Chapter 1
"This is the body donation agreement, Mr. Lewis. Please sign here."
Joel Lewis looks at the paper before him. His hand trembles as he grips a pen.
The other party can sense his hesitance. They say considerately, "Body donation is a big thing, and it's normal for people to change their minds at the last minute. You can go home and discuss this with your family—"
"I've already signed it." Joel smiles bitterly.
"Family" is a term that's beyond him. There's no longer any space in his wife's heart for him, after all.
Chapter 1
"This is the body donation agreement, Mr. Lewis. Please sign here." Amy Hanks, a staff member of the body donation department, handed the agreement over.
Joel Lewis stared at the thin paper placed before him. His hand trembled slightly around the pen he was gripping.
Amy noticed his hesitation and said kindly, "It's normal to have second thoughts—after all, body donation is a big decision. You can take some time to talk it over with your family before deciding on it."
Joel could tell that Amy was giving him an out, allowing him to back out if he wanted. However, he only smiled and signed his name in the bottom right corner. "It's done."
Amy thanked him sincerely. "Thank you for your contribution to the medical field, Mr. Lewis. This is your body donation certificate."
…
The house was empty by the time Joel returned. On the table lay the breakfast he had prepared before leaving that morning. It remained untouched.
There was an unread text message on his phone. It was a text from "darling" which read: "I'm working late tonight. I won't be coming back."
Joel chuckled bitterly. Rachel Harrison had been "working late" more frequently lately.
He knew that she was likely spending time with Christopher again.
Christopher Scott was Rachel's secretary. He was suffering from depression.
He fell in love with Rachel but was torn between his feelings and the guilt of betraying his conscience. Unable to accept being a homewrecker, he eventually succumbed to the emotional conflict, leading to depression.
As such, Rachel took all the responsibility upon herself.
She had often told Joel that the reason behind Christopher's condition was due to her marriage with him.
Rachel felt guilty toward him, so she took even more care of him and indulged him. Eventually, her pity gradually turned into love.
Joel wasn't sure what sparked their love. He only knew that the woman who once loved him so deeply and clung to him eventually fell in love with someone else.
He lay on the couch, bored out of his wits as he scrolled through his phone. Big data was impressive—it showed him just exactly what happened last night without needing him to search for it.
The video began with Christopher, wearing nothing but thin white pajamas. He was standing on the rooftop of a landmark building in the city center.
His pajamas stood out even more under the dark night sky. Countless people noticed him, causing quite a stir in the city center.
"What happened to him?" someone asked.
Another replied, "I heard it's because of love troubles."
Someone else said, "How pitiful! Which woman is foolish enough to take such a good man for granted?"
Christopher looked thin and frail. He was dressed plainly in white, and he looked lonely and pitiable.
Everyone sighed for a moment, then a burst of chatter suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"Someone finally went up!" someone yelled.
Another person exclaimed, "Oh my, they're kissing now!"
Someone said, "What a romantic scene. It's just like something straight out of a movie!"
Joel enlarged the video and carefully observed the kissing couple on the screen. The man was handsome while the woman looked delicate. It truly was romantic.
The woman seemed to love the man deeply. She hugged him tight and cupped his face before giving him a passionate kiss.
In the end, they embraced each other and faded away from everyone's sight. The whole city witnessed their beautiful love that night.
Joel turned his phone off, feeling the tears welling up in his eyes. It slid down his cheeks and eventually landed on the couch.
This was the couch he'd picked out with Rachel when they first got married.
When they were still madly in love, she would hug him as soon as she returned home. She would take in the scent of his hair and close her eyes while holding him quietly.
Rachel would hug Joel tightly and sweetly say, "Just let me hold you a little longer, Joel. I feel at ease in your embrace."
But now, the person in her arms was no longer him.
…
Rachel brought back breakfast when she returned.
When she saw Joel, she asked, "Why are you up this early? It's perfect though, since I bought you breakfast."
She was evidently surprised when she saw the breakfast spread on the table.
