Who Will Grow Old With Me?

Nathaniel Scott has been married to Jessica Sullivan for three years, but they still have no children. Worried that Jessica might be feeling too much pressure, Nathaniel goes to the hospital to get himself checked first. The doctor studies the test results for a long moment before saying in surprise, "Mr. Scott, you've had a vasectomy!" Nathaniel immediately denies it. "How could I possibly have had a vasectomy? My wife and I both love children. We've been trying for a baby ever since we got married. That's absolutely impossible!" The doctor checks his medical records on the computer and tells him, "You had a vasectomy three months ago." A vasectomy? Nathaniel immediately shakes his head. "No! I had my appendix removed three months ago!" "The surgical records clearly state that it was a vasectomy. Your wife even signed the consent form." Unwilling to accept this, Nathaniel begs the doctor to retrieve the consent form from that day. Patient: Nathaniel Scott Procedure: Vasectomy The family member's signature is in Jessica's elegant, graceful hand. It is unmistakably hers. Nathaniel is still reeling from the shock when the doctor suddenly notices something else on the computer. "Your wife's name is Jessica Sullivan, correct?" "Yes." "It seems she just came in for a prenatal checkup. Another family member accompanied her. His name is York Lawrence. Do you know him?" He does. A year ago, when Jessica was in a car accident, York was the one who saved her. Chapter 1 Nathaniel Scott had no idea how he'd made it out of the hospital. As he crossed the street, a car nearly hit him, startling both him and the driver. But his mind was too muddled to think straight. He and Jessica Sullivan had been together since middle school. From school uniforms to wedding gowns, they had spent fifteen years together, through every season of life. Everyone around them knew how hopelessly in love Jessica was with Nathaniel. In the split second before the crash, Jessica chose to push Nathaniel out of the car. The car plunged over the cliff with her still inside. York Lawrence was the one who rescued her at the foot of the cliff. After the accident, Jessica lost her memory, and York took her home and cared for her for six months. Six months later, her memories finally returned, and she went back to Nathaniel. She still loved him just as much as ever. The moment she saw him, she rushed into his arms, her eyes red with tears. "Nathaniel, I thought I'd never see you again." Nathaniel was deeply grateful to York for taking care of Jessica during those six months. He treated him with the utmost respect. He had even transferred seven hundred thousand dollars to York and bought several homes for York's family in downtown Hawthorne as a token of his gratitude. Nathaniel had asked Jessica that before, too. "You were with York while you had amnesia, weren't you?" Jessica simply wrapped her arms around him and kissed him tenderly. "That was all when I'd lost my memory. Now that I have it back, you're the only one in my heart." At first, Nathaniel was still skeptical. That was until the day Jessica sent York and his entire family overseas. She even went to a tattoo parlor and had the words "Belongs to Nathaniel Scott" tattooed over her heart. She was allergic to the tattoo ink, and that night, she developed a high fever that wouldn't break. Half-conscious, Jessica held Nathaniel's hand and murmured softly, "I'm fine. I just want you to feel secure. If I ever lose my memory again, all I have to do is look at this tattoo to remember that I'm married. My husband's name is Nathaniel Scott, and I love him so, so much." Nathaniel broke down in tears, and at last, he believed her completely. Whether it was a class reunion or a business dinner, they always attended together, inseparable. Her friends would tease her every time. "Jessica, you're so clingy! You can't even stand being away from your husband for a little while." Jessica, meanwhile, seemed to revel in it. "You're all just jealous that I married such an amazing husband." Nathaniel had always believed theirs was a happy marriage. One night, he suddenly had severe stomach pain. Jessica rushed him to the hospital and told him he had acute appendicitis and needed surgery to have his appendix removed. He never suspected a thing. He watched as she signed the surgical consent form before he was wheeled into the operating room. But the truth was, his appendix hadn't been removed at all. He had been given a vasectomy instead. By the time Nathaniel got home, it was already dark. He had barely opened the door when he heard Jessica talking on the phone. "Okay, I'll come over tonight and keep you company. Don't worry, I’m fine, and the baby is fine, too. "Nathaniel doesn't know yet. I'll tell him I'm pregnant in a few days. He'll probably be over the moon. "I gave him my love and openly acknowledged him as my husband. You're the baby's biological father, yet you have to remain in the shadows. I'm sorry you've had to put up with that. "Once the baby is born, I'll tell him I want the baby to take my last name. He loves me so much, he'll definitely agree. "Don't worry. I won't let your child take his last name. "He'll never find out. Not ever." Nathaniel stood frozen outside the door, every last bit of warmth draining from his body. So