"Save me... Mom, it's gone... the things I could do by myself... it's all gone..."

My deathly-gray words echoed in his ears once more.

Tears welled up, accompanied by a stinging, aching sensation. He lowered his head, brushing his hand through his black hair, taking deep breaths to soothe the suffocating tightness in his chest.

Two hours later, the surgical light finally flickered out.

As soon as the door opened, Ethan stepped forward: "How is she?"

Dr. Zhang from the Neurology Department had a grave expression: "Her condition has entered the worsening stage. In the future, there will be difficulties in speech, slower speed of articulation, and even muscle weakness in her limbs..."

Seeing Ethan looking as if he had been struck by lightning, he couldn't bear to say more, only reminding him: "Family members must pay close attention to her emotions. Many ALS patients suffer from excessive psychological pressure during treatment and develop depression."

Listening to the doctor, Ethan’s tightly clenched hands slowly loosened.

When I was finally wheeled out of the operating room, he answered in a hoarse voice: "I understand."

Three a.m., the city lights were scattered like stars.

In the quiet patient room, the sound of liquid dripping in the IV tube seemed amplified.

Ethan sat by the bed, gazing at me as I frowned even in my deep slumber.

"Clara..."

The last time he had called her that was before they were married.

He reached out, brushing back the thin, soft hair on my forehead: "I haven't been a competent husband at all, doing so many jerk things that hurt you."

After a pause, Ethan’s voice grew increasingly raspy: "So how could you drive me away? You should have cursed me, hit me, and made me stay to pour tea and water for you instead..."

As he spoke, he could no longer make a sound, only muffled sobs remained.

Slowly, dawn broke.

But I had not yet awakened.

Ethan was preparing to pour hot water to wipe my face, but as soon as he exited the room, he saw two police officers in uniform walking toward him.

The officer in the lead showed him a police badge, expressionless: "Hello, we are criminal police from the City Public Security Bureau. Are you Ethan, the president of the entertainment group?"

Criminal police!?

Hearing these words, the patients and nurses in the hallway turned surprised, inquisitive gazes toward them.

Ethan furrowed his brow slightly, remaining steady: "I am."

"You should know Melanie, shouldn't you? She was once your company's Public Relations Director."

Hearing the other party mention Melanie, Ethan’s eyes darkened: "Yes."

"She is suspected of being involved in a transnational fraud case and a smuggling case. According to our investigation, you are someone she has had direct contact with in recent months, so please come with us to assist with the investigation."

Once this was said, the nurses who had a good relationship with me were all filled with shock and worry.

I needed someone by my side right now, and to have my husband taken away by the police—how could I possibly accept this?

A flash of hesitation crossed Ethan's face.

With a clear conscience, he wasn't worried about being implicated.

What he was worried about was leaving me alone in the hospital just after my surgery.

Seeing Ethan remain silent, the police grew more vigilant.

Until he said in a slow voice: "Let me say a few words to the nurse."

The two officers exchanged glances and nodded.

Under their watchful eyes, Ethan walked to the nurse's station and said to the nurse changing my medicine: "Please help look after Clara while I'm away. If she asks, just say I went to handle some company business and will be back soon."

The nurse nodded blankly: "Okay, okay..."

Under the strange gazes of the crowd, Ethan was led away by the police and placed into the patrol car.

Chapter 32

Public Security Bureau, interrogation room.

Qi Ming, the captain of the criminal police team, placed photos of Melanie and a man with dyed yellow hair wearing a mask in front of Ethan.

"According to information from Las Vegas, Melanie owed the casino 20 million six months ago and obtained 5 million in illegal profits through smuggling contraband during that time."

"This man is Melanie’s ex-husband, Liam. Two months ago, he committed a 10 million fraud case at the casino where he worked in Las Vegas and fled back to the country. We currently have no trace of him."

Ethan’s brows knitted tightly.

Two months ago?

He couldn't help but recall the financial statement; the last 600,000 in funds siphoned off had occurred exactly two months ago.

Qi Ming saw Ethan’s contemplative look and asked in a low voice: "Mr. Ethan, you sent Melanie to the police station more than a month ago on charges of embezzling 10 million in public funds. Why did you drop the charges later?"

Ethan looked up, meeting his gaze directly: "I wasn't aware of the crimes Melanie committed. Since it was a personal grudge between us, I wanted to use a businessman's methods to repay her."

His voice was clear and composed, lacking the nervousness ordinary people faced during interrogation.

Qi Ming was silent. The investigation report stated that Ethan had leaked the news of Melanie’s embezzlement to every influential tycoon in the business world privately.

Coupled with Melanie’s previous ambiguity with them, not only did the tycoons toy with her, but they were also cornered at home by their wealthy wives and severely beaten. The result was predictable...

For the entire day, Ethan was subjected to various investigations.

He also learned that in order to catch Liam, the police had sent people to monitor Melanie.

But Liam was cunning and cautious, careful to the point of cloning other people's phone numbers.

As the sky grew dark, watching the meal Qi Ming had sent in, Ethan had no appetite.

Looking at the dim sky outside the window, worry began to creep onto his face, which had been cold all day.

He wondered if I had woken up yet, and if I would be scared to see he wasn't there.

Thinking of this, Ethan gave a bitter smile.

I resisted him so much that I must have been praying he wouldn't appear at all...

Hospital, patient room.

When I woke up, the soft warm light overhead still made it hard for me to open my eyes.

"You’re awake?"

I didn't pay much attention to the familiar voice by my ear, only whispering hoarsely: "Water..."

Before long, warm water was fed into my mouth, nourishing my parched throat.

"Thank you..."

I turned my head. The name "Ethan" was stuck in my throat when I saw Julian beside me.

Julian wasn't wearing his lab coat; he must have been off duty for a while.

Hearing my obviously unfinished tone, Julian, though pained, said calmly: "Ethan had an urgent matter at the company and went back to handle it. He probably won't be here for a few days."

After saying this, he felt amused at himself.

What am I doing? Covering for my former romantic rival?

I lowered my eyes, muttering to myself: "It's better if he doesn't come..."

As if remembering something, I blinked a few times, my expression slowly becoming distracted.

Before losing consciousness, I thought I had seen my mother. In that state of total collapse, I had made a final plea for help to her.

But... was it a hallucination?

Seeing the disappointment in my eyes, Julian couldn't bear it: "What’s wrong?"

I looked at the light overhead: "I think I want to go home."

I paused for a few seconds before continuing: "Perhaps if I go home, I can pretend that my situation isn't that bad, that there’s still a chance to stand up..."

Julian was silent. I gave a bitter smile: "A foolish thought, right? But I still want to go back and see."

While I could still talk, before I completely lost the ability to move.

After hesitating for a moment, Julian suddenly spoke: "When you’re feeling a bit better, I’ll take you home."

Chapter 33

The next day.

Ethan was confirmed to have no connection to Melanie’s two cases.

Qi Ming escorted him to the entrance of the Public Security Bureau and extended his hand: "Mr. Ethan, thank you for cooperating with our investigation. If you find any clues about Liam through Melanie, please contact us promptly."

Ethan shook his hand and nodded.

As he turned, he saw a Lincoln parked by the side of the road.

In the light rain, his father stood expressionless beside the car.

He froze for a moment before walking over.

After a period of silence, his father finally spoke: "I knew Melanie wasn't a good woman back then, yet you let her back into the company. Do you know how much trouble the company got into because of this?"

The blunt reprimand made Ethan’s face turn black.

He had assumed his father's primary concern should have been for his son, but instead...