Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter Ten

The next morning, Carol had just finished her breakfast when her phone buzzed-it was Grace.

"Carol, Ethan's got a follow-up at the sanatorium today. Go with him, will you?"

Grace's tone was gentle but left no room for arguing. "You're his wife. Spend more time with him. It'll be good if you can remember what the doctor says."

Carol glanced at Ethan across the table. He was sipping his coffee, expression unchanged, like he'd known about this all along.

She could only nod. "Alright, Grace. Got it."

After ending the call, Carol tidied up the dishes and looked at Ethan. "When are we heading out?"

"Once Jack gets here," Ethan said, setting his mug down and grabbing his coat. "You don't have to force yourself just to please my mom. If you don't want to go, then don't."

Carol paused, then smiled lightly. "I've already agreed. Might as well go."

She really did want to know-just how bad was his condition, exactly? Sophia had said he had about two months left. Would the doctor say the same?

About thirty minutes later, Jack drove up.

Carol and Ethan sat in the backseat. The car was silent except for the soft piano music playing.

Ethan leaned back in the seat, eyes closed. His face looked paler than usual.

Carol sneaked a look at him. His lashes were long, casting faint shadows on his cheekbones. There was a surprising softness to him in that moment.

She remembered seeing him for the first time at the sanatorium-reclining on a lounge chair, fragile like something impossibly delicate. Her chest tightened.

After a forty-minute drive, they arrived at the facility.

The place was quiet and peaceful, full of trees and greenery. The faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, but it wasn't overpowering.

Just as they reached the room, a young man in a white coat and gold-rimmed glasses walked up to them.

He looked about Ethan's age, with a calm and friendly demeanor. The moment he saw Carol, he visibly hesitated.

"Ethan, who's this?" he asked, clearly surprised.

"Simon," Ethan replied. Then he turned to Carol. "Simon Blake, Carol."

He didn't mention Carol's identity, but Simon was quick to pick it up. Smiling, he offered his hand. "Mrs. Mitchell, nice to meet you. I'm Simon-Ethan's friend and attending physician."

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Blake," Carol said, shaking his hand. His palm was warm, steady-very doctor-like.

Inside the room, Simon began his exams.

He checked Ethan's temperature and blood pressure first, then moved on to drawing blood.

When the nurse inserted the needle, Ethan's arm tightened. His knuckles went pale, but he didn't say a word, just stared out the window with a calm, unreadable gaze.

Carol stood next to him, watching the needle slide into his pale skin. Unconsciously, her hands clenched.

It wasn't until the nurse pulled the needle out and pressed a cotton swab over it that she finally let out a breath.

"Blood pressure's a bit low, temperature's fine," Simon noted, glancing up at Ethan. "We'll do a CT scan later to check the organs. Have you been taking your meds on time? Any discomfort lately?"

"Yeah, I've been taking them," Ethan replied in his usual even tone. "No issues."

Simon obviously didn't buy it, but he didn't press further. He just nodded and said, "Let's get a CT scan done first."

While Ethan was getting scanned, Carol waited outside.

A little while later, Simon came out and said, "Mrs. Mitchell, can we talk for a bit?"

Carol nodded and followed him to the seating area in the hallway.

"You've probably got a general idea of his condition," Simon got straight to the point, his tone turning serious. "It's pretty complicated. His immune system's a mess, there are sudden acute episodes, and a bunch of other complications."

Even though she'd mentally prepared herself, hearing it straight from a doctor still made Carol's heart sink.

"He's in a lot of pain, but he hides it well." Simon stared into the distance, sighing just softly enough that it might be missed. "He walls himself off-from everyone. Family, friends... Even when I suggested therapy, he shut it down."

He turned to face her, his eyes full of sincerity. "Honestly, I was surprised when I heard he got married. And seeing you here with him today? Even more surprising. Carol, I don't know what kind of agreement or relationship you two have exactly... but legally, you're the closest person to him right now."

He paused briefly, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "His physical condition is heavily influenced by his mental state. That whole two-month estimate? That was based on the worst-case scenario when he last had a near-death episode. But if he could-if he wanted to-fight harder to live, if he had a shift in mindset... things might take a different turn."

"You being here might be a game-changer," Simon's eyes carried a faint glow of hope. "Try to... just get a little closer to him? Even if it's just as a roommate, or a friend. Sometimes, that everyday warmth and comfort can be more powerful than any fancy meds."

Simon's words hit Carol like a stone thrown into a still lake.

Suddenly, "two months" didn't feel like a vague deadline. It had weight-a living, breathing man's suffering, struggle, and the pain hidden under that cold exterior.

She stared at the lush green trees beyond the terrace. Sunlight was pouring down, but somehow it didn't feel warm at all.

Her heart was in a mess.

Late at night, everything was quiet-until the soft sound of rain started tapping at the window.

But then, over the drizzle, she was jolted awake by a strange thud followed by sharp, struggling gasps.

It came from upstairs.

Her whole body went tense. Her heart skipped-Ethan!

She jumped out of bed, didn't even bother with shoes, and ran straight upstairs barefoot. The door to the master bedroom wasn't locked; she shoved it open.

Only a dim bedside lamp was on.

Ethan was curled up in bed, visibly shaking from head to toe. His face was frighteningly flushed, hair soaked with sweat and sticking to his forehead.

He was breathing so hard-it was like every breath rattled in his chest, mouth tinged with blue, and he was coughing up blood.

"Ethan!" Carol rushed to his bedside, reached out and touched his forehead-burning hot. A raging fever.