Jessica had never forgotten York at all. She wanted to make it up to York, so she was having his baby. And to make him feel secure, she had tricked Nathaniel into getting a vasectomy. At first, Nathaniel had clung to the hope that the doctor had made a mistake, or that there just happened to be people with the same names as Jessica Sullivan and York Lawrence. But wishful thinking was still just wishful thinking. Sooner or later, reality would shatter it. Whatever they'd shared in the past was gone, and Nathaniel no longer wanted to be part of Jessica's game of loving two men at once. He turned and walked away, then hailed a cab. Chapter 2 At the Vital Records Office, a clerk checked Nathaniel's identification. "Mr. Scott, are you sure you want to change your name to Ash?" Nathaniel nodded. "Yes." "What's your reason for changing it?" "I don't like how my name sounds, so I decided to change it." Adults didn't need anyone's permission to change their names. The clerk quickly processed the paperwork and told him, "Your new name will officially take effect in seven business days." "Thank you." Nathaniel had just left the records office when he ran straight into Jessica. She threw her arms around him, panic written all over her face. "Nathaniel, where have you been? Why couldn't I reach you on your phone? I was worried sick!" A group of police officers followed close behind her. One of them teased her, "There, you've found your husband. Feel better now?" Another officer said to Nathaniel, "Your wife was really worried about you. When you went missing, she was practically frantic. Every officer at our station went out looking for you. Good thing we have security cameras now. We spotted you at the records office." Jessica asked, "Nathaniel, what were you doing at the records office?" "Nothing. Just updating some information," Nathaniel replied flatly. "When the police reviewed the security footage earlier, they saw that you'd also been to the hospital today. Are you feeling unwell?" Nathaniel lifted his head and looked at Jessica, who seemed to love him more than she loved herself. If she loved him so deeply and worried about him so much, why was she still involved with York? Was she really going to be with him just because he'd saved her life during those six months? Or had she genuinely fallen in love with him during those six months they'd spent together? And even though her memories had returned, did she still love him? "Nathaniel, why aren't you saying anything?" Nathaniel pushed her away, his voice cold and detached. "There's nothing wrong with me. I just went to get my blood type checked." "Why did you need to get your blood type checked?" "So I can donate blood if someone ever needs it. I want to be able to help whenever I can." Jessica visibly relaxed. "You went to the records office to update your blood type in your records, too, right?" "Yeah." She felt a weight lift off her shoulders. "Honey, you're just so kind. You're always thinking about donating blood to save lives." After they got home, she became even more clingy. While driving, she kept her left hand on the steering wheel and insisted on holding his hand with her right. Even while eating, she'd rather struggle to use her fork with her left hand than let go of his hand. "Let go," Nathaniel said. "You're making it difficult to eat." But Jessica only tightened her grip. "No, I won't. I'm afraid that if I let go, I won't be able to find you again." Nathaniel sighed. She was only trying to reassure him, but even Jessica herself probably had no idea that her words would one day come true. Seven days later, he would leave the name Nathaniel Scott behind, officially adopt his new name, and begin an entirely new life. And leave her behind, too. After dinner, Jessica settled beside him on the couch to watch a variety show. She peeled the grapes and placed them in a crystal bowl, then handed it to him. Suddenly, her phone rang. She pulled out a few tissues and wiped her hands, then slipped out to the balcony to take the call, looking uneasy. When she returned, she kissed him lightly on the cheek and said, "Honey, something urgent has come up at work. I have to go take care of it." It was York calling, wasn't it? He was probably urging her to come over and keep him and their baby company. Even though Nathaniel had already prepared himself for this, hearing her lie to his face still sent a sharp pang through his heart. He nodded. "Go ahead." Jessica hugged him. "Be good and stay home tonight. I'll be back tomorrow morning." "Okay." She grabbed her coat and practically ran out of the house before driving off. Meanwhile, almost on impulse, Nathaniel picked up the tablet and opened an app. The app was connected to Jessica's dashcam, allowing him to view what was happening in her car in real time. Her car was heading down the road away from their house, but her phone conversation came through loud and clear. "I'm on my way. Just wait a little longer." York asked in a playful, coaxing voice, "Your husband hasn't found out, has he?" "Don't worry. He won't find out." "Then tonight, how about we have a little fun?" Jessica's breathing grew noticeably heavier, and her voice turned husky. "I'm still pregnant, you know." York's voice was so seductive it practically dripped with honey. "Didn't the doctor say the baby