Alexander's heart clenched instantly, his eyes wide with shock and pity.He instinctively took a small step forward, his arm slightly raised as if to reach out and support Wendy. But just as his fingers twitched, he stopped himself, his hand hanging in mid-air.

He bit his lip, trying to hold back the surge of emotions, his gaze locked on Wendy. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and blood kept pouring out.Unconsciously, he clenched his fists tightly.

Ethan was immediately thrown into a panic, his face turning ghostly white.He held Wendy tightly,his eyes full of fear and helplessness.

All his usual arrogance and indifference were gone. His mind was consumed by one thought-he had to save Wendy.

He sprinted all the way, bursting into the nearest hospital with Wendy in his arms.

The sight of them made everyone in the hospital gasp. The receptionist quickly grabbed the intercom and called for emergency assistance. Nurses rushed over with a gurney.

"To the ER!" The doctor, seeing Wendy's lifeless face, made the decision without hesitation.

Ethan was stopped outside the operating room, his eyes fixed on the slowly closing door.

At that moment, he felt as if his heart had been struck, a wave of overwhelming fear crashing over him, almost bursting his chest.

The hospital's air conditioning blew cold air, chilling him to the bone.

Ethan stared blankly at the surgery light.

His shirt, soaked with blood, had dried into dark red patches, the metallic smell of blood filling the air, constantly assaulting his senses.

A nurse,noticing Ethan's handsome but now pale and dazed face.approached him gently, "Don't worry, she'll be okay."

Ethan didn't seem to hear her. He mechanically lowered his head, slowly opening his hands, staring blankly at the bloodstains.

He then slowly rubbed his hands together, watching the dried blood flakes fall away.

It was only then that he realized his hands, shirt, pants, and arms were all covered in Wendy's blood.

How could she have coughed up so much blood?

Ethan's mind went blank, a chill running from his feet to his head.

Inside the operatingroom.

Wendy lay lifeless on the operating table, her stomach convulsing violently.Blood kept gushing from her mouth,soaking the white sheets.

"It hurts so much," Wendy whimpered weakly, her mind foggy, the pain making her lose consciousness.

Everything before her seemed like a surreal dream, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.

Memories flashed before her eyes, all of them featuring Ethan-angry Ethan, holding her Ethan, calling her name Ethan, slappingher Ethan,humiliating her Ethan...

Each memory turned into bubbles, crowding her mind,breaking one by one, merging into a few vivid scenes.

Ethan in college, sunny and handsome, full of energy.

When she first started college, overwhelmed by the complex medical courses, Ethan would sit by her side, patiently helping her with difficult problems.

When it rained, he would tilt the umbrela towards her, getting soaked himself, holding her hand tightly, keeping her warm, and escorting her safely back to the dorm.

And during the darkest time of her life, when Billy and her parents died in a car accídent. Ethan was the first to rush to her side, offering her the strongest comfort.

He helped her with the funeral arrangements, stayed by her side every night she couldn't stop crying, his warm embrace dispelling her fear and sadness, helping her through the toughest days.

But now, the once gentle and caring Ethan had become so cold and heartless, like a completely different person.

He was no longer the one who would unhesitatingly reach out to her in her time of need.

She had spent years and her future betting that Ethan would love her forever, that he would remember their beautiful past. But in the end, she lost, utterly and completely.

Her youthful infatuation had been nothing but a one-sided wish.

"Her oxygen levels are dropping, the patient is in critical condition!"

"The patient has liver cancer, we need the family to sign the surgery consent and critical condition notice, get Dr. Hill for the emergency surgery!”

The machines beeped loudly and coldly.

Outside the operating room, Ethanfelt like he had been struck by lightning,his mind going blank, his heart gripped by an invisible hand.

A wave of pain made him bend forward, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

His eyes widened, staring at the closed door, his heart filled with endless

fear.

It felt like something crucial was being rippedaway from his life, moving further and further away.

Just then, the operating room door slowly opened, and a nurse rushed out.looking flustered.

She spotted Ethan immediately and hurried over, "Are you the patient's family? The patient is in critical condition, we need you to sign the surgery consent and critical condition notice!"

Ethan's ears buzzed, his mind in a fog, the nurse's voice sounding distant and unclear.

He furrowed his brows, his eyes confused and terrified, his lips trembling as he asked, "You said Wendy is in critical condition? How can that be?"

She was just hungry for a few days, had a high fever, and was scared.which made her cough up some blood,right?

How could she be in critical condition after just going in for emergency treatment?

The nurse, seeing his lost expression, realized he didn't know Wendy's true condition, and briefly explained. "The patient has liver cancer and a persistent high fever. She's in critical condition, you need to sign..."

Seeing Ethan's bloodshot eyes, the nurse suddenly choked up, unsure how to continue.

Liver cancer?

How could that be? Wendy was always so full of life. She had some minor health issues occasionally, but nothing serious. How could she have such a terminal illness?