“Is there something on your mind tonight, Lise?” Matthew asked carefully. He didn’t want to jump to any conclusions just yet. “I’m not sure about this, but I feel like there’s something you want to tell me. Is there?”Allison stilled for a second before eventually nodding. “I’ve been thinking a lot, Mattie,” she said slowly. “About what will happen once the treatment goes well. What I’ll do from then on.”“I see…” Matthew said, letting his voice drift off, silently encouraging her to continue.“I know you won’t be there for me anymore, that this is all just a temporary arrangement,” Allison said. “After going through treatment a number of times, my mind became clearer, and I think I’ve become well enough physically and mentally to come to a decision.”Matthew still had no idea where this was leading, but he kept silent, not wanting to interrupt her.“As I said earlier, I want to rekindle my passion for life. I used to immerse myself in working at the lab, right? Though I’m not sure I
“I should find a job or do freelance work online in the meantime,” Allison muttered as she scrolled through her phone. “I think I’m a little rusty when it comes to writing, so I’ll have to start working on that soon. For now, I’m fine with editing and proofreading. Maybe some popular sites are hiring right now…”A day had passed since the treatment. Allison was becoming chipper, and there was an inner glow to her that Matthew couldn’t deny. She even surprised him earlier after breakfast by claiming that she wanted to go shopping with him.“Shopping?” he had repeated when she brought it up. “You want to go outside? But you just finished with your new therapy yesterday…”“Then… can you do me a favor and buy me a new one instead? I’m fine with just one dress,” Allison told him with an imploring tone. “I’ll have to start looking for a new apartment afterwards. But first, I need a job.”A new apartment? A job?Matthew smiled wryly. It seemed that she was starting to plan her new life witho
A few days had passed, and now, today was probably the day when Allison would receive the results. Even though the doctor didn’t specify what date, it was clear that they would be receiving a call or message within this week.Matthew was anxious. If the treatment didn’t go well, it would spell the worst circumstance for Allison. She would have to be hospitalized again and go through several treatments. Worst case scenario, she would succumb to the cancer—No. No! That wasn’t going to happen. Not on his watch.He would find the best doctor in the entire world to treat her. He would do everything as long as she would get better.She had to get better! She had suffered enough already. She still had a lot of precious years left in her life that she needed to live.However, unlike him, Allison was as calm as ever. It was as if she already knew that it would be successful. The confidence in her stride and the relaxation on her features showed as much.He didn’t know how she could do that. U
Matthew’s head was whirling with questions, and he felt like he forgot how to breathe.What kind of development was this?How easy for her to say that. To say that they should let go of each other, and for good.It sparked something inside of Matthew. Something akin to anger.“How can you say something like that?” he said quietly, trying to control his emotions. “Why should we stay separated from now on? You don’t want to keep in touch with me anymore, is that it?”Allison slowly lowered the clothes in her hand. She was staring at him with something firm in her eyes, and her expression was solemn. “That’s correct,” she said flatly. “Isn’t it the same for you?”Matthew kept his anger in check for a moment. “What?”“Your company needs you, the CEO. Yet you’re here taking care of me, your ex-wife. Once the media gets wind of this, not only will the company get affected, but your girlfriend, Lily, will get involved, too. I don’t want to be in the spotlight anymore, either. It’s not a win-
Matthew felt the heaviness in his heart grow stronger as he packed his bags. He looked at his surroundings, wondering when exactly he had grown used to this place. He hadn’t even stayed here for at least half a year, but it felt like he’d been here forever.The thought of leaving this place felt strange, like everything had just been a dream. A dream of seeing Allison again and taking care of her, making her feel that she wasn’t alone. A warm dream filled with sadness and anxiety, but one that he didn’t regret.After his argument with Allison, he decided to leave. It hurt to think that she had all those thoughts in her head, that she was still suffering even with his presence.Just when he thought that he could provide her with some comfort, it turned out that he was wrong. He hadn’t been comforting her at all, it seemed.But what about those grateful looks and words that she sent towards him? What about those warm ‘thank you’ words and that gentle, reassuring squeeze of his hand? Wha
Allison watched from the window of the guest bedroom as Matthew paused in his steps to take out his phone. He pressed the device against his ear, talking with a warm smile.There was only one reason he would speak to someone with a smile like that.He was probably talking to Lily.He must be very happy right now.Allison felt the bitterness pooling in her gut, but it was quickly washed over with a tide of overwhelming sadness. This was her decision, and she would stand by it until the end.She continued to watch as Matthew talked on the phone while going to the car. She stared as the car door closed before the vehicle sped away.And then all remains of her mask slipped away, like water running down her face and dripping down the floor.“Goodbye…” she whispered as she pulled away from the window and went towards her bedroom.‘Now, I don’t need to put up an act anymore,’ she thought as she stood before the mirror inside the room. ‘This was the worst.’It had been the most difficult deci
The villa was deathly quiet as Allison packed her bags. She didn’t have many possessions left; the things that Matthew brought from her old apartment were all relatively useless.She decided that she would throw them away once she left this place.Except for the ultrasound photos and the letters. She would keep those.Allison made sure to stay for a few more days in order not to arouse any suspicions from the staff that was left in the villa. She dismissed the private healthcare team that Matthew assigned her, telling them that she would be going back and forth from the hospital for the maintenance therapy, so their services were done.After that, she told the staff that she would be leaving the villa for good.“Tell Matthew — I mean, Mr. Laurier — that I found someplace to stay for the meantime,” Allison told one of the maids. “Tell him that Marina is taking me in for a while until I get back on my feet. Also, inform him not to communicate with either Marina or me from now on, that h
Darkness.It was the only thing that Allison could see.She felt like her body — or soul, perhaps? — was floating in the air, in the middle of an abyss. Her mind was blank, like it had been wiped clean. She didn’t know who she was or where she was floating to.And then, the darkness faded away.When Allison opened her eyes the next moment, she could see a white ceiling.Her brain was groggy as she tried to remember the last thing in her memories. Everything was fuzzy, including her vision.The recent thing she could recall…Ah.She died, didn’t she?Allison blinked. The white ceiling was still there, and the lights were blinding her eyes.She closed them momentarily. Was she alive? What was she doing here?Was she still in the hospital?But how could she have survived?Allison groaned slightly as she tried to sit up in bed. Surprisingly, her body didn’t feel so sore anymore. The pain throbbing in her skin was no longer there, and her high fever had seemingly subsided.Did the doctors