Joel mustered a forced smile and said, "You must be tired after working the entire night. Do you want to lie down on the couch for a bit?"
Rachel replied awkwardly, "It's alright, I'm not too tired."
Joel asked, "Do you want to cuddle then?"
"No need," Rachel declined as she walked past him to the dining room.
It was unusually quiet at the dining table.
After eight years of knowing each other and five years of marriage, they had finally reached a point where there was nothing left to say.
Rachel's phone buzzed. She took it out and glanced at it while mumbling, "It's a spam call."
She then ended the call immediately. However, the other person was insistent and called her again.
Joel softly said, "Just take the call. I can't take responsibility if Christopher tries to kill himself again."
Chapter 2
Rachel's face turned pale. She gripped her phone for a moment before accepting the call eventually. "What's wrong, Chris?"
Joel momentarily stopped biting on his bagel when he heard the nickname "Chris".
He couldn't hear what was spoken on the other end of the call, but Rachel sounded extremely gentle when she replied.
"Don't worry. Even though I got caught in the rain, I'm not sick."
"Alright, alright. I'll go get changed now."
"You don't have to worry about me. Just take care of yourself when I'm not around, okay?"
"I'll buy them for you every day if you like the bagels there."
Looking at the bagel in his hand, Joel suddenly lost his appetite.
Rachel's bright expression turned gloomy once again after she ended the call.
She said in a low voice, "Christopher had another episode last night. You know how he gets whenever it rains."
Joel asked, "Did you buy two portions of this bagel?"
No wonder it was already stale. Rachel must have brought it to Christopher first before bringing it home.
Rachel did not deny it.
Joel asked calmly, "Is Christopher alright?"
This time, Rachel replied, "I got there in time, so nothing serious happened. But his mental state is really unstable. He could snap at any given time."
"So you'll have to constantly stay by his side, am I right?" he asked.
She replied, "Yes."
Joel asked, "Are you a doctor, Rachel? Can you cure his depression?"
Rachel's temper flared. "I've told you countless times. He got depressed because I was already married to you! I have to take up this responsibility!"
"What about me? I'm your husband. What about your responsibility toward me?" Joel asked.
Rachel looked incredulously at him. "You're healthy, and he's sick. How could you even compare the two?"
Joel retorted, "So, is being healthy my fault now?"
"Why have you become like this, Joel?" she asked.
He said, "How have I become now?"
Rachel replied, "You're cold, selfish, and even turning a blind eye to those in need!"
Joel looked at her coldly. He took a deep breath and asked, "What if I told you I'm also sick now?"
Rachel frowned. "How are you sick now? Aren't you healthy enough to fight with me now?"
Joel chuckled, lowered his head, and closed his eyes. He slowly let out a deep breath.
Rachel continued, "Can you stop making a fuss, Joel? I only went to save his life last night. That's all."
Joel smiled slightly. He then looked up at her and asked, "Do you need to kiss him to save his life?"
He must have touched a nerve, as she suddenly lost it. "He was having an episode then, and he's standing right at the edge of the rooftop! What if he had a meltdown and jumped down if I refused him?"
Joel stood up as well. "But you already had him in your arms, didn't you? You could've pulled him away from the edge, so why did you still have to kiss him?"
Rachel said coldly, "You're truly impossible, Joel!"
She left, slamming the door behind her. The loud bang echoed through the house.
However, all Joel could feel at that moment was a sharp pain coming from his stomach. He rushed to the washroom and vomited violently.
He let out a bitter laugh when he saw the bright red blood in the toilet.
Joel had advanced-stage cancer. He had less than a month left to live.
All this while, he had been going to the hospital for check-ups and chemotherapy. His hair fell out in clumps, noticeably thinning—yet his wife had never noticed.
Chapter 3
Joel found himself waking up in the toilet the next day.
His mental state was affected as his condition worsened for the past few days. Sometimes, he would faint from the pain.
All he remembered was vomiting a lot of blood yesterday, staining the toilet bowl red.
Joel flushed the toilet, watching the thick, red liquid swirl away.
The doorbell rang suddenly. He wondered if Rachel had come back.
