Chapter 3

Seven years ago, due to the inability to find a suitable heart,

Felicity's body grew weaker day by day.

Artificial heart technology was not mature, theoretically able to sustain basic life.

But there were too many hidden dangers.

After a successful match, I replaced my heart with hers.

I myself then replaced it with an artificial heart with a theoretical lifespan of seven years.

To save money, it was the cheapest kind.

Since then, my chest would occasionally experience sharp pains.

Coughing up blood and sudden weakness became commonplace.

Also due to lack of money, the surgery to replace it with a new artificial heart was repeatedly postponed.

Now, it's been seven years.

The artificial heart in my chest sent its seventh pang of pain.

I knew it had long been pushed to its limit.

......

After leaving the hospital, I returned to my rented house.

The room was small, damp, and particularly cold in winter.

It was unbearably hot in summer, but the saving grace was that it was cheap.

Felicity and I used to rent here, where we completed our dreams for the future.

Upon learning that my heart was a match for her,

I pretended to be a gold digger, presenting divorce papers to Felicity.

Felicity and I had spent five years together.No matter how hard or tiring it was, I never complained once, always staying by her side without fail.

She knew too well how much I loved her, and couldn't believe I would ever leave her.

I also knew she loved me to her very core.

Knowing everything, she would never allow me to trade my life for hers.

To save her, I had to steel my heart and pretend I'd had enough.

Enough of staying by her side, enduring endless hardship.

Enough of staying with her, living days without any hope.

Enough of taking cheap medicine every day, eating one meal a day, drinking tap water when thirsty, gnawing on plain bread when hungry,

Living days where we had to split a dollar in half to make ends meet.

I told her I'd had enough of it all.

I still remember that day,

The girl who was always so strong, never afraid of hardship or pain, cried for the first time,

Sobbing as she signed the divorce papers.

I also wrote my name on the organ donation agreement.

After the surgery, I shouldered all the blame and left Felicity completely,

Returning to the rented apartment where we had spent five years together.

Quietly waiting for the death I had willingly embraced.

I just never thought there would be a day when I would see Felicity again.

Now, she's moving further and further away, becoming the ideal version we once dreamed of together.

But I can never go back.Watching her confident and spirited appearance on the news,

A twinge of bitterness suddenly welled up in my heart.

Yet there was also a sense of consolation.

The ringtone of my phone interrupted my reminiscing.

I answered the call; it was from the bank.

The bank informed me that the previous transfer of $200,000 was made in error.

They required me to return the money immediately, or face criminal charges.

Hanging up the phone, I wore a bitter smile, at a loss for words.

After a moment of silence, I called my brother, asking him to find me a job to repay the money.

If Felicity, who hates me so much, knew that I, a person who only cares about money, now needs to pay in installments,

She would surely accept it with pleasure, and watch with glee as I work myself to death paying off the debt.

Due to my heart condition, I often feel weak and unable to do many jobs.

I can only rely on occasional odd jobs to make ends meet.

My brother Caelan, knowing my physical condition, found me a job as a banquet server.

The work is relatively easy, and I can earn $500 a day.

When I put on the server's uniform and mask to serve drinks at the banquet,

I encountered Felicity once again.