was doing fine when we went for your prenatal checkup today? Besides, you're already three months along. The baby's settled in nicely by now. Jessica, we haven't been intimate since you got pregnant. I miss you so much." "You little devil," Jessica scolded playfully. "Just wait! I'll be there soon!" Chapter 3 Jessica drove all the way to her company's building. So she'd lied about sending York abroad, too. She'd been keeping York at her company all along, where she could see him every day when she went to work. Nathaniel suddenly laughed. Sometimes, when you were at a loss for words, all you could do was laugh. Jessica had woven a beautiful, dreamlike illusion around him, trapping him inside and making him believe he was the happiest man in the world. But beyond the illusion, she had another home outside her marriage. And soon, they would have a child together. Nathaniel found it all utterly pointless. Once the engine was off, the dashcam should have powered down with it. But just a few minutes later, a notification popped up on the app. The dashcam had started recording again. He opened the app again and was met with a disturbing sight. Jessica and York were all over each other in the car, completely carried away. Jessica's belly had already begun to round slightly. York kept one hand protectively over it while roughly pulling her toward him with the other. He saw the look of rapture on York's face, while Jessica’s face was contorted with desire. He turned his head and threw up. He felt sick. He had no desire to find out how many rounds they'd gone for. In the early hours of the following morning, he simply copied all the footage the dashcam had recorded the night before and saved it to a USB drive. The five hours of footage would make for quite a show. It would be the perfect parting gift, putting a spectacular end to their relationship of more than a decade. At nine that morning, Jessica returned with breakfast in hand. "Nathaniel, why are you up so early? Why didn't you sleep in a little longer?" Nathaniel was watering the flowers on the balcony. They were rare night-blooming cereus plants he'd spent seven years carefully cultivating, and this year, they'd finally bloomed for the first time. But he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the night-blooming cereus flowers, tossing them into the trash. Jessica looked surprised. "Those flowers are so rare. Why did you cut them off?" Nathaniel replied, "Night-blooming cereus flowers bloom for only a fleeting moment. They bloomed last night. There's no point keeping them now." "Looks like I missed them at their most beautiful. It's my fault. I shouldn't have gone to the office last night. I should've stayed by your side." He gave a faint smile. "It doesn't matter anymore." Jessica wrapped her arms around him from behind, nuzzling close to his cheek as she whispered, "Since you're already up, why don't we keep trying for a baby?" Her meaning was unmistakable. Nathaniel wanted to ask her if she really thought she had the energy for another round after spending hours going at it with York the night before. Wasn't she worried about the baby? But when the words reached his lips, he decided it wasn't worth it. He was already planning to leave. He couldn't be bothered to argue with her anymore. "No, I... the incision from my surgery still hurts a little, so I shouldn't do anything too strenuous." Jessica said nothing, but her expression darkened considerably. "Nathaniel, I need to make a phone call." She turned and went back into the bedroom. Once inside, she called a doctor friend of hers. "Nathaniel had his vasectomy three years ago. How could it still be hurting? Are you sure the procedure was successful?" Her friend answered confidently. "I can assure you the surgery was successful. I'm absolutely certain of that." "Then why is he still in pain?" "It could be the damp weather we've been having lately. Or perhaps you two have been a little too vigorous in bed recently and irritated the skin around the incision." At that, Jessica's mood immediately brightened. "That's possible, actually. The last time Nathaniel and I... well, things did get a little intense." "Don't worry. A vasectomy is a relatively minor procedure. It won't harm his health." Jessica finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. That's a relief." When she came out of the bedroom, Nathaniel was still on the balcony tending to his plants. He'd always tended to them with great care, nurturing each plant meticulously. But today, he'd cut off all the flowers, pulled the plants out by their roots, and carelessly piled them all together. "Nathaniel, you've always treasured these flowers. Why have you pulled them all out?" "I don't like them anymore," Nathaniel replied. "I feel like you haven't been yourself these past few days." "Maybe it's just the bad weather lately." Just then, the maid, Clara Bennett, passed by. Nathaniel called out to her. "Clara, could you throw all this junk away in a bit?" "Mr. Scott, you mean these plants you pulled out?" "Yeah, throw these flowerpots away, too." Chapter 4 The next morning, Jessica said, "Nathaniel, you haven't been yourself these past few days, so I signed you up for a group tour. How about getting away for a few days?" Nathaniel did a quick calculation. He had five days left before