Joel hurriedly cleaned up the mess and rinsed his mouth. He then wiped the bloodstain off the washroom floor before heading to the door.
"Rach—" he started.
However, Rachel wasn't the one standing outside—it was Christopher.
Christopher had already changed into a set of designer clothes. His hair was perfectly styled, and his complexion looked healthy.
He looked nothing like someone who had just gone through a suicide attempt due to depression.
Christopher smiled and greeted, "Hello, Mr. Lewis, I'm Christopher Scott."
Joel wasn't sure what made him come unannounced. "Why are you here? You're not welcome at Rachel's and my house."
Christopher sneered. "Perhaps you should start being nicer to me now, Mr. Lewis. After all, I'll be the man of this house from now on.
"I might even show some mercy and put up a shabby grave for you somewhere. I'll even drop by and place some wilted flowers on your grave once in a while."
Joel's gaze landed on Christopher's exposed wrist. All he saw was a men's sports watch and a leather bracelet. There were no signs of injury at all.
He recalled Christopher having yet another suicide episode last week. He wasn't threatening to jump off, but he had wanted to self-harm.
Joel still remembered the bloodied photo he had seen. How was it possible for Christopher's wrist to be free of blemishes in just a few days' time?
He asked, "Where are the cuts on your wrist?"
Christopher laughed and replied, "Cuts on my wrist? I'd never cut my wrist when it's so painful and would even leave a scar!"
Realization dawned on Joel suddenly. "Is your depression just a lie? Have you been deceiving Rachel?"
Christopher's smile grew wider. "It doesn't matter as long as she believes it. Women are vain creatures. It'll feed her ego knowing that a man suffered from depression because of her.
"She'd also feel even more guilty toward me. Whenever I faked an episode, she'd worry and think about me. She'd even drop everything to be by my side."
"Christopher!" Joel was beyond enraged. "You're using depression to deceive her and tear her family apart. Do you have no shame?"
Christopher looked at him gloatingly. "Don't you think you're ridiculous, Joel?"
He loosened his collar slightly, showing Joel the love bites on his neck. "I have these marks all over my body."
Christopher then stepped forward and grabbed Joel's hand. He placed it on the love bites on his neck. "Do you want to see them? She has kissed every inch of me, even my—"
He deliberately leaned close to Joel's ear and whispered the intimate parts that were hard to say aloud.
Christopher asked, "Where else do you want to see? Tell me, Mr. Lewis. I can show them all to you. I'll show you just how much Rach loves me, and how wild she gets when she's with me."
Joel struggled to retrieve his hand, yet Christopher refused to let him go.
Suddenly, Christopher's expression shifted from smug amusement to one of fear. Joel's hand was also pressed against his neck.
Christopher cried out loud, "Please let me go, Mr. Lewis. I'll truly die like this!"
"Chris!"
A cold wind swept through, and Joel felt himself being shoved back. He fell onto the ground. The sharp pain made him turn away, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
When he looked up, he could only see Rachel cradling Christopher preciously in her arms.
Her voice was filled with concern when she asked, "Did he hurt you?"
Christopher hugged her tightly and cried out, "I'm so scared, Rach—"
"Don't be, I'm here now," Rachel replied.
Christopher said, "I'm no longer afraid of anything with you by my side."
Rachel helped him up and walked right past Joel, who was lying motionless on the ground.
She brought him straight to the bedroom—her and Joel's master bedroom—and slammed the door shut.
Through the wall, Joel could still hear Rachel's voice. It was filled with guilt and concern. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you at home resting?
"I've told you, he has been moody recently. He's irritable and quick to anger. And your mental health isn't doing good either. What should I do if something happens to you?"
"But I don't know where else I could go other than to come and find you," Christopher replied.
Joel chuckled bitterly and wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. He then slowly got up and leaned against the couch to rest.
He was growing weaker each day due to his chemotherapy. It was hard for him to even get onto the couch now.
Rachel was met with the scene of Joel struggling to get onto the couch when she walked out.
