Chapter 4

“Dr. Reed is so deeply in love. The moment she heard Mr. Lucas wasn’t well, she came rushing over, even her term of endearment changed.”

Everyone saw Evie, her face flushed, slightly out of breath, a few strands of hair stuck to her sweaty forehead. She looked a mess, but it added a touch of real, raw charm.

Lucas, seeing Evie like this, had a flicker of triumph in his eyes, but his face also turned a timely shade of red.

“I’m not in any real danger, Evie. Don’t be so anxious. Take it easy,” Lucas said gently, his voice weak as if he’d just cheated death.

Lucas’s considerate words made Evie, who was about to explain, close her mouth.

She already felt she owed Lucas. If she loudly denied he was her husband now, it would probably embarrass him and the Vance family.

Anyway, Ethan was at the “rehab center.” It would be the same if she went to see him more often after she handled things with Lucas.

Once Lucas was discharged, she’d find a chance to explain her real relationship with Ethan to her colleagues.

Thinking this, Evie slowly walked over to Lucas and carefully checked his condition.

“I heard you weren’t doing well. What’s bothering you now?”

Lucas felt a warm satisfaction hearing her.

Actually, he just felt the painkiller pump wasn’t working as well, and his wound hurt a bit, so he’d complained a little.

And now everyone in the unit was so concerned about him, Evie even more so.

Their “loving” conversation made everyone in the unit even more envious, and they all praised them as a perfect match.

After Evie settled Lucas, she thought she should go see Ethan.

But because of the earlier “misunderstanding,” she had to hold back for now.

After all, she’d just “tacitly confirmed” her relationship with Lucas. Clearing it up immediately would seem strange.

So she had to send her assistant to that “rehab center” first to check on Ethan’s condition.

Anyway, Ethan was good-natured and loved her so much. If she waited a few more days and then explained it to him properly, he would surely understand.

So, for the next few days, she was busy taking care of Lucas. Occasionally, she’d have her assistant report on Ethan’s “recovery progress.” The news from the assistant was always “everything’s stable, he’s resting quietly.” Evie felt reassured.

A few days later, Lucas’s body had recovered well, and he was ready to be discharged.

Seeing Lucas like this, Evie’s heart finally relaxed.

She finally had time to personally go to that “rehab center” to see Ethan.

She needed to explain everything to him clearly.

And tell him about the immense pressure and longing she’d endured these past few days, worrying about him and Lucas.

But when Evie found the so-called “rehab center” at the given address, she discovered it was a private research facility, not open to the public. It took some effort before she was allowed into the area where Ethan was supposedly “staying.”

When she pushed open the door to the room, she saw a completely unfamiliar face lying in the bed.

She froze.

“Who are you? Why are you here? Where’s Ethan Vance?”

The patient in the bed looked at Evie’s questioning and arrogant face.

“I’m the patient here, lady. I don’t know any Ethan Vance.”

Evie quickly called for the person in charge.

“The previous patient in this room, Ethan Vance, where is he?”

The person in charge checked the records and said with a puzzled look, “Dr. Reed, we’ve never admitted a patient named Ethan Vance here. Are you sure you have the right place?”

Evie stared at the empty hospital bed in disbelief – no, it wasn’t even Ethan’s bed.

She couldn’t figure it out. Had Ethan run off somewhere, not caring about his own health, just to spite her? Or had the Vances moved him somewhere else?

Evie angrily drove back to her and Ethan’s apartment in Brooklyn. She wanted to demand why he’d disappeared, to yell at him, but deep down, she mostly wanted to make sure he was safe.

But when she got home, there was no trace of Ethan.

Even in the apartment, all of Ethan’s things – his art supplies, his books, his few clothes – were gone, as if he’d never lived there at all.

She had to take out her phone and call Ethan.

But all she ever heard was the cold automated message: “The number you have dialed has been switched off.”

All of Evie’s pent-up exhaustion, confusion, and a sense of betrayal exploded at that moment.

“Ethan Vance! You’re really something! I guess I spoiled you rotten! How dare you throw a childish tantrum like this and run away from home!”

Evie angrily took their only photo together – a selfie they’d taken on their phone under the Brooklyn Bridge after registering at City Hall – out of its frame and tore it viciously into pieces.

“So much attitude! You can just die out there and never come back for all I care!” she screamed recklessly, her voice echoing in the empty apartment.

After her hysterical outburst at home, Evie, exhausted, finally went back to the hospital. She still had Lucas’s discharge papers to sort out.

As soon as she returned to her department, two people approached her.

It was Richard and Cynthia Vance. They eagerly took Evie’s hand, their faces showing just the right amount of concern mixed with a hint of calculation.

“My dear Evie, Lucas went through such a terrible ordeal. Why did you keep it from us and not let us stay by his side more at the hospital?” Cynthia complained, though her tone was affectionate.

Evie was already upset about Ethan’s “disappearance.” Facing the Vances now, she felt even more guilty.

“Uncle Richard, Aunt Cynthia, I’m so sorry about what happened to Lucas. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him.”

But Richard just shook his head meaningfully.

“We’ve discussed it, Evie. With Lucas’s current physical condition, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to find another partner. You see…”

Cynthia chimed in, “As for you and that good-for-nothing Ethan, I think it’s high time you cut ties. Why don’t you marry Lucas? It would be good for both of you, and we, the Vance family, will certainly treat you like our own daughter.”

Evie’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock.

“Uncle, Auntie, what are you talking about?”