Julian noticed my bad mood and was just about to press me for an answer.

A woman's voice suddenly rang out from the ward doorway: "Dr. Julian."

I turned my head along with Julian to look.

Standing at the doorway was a female doctor.

I knew her.

Nina, an intern who had just graduated and was assigned to the ER.

And her figure looked somewhat familiar……

Before I could figure it out, my gaze dropped.

As I looked down, I stiffened as if struck by a sword—

The jade-carved Buddha pendant that never left Julian's side was actually hanging around Nina's neck!

Chapter 3

That jade-carved Buddha pendant was a heirloom left to Julian by his grandfather.

He valued it deeply and had worn it on his person since childhood, refusing to take it off.

Yet now, it had been given to Nina……

I looked at Julian in disbelief.

He didn't see my astonishment.

The moment Nina appeared, all his attention was focused on her.

Even his tone had turned gentle: "What is it?"

Nina gave a slight smile: "Dr. Julian, there's a patient looking for you. You'd better go take a look."

Julian didn't hesitate for a second: "I'll go right now."

With that, he stepped out.

As he reached the door, he remembered I was there, stopped, and turned back: "Rest well, and call me if you need anything."

I couldn't say a single word.

Watching the backs of the two as they walked away side by side, my stomach suddenly churned.

I didn't even have time to reach the bathroom; I hugged the trash can beside the bed and began to vomit violently.

A nurse, hearing the noise, hurried over: "Dr. Clara, are you alright!"

I couldn't answer; only after I had finished vomiting did I shake my head with tears in my eyes: "I'm fine…… please don't tell Dr. Julian about my condition."

The nurse was puzzled: "Aren't you and Dr. Julian good friends? He cares about you very much."

Good friends.

Yes, we were good friends.

And from today on, we could only ever be good friends.

I closed my eyes, loosening my clenched hands to reveal the bloody indentations I had made in my palms.

……

I didn't let the nurse help me; I cleaned everything up myself.

I had a strong-willed nature; as long as I wasn't paralyzed, I would never bother anyone else.

Even if I were truly paralyzed, I would rather die than be seen in such a pathetic state.

When I had finished, just as I lay down on the hospital bed, my phone rang.

Seeing my mother's name on the screen, the emotions I had just suppressed flooded back.

I hadn't told my family about my illness.

And because I had just finished vomiting and was in a terrible state, I didn't want my mother to worry, so I didn't answer.

Thinking I'd call her back the next morning and tell her I had fallen asleep or was in surgery.

After the call ended automatically, I quickly fell asleep.

When the door was pushed open the next day, I woke up.

I saw Julian walking in carrying breakfast, wearing the same clothes from yesterday.

Seeing me open my eyes, his voice was cold and clear: "It seems that habit of yours of waking up at the slightest sound isn't going to get better. I'll come later next time."

As he spoke, he walked closer and lowered his eyes, seeing the dinner he had bought yesterday sitting on the table.

The seal was still intact; not a bite had been touched.

He frowned as he looked at me: "You haven't eaten anything?"

I hadn't had an appetite after vomiting last night, but I couldn't tell him the truth.

I slowly sat up: "I was too tired yesterday and just fell asleep. Really, you don't need to go to such trouble to buy me food."

Julian discarded the cold dinner with a sullen face, then personally opened the lid of the hot porridge and placed it in front of me.

"You need strength and energy to fight your illness; you can't have an empty stomach. I'll watch you eat."

He seemed to be angry, though I didn't understand why.

I could only obediently take the spoon and eat bite by bite.

Halfway through, another doctor called Julian out.

He left his phone on the table, and it suddenly vibrated.

I didn't have the bad habit of invading others' privacy, but I glanced at it subconsciously.

But that one look made me stiffen violently.

A message popped up on the screen, and the sender was saved as "Mrs. Ke"!

And the content was: [Julian, thank you so much for lending me the money. However, Kai is still short by one hundred thousand for the house, could you……]

It felt as if someone had slapped me hard; I couldn't stop shivering all over.

"Mrs. Ke" was my mother, and "Kai" was my younger brother.

Chapter 4

My head began to ache violently, and my hands started to tremble.

My mother had actually borrowed money from Julian to buy a house for my brother?!

Could it be that the call last night was also about money?

My face turned deathly pale.

Julian walked back into the room at that moment, and seeing me like this, he immediately stepped forward: "What's wrong? Where do you feel unwell?"

I clutched his hand tightly and asked with a hoarse voice: "My mother borrowed money from you, why didn't you tell me?"

Julian was stunned, looking indifferent: "Don't worry about it. It’s not that much money anyway."

A lump formed in my throat.

Julian came from a wealthy family; three hundred thousand meant nothing to him.

It was precisely because I knew this that I had worked so hard, trying to close the gap between us!

But my mother's actions completely shattered everything.

It also made me see clearly the uncrossable chasm between myself and Julian.

I stared at Julian and slowly pulled my hand away.

I steeled my heart and deliberately let my tone turn cold: "You think you're helping me?"

"The money you lent them is like throwing it into the sea—you'll never get it back. They will only become more insatiable, and in the future, they will keep finding excuses to ask you for more!"

My reddened eyes welled up with tears: "Julian, I don't need your pity, and I don't need you to meddle in my family affairs."

Julian’s brows furrowed tightly: "I don't pity you. I just wanted to help..."

"I don't need your help!" I raised my voice sharply to interrupt him, "I've been on my own for so many years, and I've been doing just fine."

Right now, I felt like a hedgehog covered in spines.

Julian's gaze turned slightly cold: "Clara, I know you can't hear anything I say right now. Calm down first."

With that, he took his phone and turned to leave.

I watched his receding back, my heart feeling as if it were being torn apart, the pain unbearable.

If I could, I would wish for Julian to look after me for the rest of my life.

But I had no choice.

I couldn't be this selfish—I couldn't drag Julian into the swamp of my family when I was already dying!

I also had my own pride; I didn't want to see the pity in his eyes.

Tears rolled down one by one, dropping into the cold porridge before me.

Still, I picked up the spoon and finished it, bit by bit.

After all, this might be the last meal Julian would ever treat me to.

After finishing the porridge, I checked my bank account balance—four hundred and twenty thousand.

I transferred three hundred thousand back to Julian and gave the remaining one hundred and twenty thousand to my family.

I considered it paying for some peace of mind, and settling the debt of my upbringing over the last ten years.

Once the transfers were complete, I stood up and changed out of my hospital gown.

Without money, I couldn't continue the treatment.

And I didn't want to anymore. I was going to die regardless, so I might as well die with dignity.

Wearing the clothes I had worn the day I was admitted, I left the ward.

When I stepped out of the hospital, it had started to snow.

I braved the snow and returned to my rented apartment, thinking I would pack some things before terminating the lease.

But after looking around, I realized there was nothing of importance.

Except for one necklace—

That was the gift Julian had given me for my twentieth birthday.

Ever since he gave it to me, I had never worn it because I couldn't bear to risk losing it.

Now, standing in front of the mirror, I carefully put the necklace around my neck.

It looked so beautiful.

My vision blurred with tears again, but this time, it was from the pain.