She looked at him condescendingly and coldly asked, "Are you done pretending?"
Chapter 4
Joel looked up slightly. "What are you talking about?"
Rachel replied, "You were so aggressive trying to strangle Chris earlier, yet you're pretending to be weak now?"
Joel argued back, "I did not strangle him!"
"How did your hand end up on his neck then? Are you saying that he somehow took your hand and placed it there?" Rachel asked furiously. Her gaze was nearly murderous as she accused him.
Joel looked at her in disbelief. "That's right. He grabbed my hand and placed it on his neck."
Shock and disappointment flashed past Rachel's eyes. "I barely recognize you anymore, Joel."
Joel chuckled bitterly and replied, "I could say the same of you."
He finally made his way onto the couch and momentarily caught his breath. "Believe it or not, Rachel, Christopher just admitted to me that he doesn't have depression. There were no cuts on his wrist either. You can check for yourself if you don't believe me."
Rachel frowned. "I was there when he cut his wrist. I saw it for myself when his blood pooled on the floor."
Joel said, "Then go take another look at his wrist now, and you'll find out whether I'm telling the truth or not."
Rachel gritted her teeth as if weighing the truth of his words.
Joel snorted. "Go on then. What's wrong? Are you scared of finding out that I'm telling the truth—that Christopher has been lying to you from the start?"
"I believe in Chris." Rachel turned and walked to the bedroom. "I'll go now."
A startled scream came from the bedroom.
Rachel rushed over in an instant. "Chris!"
"Rach—"
Joel forced himself to stay conscious. He leaned against the wall as he stumbled to the bedroom door. He finally saw what was happening inside.
Christopher's wrist and arm were covered in blood. His previously smooth skin was currently cut open, with blood dripping down from the wound.
Rachel anxiously said, "Why did you hurt yourself again?"
Christopher was bawling his eyes out. "It's all my fault! You wouldn't have fought with Joel if it wasn't for me. Just let me be, Rach. Just let me die! Joel would feel at ease if I died!"
"What nonsense are you sprouting? I won't let you kill yourself!" Rachel yelled.
Christopher cried harder. "I've been wanting to end it all for countless times, Rach. But I couldn't bear to do it whenever I thought of you—"
"I won't leave you, Chris. I'll always stay within your sights from now on. I'll stay by your side and protect you." Rachel suddenly turned around and glared viciously at Joel. While gritting her teeth, she said, "I'll never let anyone hurt you again!"
Joel felt his strength left him. He used the wall to support himself as he stared coldly at the two.
Christopher only had a small wound on his wrist, but the floor was full of blood. The blood was likely from a blood pack he'd prepared earlier and not from his body.
But he was right about one thing. Regardless of whether it was the truth or otherwise, as long as Rachel believed it, it would be the truth.
Christopher hiccupped. "Don't be angry, Joel. I'll clean up the blood stains on the floor."
Rachel carried him and placed him down on the bed. "Just stay here and get some rest."
She then turned around and ordered Joel, "Go wipe the floor."
Joel thought he was hearing things. "What?"
"You almost strangled Chris to death, and even caused him to relapse and attempted suicide. Shouldn't you be doing something to make up for your actions?" Rachel asked.
Joel laughed bitterly. "I'm not your household staff, Rachel. If you want the floor cleaned, do it yourself."
Rachel erupted in anger and said, "Take it outside if you want to argue! Don't disturb Chris' rest!"
"Rachel, you—"
Christopher cried and pleaded, "Please don't fight with Joel anymore, Rach. I'll just leave now—"
He then tried to roll out of the bed. He fell down and landed right in Rachel's arms.
She helped Christopher back into the bed and even thoughtfully tucked him in. She then said, "This is my house. You're not the one who should be leaving."
Joel chuckled. "Are you trying to kick me out, Rachel?"
Rachel replied, "Go out and reflect on yourself. You can come back when you've figured out what you've done wrong."
Christopher continued to pretend. "No! Don't kick Joel out, Rach! I'm not worth it—"
Meanwhile, Rachel remained cold toward Joel. "What now? Do you need me to get the security guard to escort you out?"
