Love Is Over

"No, your illness can't be delayed any longer." He firmly told Dr. Llyod, "I agree to the surgery. It must be arranged as soon as possible!"

My clenched hands tightened and loosened repeatedly, my heart feeling like it was filled to the brim with tears.

I had been married to Simon Webster for so many years. And yet, it had all come to this.

After coming out of the operating room, I asked Simon, "The doctor just told me they want me to donate a kidney?"

Simon nodded absentmindedly, then quickly changed the topic, "Adriana, are you hungry? I'll go get you something to eat." With that, he turned and grabbed our daughter to leave.

But my daughter resisted, "Dad, why won't you tell Mom the truth? Dad, do you really want to watch Aunt Kourtney suffer like this?"

Simon held her hand and walked off, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not."

I got out of bed and followed them. I discovered they didn't go downstairs to buy food for me but instead headed straight to Kourtney's ward.

From inside the room came the sound of their conversation. My daughter said, "Dad, Mom won't die just because she loses a kidney. It's just a kidney. Why won't she agree? Dad, I don't want to see Aunt Kourtney suffer like this. Anyway, Mom's so easy to fool. Just trick her again."

Simon didn't object, "I know. Don't worry. I want Kourtney to get better too. Vivian, relax. Once we go back to her room, I'll talk to your mom."

Kourtney coughed lightly for a while before gasping, "Vivian, don't make things hard for your mom for my sake. Simon, I know I'm a burden to you both. Living like this is meaningless. I'd rather just die ..."

Simon responded immediately, "What nonsense are you saying? Don't talk like that. You're going to live."

Vivian chimed in loudly, "Exactly, Aunt Kourtney! Don't say such things. You're going to live a long, long life! If all else fails, Dad and I will just trick Mom into going hiking again! My mom is so stupid. She'll definitely be super happy to agree."

Kourtney laughed out loud, her laughter crisp and carefree.

I leaned against the wall, barely able to stay on my feet. So, it was all a deliberate setup. My fall off the cliff wasn't an accident, it was their plan all along. The husband and daughter I had poured my heart into actually wanted me dead.

Suddenly, the hospital room door swung open. I looked up and met Simon's stunned gaze.

He was utterly shocked, "Adriana, why are you here?" The laughter inside came to an abrupt halt.

My daughter helped Kourtney out of the room. Kourtney forced a gentle smile, "Adriana, you've just woken up. You should rest more."

My daughter didn't say a word, but her gaze clearly expressed her annoyance, as if my presence had interrupted their joyful moment.

Simon quickly added, "Yes, Adriana, you need rest. I'll take you back."

He reached out to support me and turned to walk me away, but we hadn't gone far when my daughter cried out in panic, "Aunt Kourtney, what's wrong?"

Hearing this, Simon immediately let go of me and turned back toward Kourtney. He rushed to catch her as she almost collapsed, "Kourtney, what's wrong? Don't scare me."

Kourtney leaned weakly against him. "I ... I'm fine ..." Her face turned deathly pale and she began coughing violently.

Without hesitation, Simon scooped her up and carried her back into the room. My daughter suddenly became very considerate, "I'll go call the doctor!"

The three of them disappeared from my sight, leaving me completely forgotten.

I stood in the hallway. Out of nowhere, a gust of wind blew past, sending chills through my entire body.