Chapter 6

He sat beside her and rolled up his sleeves.

"You..." Kylee gasped as she sat up abruptly.

Kenney scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it until it was just the right temperature, and then brought it to Kylee's lips.

She flinched instinctively.

Seeing him like that, Kylee was confused.

Kenney said flatly, "Be good. Finish your soup."

A few seconds later, Kylee slowly opened her mouth.

She wasn't even sure how many days she'd been unconscious. She was painfully hungry.

Kenney helped her to eat the soup slowly and with great care.

As she had it, she kept her eyes on him.

He used to be so gentle.

He had been gentle enough to deceive her.

Yet, Kylee still wished that time could forever stay in that moment.

After finishing the soup, Kenney wiped the residue from her lips.

He put his hand on her forehead and checked her temperature.

Once he was sure she was alright, he said, "Honey, Ruth has decided to forgive you for slandering her."

He crouched by the bed and held Kylee's hand. "You'd better visit her in the hospital. She's very ill."

Kylee was shocked.

She looked up at Kenney and slowly took her hand back from his grip.

So Kenney was so gentle to her because...

"Ruth is suffering from severe blood loss, and I've checked that your blood type matches hers. Kylee, please donate some blood. It is your way to apologize to her. Okay?"

His words were like knives, cutting deep into her heart.

Kylee let out a bitter laugh, which turned into sobs. She was filled with cold despair.

Seeing her cry, Kenney seemed to have been stabbed. Anger rose within him, and he quickly suppressed it.

She suddenly grabbed something from the bedside table and hurled it at him. "Get out!"

The bowl shattered instantly. It sounded heavy, which mirrored the grievances Kylee had suffered over the years.

Kenney didn't dodge and let her vent her anger.

He suddenly leaned over and clasped Kylee's wrist. He held her in his arms. "Be good. Ruth can't wait much longer."

"Kenney, you jerk!" Kylee's voice was hoarse, and her fists weakly pounded against his chest.

Kenney remained unfazed while carrying her to the car.

The car sped to the hospital, and Kylee was immediately taken to the clinic in his arms.

A nurse noticed Kylee's pale face and was worried about her. "Mr. Walsh, she looks... is it still okay to draw her blood?"

Under the harsh corridor lights, with the smell of disinfectant in the air, Kylee heard his voice. "Take as much as you need to save the patient."

The needle pierced Kylee's vein, and her blood flowed out.

But Kylee no longer felt pain because her heart had long been shattered. She was too tired.

She had to stop loving the guy she'd clung to for nine years.

In a daze, she glanced up and noticed the bruised circle around her wrist.

It was left by Kenney earlier.

Once the blood bag was filled, the nurse handed over a cotton swab. Kenney left in a hurry without a second glance.

He left so hurriedly. Kylee clutched her dress tightly and uttered each word with determination.

"Kenney, I really can't love you anymore."

Kylee's vision turned dark.

As she woke up, she saw the hospital ceiling.

She lay on the hospital bed and was receiving an IV drip.

Her throat was parched. She struggled to sit up and drink some water.

Kenney was impeccably dressed in a suit, stood aside, and listened to the doctor discuss Kylee's condition.

He had been worried about Ruth, but when Kylee fainted, he instinctively rushed to her and had stayed with her since.

"Kylee!" He quickly walked to her as he noticed Kylee's move.

He supported her waist and said, "Be careful. What do you want to do?"

Kylee trembled as his hand touched her.

"Don't touch me." She pressed her lips together tightly, and cold sweat formed on her forehead.

Kenney was stunned. He took back his hand after seeing her reaction and maintained a respectful distance.

As Kylee reached out, Kenney immediately understood what she wanted to do.

He tested the water temperature before bringing it to her lips.

Kylee lowered her gaze and avoided his eyes while taking a few sips before turning away.

Kenney put down the cup and then bent over to tuck her in gently. "Are you hungry? Should I have someone bring some food?"

Kylee didn't respond. She just closed her eyes again.

There seemed to be an invisible barrier between her and him.

Kenney silently adjusted the blanket for her. He was so gentle.

He noticed the bruise on her wrist, and his chest tightened. "Have a good rest. Don't be afraid. I'll stay with you."

He pushed aside all his work and practically lived at the hospital.

He helped her eat, clumsily cleaned her face, and took care of her through the night.

At night, Kylee kept her eyes closed, and her breath was even but weak. She seemed to be asleep.

But Kenney knew she was awake. Her trembling eyelashes and slowed breath betrayed her...

Kylee used to be a bit willful, and Kenney knew that.

But he felt an unprecedented fear this time.

She hadn't spoken a word for days. She just sat in silence during the day and stared out of the window.

She was waiting for the divorce procedure to be completed.

She no longer cared for Kenney, his concern, or his compensation.

She would never care about him forever.

Her love for him had long been worn down by him, bit by bit.

One morning a few days later, Kenney was unexpectedly absent from the ward, and Kylee got up to take a walk.

She leaned against the wall and walked slowly when she heard a voice from a nearby room. "Kenney, the medicine is so bitter."

Through the ajar door, Kylee saw Ruth frowning and pouting coquettishly.

Kenney brushed aside her stray hair and whispered in her ear to comfort her.

Kylee simply lowered her eyes and then returned to her room.

She'd always known that Kenney would never come to see her, especially. He cared for her because he happened to be in the hospital.

A while later, Kenney showed up in Kylee's room with a lunchbox. "Put it down. I'll have it later. I'm not hungry right now," she said flatly.

Kenney was stunned. Then he gave a smile. It was the first time Kylee had spoken to him after she fainted last time.

"Alright. Then have it later," he said, his voice tinged with joy.

Kylee looked up, and their eyes met.

Kenney's gaze was intense. He fixed his gaze on her, leaned down, and gently ruffled her hair. "Kylee, I have a meeting this afternoon. I'll find someone to look after you. Wait for me to come back, alright?"

Kylee seemed to remember something and nodded with a complicated expression.

He kissed her forehead and quickly turned to leave.

"Kenney." She called out to him. "If I disappeared, would you miss me?"

Kenney chuckled lightly and dismissed it as a whim. "You love me too much to disappear."

The door closed behind him.

Kylee's heart sank as well.

With a bitter smile, she remembered his words and then got up to process her discharge.

Kylee then went to City Hall and got the divorce certificate.

She bought a ticket on the sea, leaving that afternoon for a neighboring city.

As she boarded the boat, the sea breeze tousled her long hair.

When she brushed it aside, she found herself facing a misty horizon, and a new scene was unfolding before her.

Kylee looked at the scene, and her eyes were filled with complexity.

"Kenney, we will never see each other. We will never have a future together again."