"No need." Joel coldly spat, "This is no longer my house now."
His phone suddenly rang, and he accepted the call.
"Hello, Mr. Lewis. I'm calling from the body donation department of the Metropolitan General Hospital. Do you still remember that you signed a body donation agreement recently?" Amy asked.
Joel replied, "I remember."
Amy continued, "Thank you for your selfless contribution. We understand that you're in the advanced stage of stomach cancer, and you may not have much time left.
"Could you provide us with the number of any of your family members? We'll reach out to them to arrange for the body donation after your passing."
Joel choked out a sob and replied, "I have no family."
Amy replied, "How could you not have any family? If that's the case, we won't be able to collect your body right away. If your body starts to deteriorate, it wouldn't be suitable for organ donation or medical research anymore."
Joel gave it some thought before replying, "Just give me three more days. I'll personally go to the body donation department after three days."
Amy said, "That's fine with us. We also offer hospice care, which can help make your final days as comfortable as possible."
"Alright."
After ending the call, Joel suddenly heard Rachel's confused voice. "Body donation? What exactly is going on, Joel?"
Chapter 5
Joel put away his phone and calmly replied, "It's nothing."
He turned to leave, but Rachel ran after him and blocked his way.
She asked, "Tell me what exactly is going on. Are you donating your body? Why would you do that when everything is fine with you?"
Joel looked up at her and said, "I'm about to die. Are you happy now?"
Rachel's gaze grew angrily cold. "How could you possibly die when you don't have depression?"
Joel spat, "Depression is not the only condition that will cause death!"
Rachel retorted, "You're probably just dealing with a slight cold. Don't act as if it's some terminal illness!"
Joel felt a sharp pang in his heart. He struggled to maintain his composure.
"That's right. It's just a slight cold." He continued, "A friend of mine recently started working in the body donation department. I'm just bringing something for her."
Rachel asked, "Which friend of yours is that?"
"You don't know her," Joel replied.
"Rach!" Christopher was calling for Rachel.
She hurriedly ran back. "What's wrong, Chris?"
Christopher replied, "It hurts."
"You shouldn't have cut yourself then. I'll go get the first aid kit and patch you up," Rachel said.
Christopher said, "Hurry back, okay? I feel anxious when I don't see you."
"Alright, I'll come back soon," she replied.
Rachel frowned at Joel when she stepped out of the bedroom to retrieve the first aid kit. "Why are you still here? Chris might relapse again if he hears your voice."
Luck seemed to be against him as well. It was pouring outside.
Rachel had slammed the door after Joel as he walked out of the villa, leaving him without even an umbrella.
He was drenched completely in just a thin set of pajamas. Then, Tina Ziegler, their housekeeper, returned from grocery shopping.
"Why are you out in the rain, Mr. Lewis? Where's Ms. Rachel?" Tina dropped the groceries in favor of getting him indoors.
Joel replied, "I'm fine, Tina."
"You'll catch a cold and fall sick if you're in the rain!" Tina exclaimed.
Joel would be donating his body in three days' time. He wouldn't be worrying about catching a cold or falling sick now.
Tina asked, "Did you have an argument with Ms. Rachel, Mr. Lewis? Is it because of that Mr. Scott again?"
Joel smiled and comforted her, "No. Rachel and I are fine."
"But your complexion is looking off! You've always called her "Rach," but now you're calling her by her proper name. Should I inform Mr. and Mrs. Harrison and get them to talk to Ms. Rachel? They're still very fond of you. Surely they'll help you out!" Tina said.
Joel stopped her. "There's no need to alert them. I just like the feeling of being in the rain. I'll always remember this moment."
Rachel was the one who kicked him out in the rain. She wanted him to snap out of it.
Joel smiled. He had never been so clear-headed after all these years.
He finally understood that she no longer loved him. The love and care from the past would eventually dry up—just like this rain.
Joel said, "You should be more respectful and accommodating to Christopher from now on, Tina. Don't offend him, or Rachel will take it out on you."
