

"Get out! Get the hell out of here!"