his new name officially took effect. "How long is the trip?" he asked. "Three days," Jessica said. "It's just a nearby city, not too far away. I wouldn't feel comfortable letting you travel somewhere farther away on your own." He agreed. "Okay." That afternoon, Jessica's driver, Arthur Reed, arrived to pick him up. "Mr. Scott, I'll drive you to the airport." Nathaniel said nothing and simply let Arthur drive. At the airport, Arthur made sure Nathaniel had gone through immigration before hurrying off. Once he was out of the terminal, he called Jessica. "Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Scott has boarded his flight." "Okay," Jessica replied. "Stay there and wait. York's parents will be landing soon. Pick them up and drive them home. Make sure you treat them with respect." "Understood, Ms. Sullivan." After Arthur left, Nathaniel found an excuse to slip away from the boarding gate. He hid in a secluded spot and watched as York's parents emerged from the arrivals area. He then watched as Arthur hurried over to help them with their luggage, ushered them respectfully into the car, and busied himself loading their suitcases into the trunk. Nathaniel hailed a taxi. "Follow that car." After Nathaniel left, Jessica went to pick up York and bring him home. When Arthur returned with York's parents, Mason Lawrence and Florence Prescott, York eagerly hurried over to greet them. "Mom, Dad! I finally get to see you again!" Jessica respectfully opened the door for Mason and Florence, then poured them each a cup of tea. Her manner was so deferential that she looked every bit the dutiful daughter-in-law. She apologized. "Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, I'm sorry you had to go abroad while Nathaniel was still around. I know it must have been a hassle for you." Mason chuckled. "Don't worry about it. You arranged for someone to take us around the world, and we had a wonderful time." "I'm glad to hear that." Florence said, "Jessica, you're already carrying the Lawrence family's baby. Why are you still calling us Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence?" Jessica quickly corrected herself. "Dad, Mom." "That's more like it!" Everyone burst into happy laughter. York kept an arm wrapped around Jessica’s waist the entire time, the gesture intimate and effortless. He instructed Clara, "Clara, get the guest room ready for my parents." Clara nodded. "Yes, Mr. Lawrence." Nathaniel watched it all in silence. He'd known about Jessica's affair for a long time. But Clara's attitude was the final straw. So even Clara knew about Jessica and York's affair, casually calling him "Mr. Lawrence." She was clearly familiar with Mason and Florence too. Their arrival hadn't surprised her in the slightest. Nathaniel had been the one to hire Clara as their maid in the first place. Knowing that she had a son with a disability, he had even taken the initiative to triple her salary. He'd treated her like an elder in the family, inviting her to join them for meals and taking her along on their trips. And yet, even she had kept the truth from him. A sharp pain tore through Nathaniel's chest, as if thousands of needles were stabbing into his heart. He doubled over, barely able to stay on his feet. The nausea surged up again. He began gasping for air, but tears had already welled up, blurring his vision. He accidentally bumped into the wind chime hanging by the doorway. The wind chime rang out. Jessica reacted almost immediately and shouted, "Who's out there?" Chapter 5 Jessica flung the door open and rushed outside, but the area was completely silent. There was no one in sight. York came over, looking puzzled. "What's wrong, Jessica?" Jessica shook her head. "I just heard the wind chime by the door ring. I thought someone might be outside eavesdropping." York glanced around too, then chuckled. "You're just being paranoid. The wind chime rings whenever the wind blows. What's there to get so worked up about?" Jessica furrowed her brows. "Maybe you're right." Arthur chimed in as well. "Don't worry, Ms. Sullivan. I personally watched Mr. Scott go through the boarding gate. He should be on the plane by now." Jessica still wasn't entirely reassured, so she called Nathaniel. A recorded female voice came on the line. "The phone you are trying to reach is turned off." Only after hearing that message did she finally relax. "I guess I really was just overthinking it." She wrapped an arm around York and settled back onto the couch with him. The front door closed on its own. Hidden in the corner behind the front door, Nathaniel's hand trembled slightly as he clutched his phone. Covering his mouth and nose, he slowly backed out of the house. He hailed a cab and gave the driver the address of a hotel. The driver asked, "Sir, why are you crying? Did you have a fight with your wife?" Nathaniel wiped the tears from his face and shook his head. "No, we didn't fight." There was no point in fighting anymore. Jessica was pregnant. She'd even started calling York's parents Mom and Dad, and even Clara addressed York as "Mr. Lawrence." They were the family now. He was nothing more than a fool in everyone's eyes. When he reached the hotel, he slept for a while. He waited until the plane was about to land before turning his phone back on. Sure enough, Jessica called within