Love's Withering, Life's Countdown

Yvette was yanked a little too hard and lost her balance, causing her to fall to the ground. She accidentally knocked over a nearby coffee cup, and a shard of glass sliced her palm.

When Elton saw that she was injured, he immediately stopped the meeting, in front of everyone. He walked over and grabbed her hand to scrutinize the wound.

He coldly asked, "Who did this to her?"

Elton's subordinate went pale with fear.

I knew precisely what Elton was capable of when it came to punishing people. But I also knew that he'd never lay a hand on me.

So I stepped forward and took the blame. "I did. So what? She had it coming."

Yvette's eyes brimmed with tears as she leaned into Elton's arms, her expression full of wounded pride. She cried, "You're right! I brought this on myself. I fell for someone I shouldn't have, and now I'm humiliated and called a homewrecker."

Elton gently stroked her hair and comforted her, saying softly, "Don't be upset. It hurts me to see you like this."

Elton really did treat her differently.

I averted my gaze, no longer wishing to see them. I composed myself to make my request. "Today is my birthday. For my gift, I would like five million dollars."

I always thought that this was amusing. Despite being his wife, I always had to go through his secretary whenever I needed money.

This time, when the funds didn't appear in my account, I decided to visit him in his office. That's when I discovered that he had already replaced his senior secretary.

Before we got married, the deal was simple—he wanted me, and I wanted his money. Elton had always hated that I was materialistic and that I didn't love him.

In the past, no matter how much money I requested from him, he always obliged me without hesitation. Yet, this time, he sneered, "You want money? Fine. Apologize to Yvette first."

This was the first time he used money as a means to control me for the sake of another woman. It seemed that he planned to spend five million dollars to buy my pride and make Yvette feel better.

I clenched my fists. After a long silence, I suddenly let out a quiet laugh.

Suppressing the pain coursing through my body, I turned and walked away. I no longer wanted the money.

Still, I wondered if Elton would regret not realizing that the money could have bought me more time and alleviated my suffering before I died.

Thus, I returned home alone, the relentless pain from cancer forcing me to curl up in bed. Lacking the funds for medication, I resorted to taking sleeping pills, trying to deceive myself. As long as I stayed asleep, the pain would disappear.

After I fell asleep, I had a dream about a time when I was 18. Elton was still poor but loved me deeply. On my birthday that year, we couldn't afford a cake and could only envy others as they celebrated theirs.

Elton hugged me tightly, hiding the tears in his eyes. He promised me, "One day, when I have money, I'll give you all the good things in the world."

At that time, I felt like the happiest woman in the world.

In a sleepy haze, I heard my phone ring. I picked it up, and a deep, familiar voice said my name. "Hedy."

I smiled and replied tenderly, "Elton… I want some cake."