Tina was shocked. "Are you getting a divorce with Ms. Rachel, Mr. Lewis?"
Joel shook his head. "I'm not."
It was too much of a hassle to get a divorce. Rachel would become a widow in three days' time. She'd be able to marry Christopher right away.
Joel was only worried about Tina.
She had served their household for the past five years. He had always respected her as his elder, and she cared for him like her own child, though she would occasionally nag.
Joel feared that Christopher wouldn't even tolerate Tina after he passed.
…
Joel stood in the rain for the entire day. Rachel finally opened the door when it was nighttime.
He had long since collapsed from exhaustion in the rain. He was soaked and covered in mud.
Tina was aghast. She hurried out and said, "Mr. Lewis has passed out! Hurry and send him to the hospital, Ms. Rachel!"
Rachel held an umbrella and walked up to Joel. She nudged him with the tip of her heels. "Stop pretending. You've only been out in the rain for a little while. Get up and prepare a guest room for Chris."
Tina felt for his arm and forehead. She gasped. "Why is he burning up? He has a fever!"
Rachel refused to believe it and kicked him harder. "Go back and take some medication if you're sick. Do you think I'll help you up if you stay on the ground like that?"
Tina couldn't bear watching anymore. She cried out, "Mr. Lewis had passed out, Ms. Rachel!"
Joel was jolted awake by the sharp pain in his calf. He opened his eyes weakly, and the first thing he saw was Rachel's high heels.
He was the one who gave her the pair of leather heels, but she was now kicking at his calf mercilessly in it.
Joel struggled to get up, but he failed to support himself.
Tina was the one who helped him up, letting him lean heavily against her body. "Thank goodness you're awake, Mr. Lewis! I was so worried!"
Rachel said, "I knew you were pretending all along. Did you think you'd get my attention by being sick? Stop with your tricks, Joel. Chris was truly sick, unlike you. You're acting."
Joel let out a bitter laugh.
Rachel was now accusing him of pretending to be sick, while Christopher was truly sick. What had his world become?
"Alright, I got it." He replied, "I'll never pretend to be sick again."
Chapter 6
Tina helped Joel indoors and got him to lie down on the couch.
She said, "Get some rest, Mr. Lewis. I've prepared some chicken soup for you. Please have some."
The chicken soup Tina made was light and sweet, but Joel couldn't stomach anything now. His stomach was almost completely overtaken by cancer cells.
Just after taking the second sip, Joel covered his mouth and stumbled to the washroom. He started vomiting violently once again. It was a mixture of blood and chicken soup.
He could only dry heave when there was nothing left for him to vomit in the end.
"Joel." Rachel stood outside of the washroom. She looked at Joel with a darkened expression. "Are you trying to disgust me on purpose?"
He wondered if she thought he was deliberately trying to disgust her by vomiting.
Rachel said, "If you're trying to disgust me, then congratulations. I've lost my appetite now. You can finish your meal on your own. I'm leaving."
Joel fought the nausea in his stomach and said, "Just think of it as having a last meal with me, can you?"
Rachel replied, "You should stop pretending to vomit then."
Joel replied, "Alright, I'll stop pretending."
Rachel said, "Try not to show up in front of Chris anymore or his depression might act up again."
After all, Christopher had allegedly suffered from depression after she got married to Joel.
Joel's phone suddenly rang again. It was another call from the body donation department, and he accepted the call.
Amy said, "Hello, Mr. Lewis. We've looked into your situation and realized that you're married. In that case, we'll have to obtain consent from your wife for the body donation. Otherwise, we won't be able to proceed."
"Do you have to get her signature?" Joel asked.
Amy replied, "Yes. We've already emailed the consent form to you. Please get it signed as soon as possible."
"Alright," Joel replied before ending the call.
Rachel said irritably, "Did you hear what I just told you? Hurry and leave after you're done eating. I want you out of Chris' sight!"
Joel said, "Okay."
"Hurry up and leave by today. Don't delay any further," she said.
"Alright."
Rachel left after she was done talking.
