Once His Shadow, Now His Sentence

He threw the black-screened phone and all into the drawer and pushed it back in forcefully.

As he passed the nurses' station, he paused, borrowed a nurse's phone and sent me a text message, [Terra, there's a limit to being dramatic. It was just a few light bumps, no blood at all, nothing serious. You dare act tough with me? If you're so capable, never contact me again.]

I walked beside him, my smile bitter.

My humble love had spoiled him so much.

He was always so certain that I couldn't live without him.

But this time, I truly wouldn't contact him again.

In the afternoon, the sky cleared and Matilda returned to normal, tearfully complaining, "Max, I really didn't know I'd lose control and bump into Terra during my episode.”

“I'll apologize to her. I'll do anything until she forgives me." 

Maximo replied flatly, "It's alright. It doesn't look serious, there's no blood at all, probably not even a scratch. You didn't do it on purpose, Terra will understand."

"But...but what if she calls the police and arrests me?"

Maximo smiled and patted her head, "Don't worry, I've already had her sign the letter of understanding. This has nothing to do with you anymore."

Matilda happily rubbed her cheek against his hand, her eyes full of dependence, "I knew Max was the best to me."

Maximo met her burning gaze, as if burned by something and abruptly withdrew his hand, "Matilda, I'm getting married to Terra soon. Don't call me Max anymore, if you're willing..." 

"Call me brother from now on. Terra will be your sister-in-law. We'll take care of you together." 

Matilda bit her lip, a fleeting glint of malice in her eyes, before quickly nodding obediently.

Outside the ward, two nurses gossiped.

"Mr. Alvarez treats his fiancée so well. She was only a little scared, yet he mobilized the whole hospital to check on her. They really are a perfect pair—handsome and beautiful."

"Yeah. And just two days ago, a car-accident victim came in with crushed organs and no one even showed up to identify the body. Life is so unfair."

Maximo frowned, his heart pounding inexplicably. He blurted out, "The woman inside isn't my fiancée."

He paused, then added, "My fiancée is Dr. Terra from the surgery department." 

Even Maximo himself was stunned by his words.

He was a chosen one, indifferent to right and wrong and utterly disdainful of explanation.

So much so that everyone in the hospital, except for a small group of colleagues in our respective departments, thought I was just a shameless, persistent simp he couldn't shake off.

I was given nicknames and had hot soup thrown on me by his admirers.

They cornered me in an empty restroom and dumped a bucket of toads on my head.

They gleefully enjoyed my screams and sobs, calling me shameless for dreaming of marrying a swan.

Countless times I hoped Maximo would step forward and explain, but he always impatiently dismissed me, "It's just a few words, it won't hurt you. If you're so dramatic, don't be a doctor."

But when a blunt intern commented that Matilda’s “torrential rain syndrome” seemed fake, the next day, that doctor vanished from the city entirely.

I realized then that he wasn't incapable of protecting people, it was just that the person worthy of his protection was never me.

Clutching my empty heart, I silently laughed through my tears.

How ironic. 

The title I couldn't obtain in life, no matter how hard I tried, was easily obtained after death.

Maximo ignored the nurses' astonished expressions, suppressing the panic in his heart and strode towards his office.