Chapter 3

Cough, cough!

I suddenly opened my eyes.

It felt like something was sucking my life away, and I could barely breathe. I felt as though I had been run over by a truck due to the pain that radiated from every part of my body.

I was confused as I could feel the bed beneath me.

I remembered my soul had already left my body. How was I back?

Rachel, who had been sitting by my side, let out a cry of joy when she saw me awaken.

"Zoe, you're awake!"

She was crying tears of happiness over my consciousness, and seeing her familiar face stirred something soft in me.

Rachel was my junior by one year during our time as interns. I had taken care of her during the internship, and we had a close relationship.

She had cried on my behalf when she found out that I had given up my promotion for Leon. She had felt that it was a waste for me to do that.

However, I was too consumed by my love for Leon to listen to anyone at that time. I had brushed off all the advice I received.

"Zoe, that jerk didn't believe you were hospitalized! He refused to sign the Critical Care Notification, and the doctors had no choice but to only give you the most basic treatment. You've been in a coma for three days. I thought you weren't going to wake up…" She sobbed.

I wanted to squeeze her hand like I used to do so when she was upset to comfort her, but I couldn't summon the strength.

I knew I didn't have much time left.

Even though I had been pulled back from the edge of death, it felt like my entire body had been hammered repeatedly. Every breath I took pierced my lungs.

I could feel my life slipping away, and I understood that this brief return was just the last radiance of the setting sun. Perhaps that was the reason my soul could return to my body for a short while.

"Where's my phone?" I asked weakly.

Rachel handed it to me and said resentfully, "Zoe, Leon said he wanted a divorce so that he could marry Abigail! How dare he?! Did he forget how he got his position in the first place?!"

I struggled to scroll through the messages that Leon had bombarded me with.

[Zoe, let's end this peacefully. Forget about the house. I'm going to live there with Abigail!]

[Zoe, do you think ignoring me will solve anything? This divorce is definitely happening!]

[Let's get a divorce quickly if you don't want things to turn ugly between us!]

[Fine, we'll split the house equally. Is that good enough for you? Stop holding up my marriage to Abigail!]

[Zoe, I have depression. I can't live without Leon. Please let us be together.]

The last message was from Abigail herself fifteen minutes ago.

[Fine. Let's get it done tomorrow.]

My arm dropped heavily to my side after I sent the message. However, I accidentally tugged at the freshly stitched wounds, and tears welled up in my eyes due to the pain.

If I had the choice, I would also like to free myself from Leon before death came. I wanted nothing but peace.

Unfortunately, I was rushed back into the operating room later that night.

I thought I would finally get some rest, but I suddenly felt a powerful force pushing me out of my body again. I could see myself lying in the hospital bed the next moment. My lips had turned blue, and the heart monitor had flat-lined with urgent beeps.

So, this was it.

It had come a little sooner than I'd expected. I had hoped to free myself from Leon before I died, but my name was still tied to his in the end.

"The patient's organs are ruptured! There's a massive internal bleeding, leading to infection!"

"Her heart isn't beating! Get the defibrillator ready!"

"Someone notify the patient's family!"

I was an orphan.

The only person who could technically be considered family was Leon, and he was likely fast asleep next to Abigail at the moment.

I watched as Rachel wept outside the operating room while frantically trying to reach Leon.

No one answered her calls.

She paced up and down the corridor, sweat forming on her forehead.

Soon, Leon finally answered her call after countless 'The number you are trying to reach is unavailable, please try again later.' responses.

Rachel's eyes were filled with hope instantly.

"Leon! Zoe's condition has worsened, and she's in the operating room! You need to come to sign the papers now!"