Joel went into the study and downloaded the body donation consent form from his email. He then went to look for Rachel.
Rachel was busy looking up steps to care for depression and did not spare him a glance.
"Please sign this, Rachel," Joel said.
Rachel signed her name in the "family" column without even checking it. "Done. Now hurry up and leave. Don't disturb me."
Joel smiled bitterly. "Don't you need to read what it says?"
She replied, annoyed, "Aren't you just asking for money? What's there to read about?"
Joel asked, "Do you think I'm asking you for money?"
Rachel retorted, "Aren't you?"
Joel growled, "I gave up my future and the chance to work abroad all just to stay by your side when you started your business. And now you're upset that I'm spending your money?"
Rachel said, "But the truth is, I'm the breadwinner now, aren't I?"
"If one day I die and someone hands you my death certificate, will you also put down your name without reading what it is, Rachel?" Joel asked.
Rachel sneered, "Why are you so obsessed about death lately, Joel?"
Joel found it funny, as he was about to die in just two days.
Rachel said, "Stop dilly-dallying and leave already."
Joel asked, "Can you come with me, Rach? Just one last time—"
"I don't have time. I have to go shopping with Chris later. He just moved in so he has no spare change of clothes," Rachel replied.
"Oh."
She finally spared him a glance and said, "If only you were this obedient earlier. You wouldn't have had to stay in the rain the entire night then."
Joel walked out of the study, called for delivery service, and sent the signed document back to the body donation department.
Once he was back in the villa, he saw Rachel and Christopher eating in the dining room. Christopher's mouth was open as he waited for Rachel to feed him some oatmeal.
Upon seeing Joel, he pretended to look anxious and hurriedly pushed Rachel's hand away. "You're back, Joel."
She frowned and asked, "Didn't I ask you to leave? Why are you back again?"
"I'm about to leave now." Joel then turned and walked out of the door.
Christopher asked, "Joel sounded a little off, Rach. Is he sick?"
Rachel replied, "He's alright. It's just a slight cold."
Christopher said, "You should go with him. It's so sad going to the hospital alone."
Rachel's voice sounded gentle when she said, "Why are you worried about others when you're sick yourself? Just finish this oatmeal, okay? I'll feel more at ease then."
Joel stood by the door with a hand on the doorknob. He said, "There's no need to go with me. I'll just call a cab."
Christopher immediately pushed away Rachel's hand. She had been holding out a bite of oatmeal. He said anxiously, "That's not right. Others would definitely label me as a homewrecker if they saw this happening. You have to send Joel to the hospital, Rach."
Rachel said, "Alright, don't get anxious. I'll go with him. You can stay at home and rest, okay?"
"Alright," Christopher replied.
Rachel reluctantly kissed his forehead before walking over with a dark expression. Her voice was cold when she said, "Let's go."
Joel wanted to refuse, but he kept his mouth shut when he realized that this might be the last time he'd ride in her car.
…
Rachel drove aggressively throughout the journey.
Joel nearly got thrown out of the car several times. He wouldn't be able to stay in his seat if not for the seatbelt.
He wasn't sure if it was because of motion sickness or his stomach cancer, but he turned to the side and vomited again.
Rachel accepted a call at the same time. She grew anxious as she said, "Don't do anything rash. I'll be there soon!"
Joel asked, "What happened?"
Rachel threw him a cold glare and said, "You'll find out soon enough."
Chapter 7
Rachel drove Joel to a remote, unfinished building on the outskirts of the city. There were weeds everywhere, and it was completely abandoned.
She dragged him along, swiftly making her way into the unfinished building, but his body no longer could keep up with her pace.
Joel staggered along, struggling to catch his breath in gasps, yet Rachel was seemingly blind to it. She was only moving forward anxiously.
She finally came to a halt.
Joel looked up and saw Christopher with his hands bound. He was hanging from the rooftop. He cried out, "Save me, Rach!"
"Chris!" Rachel was heartbroken. She tried to comfort him and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm here now. I won't let anything happen to you!"
