Chapter 2

A title page drops, revealing a childhood photo of him and Jade.

I'm surprised that this stoic man would have such a childish habit.

But the more I flip through, the more my heart races.

In the diary, he records every moment spent with Jade with an almost manic obsession.

From something as small as the candy from their first meeting.

To something as significant as the sanitary pads he personally bought when she had her first period.

It's then that I realize, perhaps Garrison, this supposed good brother, had long harbored thoughts he shouldn't have.

With trembling hands, I turn to the date of my father and Jade's accident.

It turns out that after taking my father away, he didn't fly abroad to seek renowned doctors, but stayed by Jade's side without leaving a step.

Every absent weekend wasn't spent searching for medicine for my father, but tirelessly accompanying Jade through her recovery.

Even on the day they got their marriage license, it was when Jade successfully received my father's brain nerve transplant and was saved.

In other words, I personally led my father straight into the wolf's den.

Fighting back tears, I take in every word of the densely packed sentiments.

He knows Jade's measurements down to the last detail.

Yet he always forgets my shoe size.

The gift bags that appear punctually in the passenger seat of his car every year - I've never received those gifts. Now I know that day was Jade's birthday.After each Spring Festival since our marriage, I've been keeping vigil by my father's cold hospital bed as he lies in a coma.

Meanwhile, he crosses oceans just to serve a steaming Christmas turkey to his sweetheart.

On the phone, no matter how much I express my longing to be with him,

Garrison can only respond with helpless excuses about clients he can't refuse.

I lean against the headboard, weeping silently, covering my eyes in an attempt to forget everything before me.

Why cry? Comparing a sweetheart to clients - his heart is probably more broken than mine.

Digging through my email's spam folder, I agree to the foreign hospital's transfer request.

Taking my father away from this place of turmoil becomes my sole wish.

Footsteps approach, and I quickly close my diary, stuffing it back in place.

Seeing me with eyes already closed, Garrison takes me into his arms.

We share a bed but not our dreams.

The next day, he sits at the computer.

Looking at the half-filled application form, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Chase, are you trying to transfer Dad to another hospital?"

I hurry Garrison to the dining table, eager to divert his attention.

"No, Jade recovered abroad, I just wanted to get some information."

"Breakfast is getting cold, let's eat."

He assumes I'm desperately grasping at straws, and visibly relaxes, then picks up his knife and fork and digs in."Wow, it's a soft-boiled egg! Who else but darling would remember my favorite?"

I nodded absently, my mind preoccupied with the unfinished forms.

It wasn't until just before he left, when he showed a hurt expression,

That I realized I had completely forgotten our usual goodbye kiss.

After seeing him off half-heartedly, I headed to the hospital.

Despite repeatedly affirming my relation to my father, the doctor still refused to let me see the surgery records.

After all, it was Emerson's private hospital, and his word was law.

Left with no choice, I finished my routine of cleaning my father's body and was about to go downstairs for a meal.

But just as I reached the stairway landing, I saw a group of nurses huddled together, gossiping.

"Mr. Montgomery personally helped that woman change into her hospital gown. In the time it took to get an X-ray, his longing gaze was practically drooling. I bet our current Mrs. Montgomery will be out the door soon."

"No surprise there. After all, Chase has a deadbeat dad. Who'd want to take on such burdens for nothing, except a sucker like Mr. Montgomery?"

Not far off, in the clinic, Jade had just walked out, and Garrison immediately went to meet her.