Love's Ashes Depart the Harbor

Half an hour later.

Bound to a hospital bed with restraint straps, I heard Vivian arguing outside the door with her doctor friend, Jenna Deale.

“Vivian, even if you never had real feelings for Ethan, he still worked hard without complaint, handed over his salary and took care of you and the child for six whole years. How could you tie him up and force him to donate a healthy kidney to Jason just because he ruined his kidneys from drinking too much? You have to understand, losing a kidney can severely affect a man’s health and vitality. Ethan’s body was already in poor condition after that car accident when he saved you. This surgery might leave him permanently infertile due to the complications!”

"Wouldn't it be perfect if he lost the ability to have children?" Vivian said coolly and indifferently. "The death of our daughter proves Ethan is unfit to be a father. Removing his kidney will also kill any delusion he has about me ever bearing him another child. A shallow, useless husband like him was clinging to power and willing to do anything he's told, as long as he's guaranteed a lifetime of food and comfort."

Hearing the door open, I quietly closed my eyes.

My cheek felt a slight tickle. It was Vivian brushing the messy hair from my forehead.

"Ethan, as long as you obediently cooperate and get this little surgery done, I can give whatever you want."

After all these years of marriage, it was the first time she had ever spoken to me so gently. But I completely ignored her and calmly looked straight at Jenna:

"Dr. Deale, please proceed with the surgery as soon as possible. I have things to take care of later."

"Something to take care? What could a married man possibly have to do this late at night?"

With her red lips slightly parted and her expression cold, Vivian seemed like she had more to say, but her phone rang at that very moment.

It was Jason’s custom ringtone.

“Jason, don’t be scared. I’m coming to be with you right now.”

Watching her hurry away, Jenna’s eyes filled with even deeper sympathy for me.

“Ethan, if you regret it now, it’s still not too late to stop.”

I thought of how Vivian had covered my father’s cancer treatment expenses for ten years. With a faint smile, I shook my head at Jenna and simply said, “Dr. Deale, I’d like to ask you for a favor...”

Two hours later…

As I slowly woke from anesthesia, the first thing I saw was Vivian sitting by the bed.

Seeing the bright satisfaction on her face, it was obvious that Jason's transplant surgery had gone smoothly.

“Ethan, you still haven’t told me what reward you want?”

I lazily blinked once and replied, “Then I’ll trouble you to peel me an apple.”

My polite and courteous tone made Vivian pause in slight confusion.

After a few seconds of thought, assuming I must be starving, she ordered takeout from several of my favorite restaurants.

But even faced with a table full of my favorite dishes, I didn’t so much as lift a spoon.

Seeing this, Vivian, who rarely sat down to eat with me, frowned and quietly set down her plate and spoon.

"Ethan, if the food on the table doesn't suit your taste, you can tell me what you want. I'll have someone...”

“It’s fine, I’m not hungry at all.”

As soon as I finished speaking, my phone rang. The caller ID was 10086.

I picked up the phone and walked into the bathroom. As soon as I answered, I heard that person's voice, filled with a pitiful tone, asking, “Ethan, I’ve already arrived at the airport in Haventon, but I didn’t see you. Are you... still unable to let go of her?”

“No, I just ran into some unexpected issues on the road. It caused a delay.”

“What happened? Are you hurt? Send me your location, I’ll come right over...”

Interrupting their overthinking, I simply said…