"Just as the rumors say, Ms. Rachel really does love her lover very much." A group of abductors walked out while asking gleefully, "Have you brought the money?"
Rachel coldly replied, "How am I supposed to get you five million dollars in such a short time?"
One of the abductors said, "So the deal is off the table then? Fine, I'll cut this rope and let your lover meet his demise—"
"Wait!" Rachel dragged Joel by his arm and pushed him out. "I'll trade him in instead"
The abductors frowned. "What kind of joke is this, Ms. Rachel? Do you think we're stupid?"
Rachel said, "He's sold every organ in his body. He's probably worth more than five million."
Joel collapsed onto the ground and stared at her in disbelief, yet she only had eyes for Christopher.
She continued, "I'm sure you guys wouldn't dare to spend the five million even if you managed to get it, since the police will be on your tracks.
"It's better for you to take him to Northern Moyona instead. A healthy young man's organs would surely fetch a good price. It'll be the safest option for you guys there."
The abductors exchanged glances, seemingly sold by Rachel's words.
The police would surely be on the lookout for them with abducting and extorting such a large sum under their belts. They'd be living on the run.
It would be better for them to just bring a live person to Northern Moyona. Once they sold off his organs, they'd be able to live a carefree life in Southeast Aysea for the rest of their lives.
Christopher continued to cry. "My wrists hurt, Rach—"
Rachel urged the abductors, "Hurry up and release my lover!"
The abductors split into two groups. Two of them grabbed hold of Joel while the other two cut off the rope.
Christopher fell from the rooftop. Rachel swiftly ran over and caught him. "Don't be afraid. I'm here now."
He said, "I knew you'd come and rescue me, Rach!"
Meanwhile, Joel was mercilessly dragged away by the two men. He struggled and yelled, "You've been deceived by her! I'm her real partner!"
The abductors burst out laughing. "You're her partner? Everyone in Hallowbrook City knows how much Ms. Rachel loves her lover. She wouldn't have handed you over for us to sell your organs if you truly were her partner!"
Joel's heart turned cold. The Rachel from before did love him dearly, but she was now a completely different person.
The sound of sirens echoed from downstairs. Several dozen armed SWAT officers soon surrounded the entire unfinished building.
When the abductors realized they were tricked, they cursed, "You wretch! You set us up!"
Rachel was already taking cover behind the SWAT officers with Christopher in tow.
The SWAT officers shouted at the abductors, "Release the hostage, and we'll show mercy!"
Surrounded by the police, the abductors were forced to surrender as they had nowhere to escape. Joel was finally rescued.
When he walked past Rachel, she said, "I called the police earlier. I only traded you out knowing that you'll be fine."
Joel chuckled coldly. "What if the police had been a moment too late? Or what if the kidnappers panicked and threw me off the building?"
Rachel frowned and said, "What's the point of talking about things that didn't happen?"
"You're right. There's no point at all." Joel smiled bitterly and stopped talking.
"You better not go home for now. Just go stay in the hospital instead. Chris just went through a shock and needs to rest," Rachel said while hugging Christopher.
Joel nodded and replied, "Don't worry. The things you're worried about won't happen."
As the hostage, the police assigned an officer, Lily Bloke, to look after him.
Lily told him, "We'll take you to the hospital for a full check-up to see if you're injured."
Joel smiled and agreed to it. However, when they arrived at the hospital, he said, "You can drop me off here. Thank you."
Lily was worried. "I'll leave after your check-up."
"There's no need to. I'm fine. I just need to get some cold medicine from the doctor. You must have duties to attend to, so you can head back first. There's no need to stay with me," Joel said.
Lily nodded and said, "Alright then. You can just contact me if you feel unwell after this."
Joel replied, "Alright. Thank you."
He smiled while watching Lily hurry away. He then turned around and walked in a different direction.
The sign on the building read: "Body Donation Department."
Joel powered off his phone, took out his SIM card, and snapped it in half. He then tossed the pieces into a trash can.
After that, he took a deep breath before walking into the building.
Rachel would never be able to find Joel again from now onward.