Chapter 5
Evelyn stared at him numbly, her eyes as lifeless as a stagnant pond.
“It doesn’t matter. This is my business.”
“You’ve never cared about my life, Leonard. Don’t start pretending now.”
Leonard’s expression darkened instantly. “You’re right. I don’t care-as long as you stay away from Lillian, I couldn’t care less what mess you make of yourself.”
The loud bang of the door echoed in the hospital room as he slammed it shut.
Evelyn’s hand trembled as she signed the divorce paperwork. She turned to the staffer and asked hoarsely, “When will the divorce committee finalize the report?”
“It’s already been submitted,” the clerk sighed. “Ms. Hart, you should have the decision soon.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, her lips pale. “The sooner the better.”
Leonard never came back.
With no nurse, no family, Evelyn had to take care of herself.
But fate wasn’t done punishing her. Her leg-already treated too late and further damaged by exposure to the cold-had begun to fester and swell.
The doctor’s tone was grave, “You need immediate surgery. If the infection spreads, we may have to
amputate.”
Without hesitation, Evelyn signed the consent form.
But just as her pen lifted from the page, the door slammed open.
“Dr. Lee,” Leonard strode in, voice firm and commanding, “do Lillian’s scar removal surgery first.”
Dr. Lee looked helplessly at Evelyn. “Captain Grant… Ms. Hart’s condition is far more urgent. If we wait any
longer-”
“No.” Leonard cut him off coldly. “Lillian’s been crying all day. If we take care of her sooner, maybe it’ll help
her feel better.”
Evelyn’s voice shook with rage and pain. “She’s not in danger! Scar removal can wait! But my leg-if we delay
again, I could lose it!”
“Lose your leg?” Leonard’s expression remained stone cold. “Lillian needs her legs to dance. You’re just a housewife. Why does it matter if you have legs or not?”
He leaned in, eyes chilling. “Didn’t you always say you loved me? That you’d do anything for me?”
“Great. Then do this for me-let the doctor go to Lillian.”
Evelyn felt as though her chest were caving in.
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She almost blurted out: No. I don’t love you anymore.
But it didn’t matter. Leonard had already dragged the doctor away.
Left alone in the sterile room, Evelyn stared at her bruised, swollen leg… and laughed.
Laughed until tears started falling-like broken pearls-splashing onto the festering wound.
What kind of karma had she racked up in her past life to fall in love with a man like this? A man who never
made room for her in his heart?
Fate was mocking her. The surgery room was right next door, and she could only listen as the doctors worked
on Lillian first.
She curled up in bed, watching the IV drip fall one drop at a time-feeling the infection eat away at her leg.
Not until the next day did she get wheeled into surgery.
Five hours under the scalpel, fully conscious. She heard every cZach of metal, smelled the blood and
antiseptic swirling together.
When the surgery ended, the doctor removed his mask, his expression somber. “We saved your leg. But… the
delay caused permanent damage.”
He sighed. “It’ll ache every time it rains.”
Evelyn nodded wordlessly.
Her heart had long since gone numb. Physical pain barely registered anymore.
Compared to what Leonard had done to her, this was nothing.
She was discharged alone.
Dragging her aching leg, she limped back to the military housing unit-every step like walking on blades.
Just as she settled into her room, she heard voices outside-Leonard and Lillian.
“I was just in the hospital for a few days,” Lillian said sweetly, “you really didn’t have to buy me so much. It’s too much I won’t even use half of it. Maybe… give some to Evelyn?”
“No need,” Leonard replied coolly. “She’s the one who got you hurt. And you’re still being so kind? Always thinking of her?”
Evelyn sat frozen on the bed, hands clenching the bedsheet beneath her.
Kindness?
Was falsely accusing someone three times considered kindness now?
But she said nothing.
She silently reached for the ointment and began applying it to her wound.
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The door creaked open. Leonard stepped inside and saw her hunched over, sweat beading on her forehead
from the effort.
He paused, then-almost involuntarily-took the ointment from her hand. “I’ll do it.”
Evelyn didn’t stop him. She said nothing.
The moment the cream touched the raw, infected skin, it burned like fire. Sweat streamed down her face, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to make a sound.
“Does it really hurt that much?” Leonard frowned.
Still, Evelyn didn’t speak.
It was the first time she hadn’t responded to him.
Something unfamiliar twisted inside Leonard’s chest-an irritation he couldn’t quite place.
The night grew darker. Only their soft, steady breathing filled the room.
Suddenly, Leonard remembered-today was her ovulation day.
In the past, Evelyn would always come over blushing, gently tugging on his sleeve, asking in a tiny voice if they could try for a baby.
She used to say: If we have a child, maybe we’ll finally feel like a real family.
But tonight, she didn’t move. She didn’t say a word. She lay with her back turned to him, not even letting him
touch her.
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