minutes. "Honey, did you land safely?" "Yeah, I'm at the hotel already." "Okay, then enjoy yourself. I'll pick you up at the airport when you get back." "Okay." After hanging up, Nathaniel went to the bank. He withdrew the entire balance from all his accounts in cash, then headed to a department store to buy a suitcase and some clothes. Then he took the suitcase back to the hotel so he could pick it up when it was time to leave. After packing everything he'd need to take with him when he left, Nathaniel thought of the cat he'd left at the veterinary clinic to be treated for ringworm. When he and Jessica first met, they'd found a stray kitten barely clinging to life. They took the kitten to a veterinary clinic for treatment, and it took three months for it to recover. When they went to pick it up, Jessica said, "Nathaniel, we're going to be its mommy and daddy from now on. Why don't you give it a name?" Nathaniel had been only eighteen when he suddenly found himself a father. Jessica had practically made him the father of her kitten too. He only found out later that Jessica had liked him for a long time. She'd deliberately left the little stray along his usual route to school, waiting for him to find it. After he figured out her scheme, Jessica complained helplessly, "I kept looking for chances to 'bump into' you every day, but you acted like I was invisible. I had no choice but to resort to this. What can I say? I loved you so much that you were the only one for me." Was I really the only one for you? No. You had York, too. You loved me, but you loved him, too. In your heart, you gave me your love and acknowledged me as your husband, but you gave him the child. On the surface, it all seemed perfectly fair. But Jessica, I wasn't a pushover. If the love you gave me was no longer pure, I'd rather not have it at all. You wouldn't have to be constantly on edge trying to keep the truth from me anymore, and I could finally have some peace of my own. Nathaniel went to the veterinary clinic to see the kitten. The vet smiled and asked, "How come the kitten's mom didn't come with you today? You two usually come together." "She's busy," he replied flatly. "Oh, I see." The vet continued, "The kitten's ringworm has completely cleared up, so you can take it home today." He replied, "I'm not taking it home. Could you please find the kitten a good, reliable adopter instead?" Chapter 6 "Are you two planning to have a baby?" "Why do you ask?" The vet gave a somewhat rueful smile. "A lot of the cats and dogs we get here are in the same situation. Their owners are planning to have a baby, so they decide they can't keep their pets anymore and bring them here to be put up for adoption." A baby was indeed on the way. Just not his. Nathaniel was reluctant to part with the kitten. After all, he'd raised it for years and grown deeply attached to it. But if he was going to leave, taking the kitten with him would be difficult. He was worried the long flight and the time spent in cargo might put it at risk. "Please help find someone to adopt the kitten as soon as possible." "Actually, a young woman came in today and spent quite a while playing with the kitten. She seemed to really like it. I'll get in touch with her and see if she’s interested." The vet contacted her, and she immediately agreed to adopt the kitten. She said she could come pick it up right away. Nathaniel waited at the clinic for a while and met her in person. She was a sweet, innocent young woman who genuinely loved the kitten. Nathaniel agreed to let her adopt it and even gave her some extra money. But she refused to take the money. "I'm adopting the kitten, so how could I possibly take your money, too? Please, take it back." Nathaniel insisted on pressing the money into her hands. "The kitten is getting older, and it has a hereditary condition, so you'll probably have to spend quite a bit on vet bills. Just consider this an advance payment for its medical expenses." The young woman finally accepted the money and thanked him before leaving with the kitten in her arms. His phone buzzed with an incoming message. Jessica: "Honey, are you having fun today? I miss you so much." Nathaniel let out a cold laugh. He replied, "Then I'll catch a flight back to see you right now. Come pick me up at the airport in three hours." Jessica replied almost immediately. "No, don't cut your trip short because of me. Enjoy yourself. I can wait." Nathaniel almost scoffed. Jessica, your love was so cheap. You couldn't even pass this little test, yet you still pretended to love me so deeply. Jessica: "Did you take any nice pictures? Let me see some handsome shots of you, honey." Nathaniel searched online for a few photos of local attractions, removed the watermarks, and sent them to her. Jessica: "Why are they all pictures of the scenery? Where are the pictures of you, honey?" Nathaniel: "I'm tired. I'm going to bed." Jessica: "Okay, get some rest. Love you." Nathaniel spent three days resting at the hotel and planning his itinerary. After leaving here, he wanted to visit the four countries of Nordavia first to see the northern lights, then head to Savara to see its wildlife and vast grasslands. After that, he even arranged to lease an uninhabited island called Haven Isle. The island belonged to a small neighboring country and wasn't for sale, so he leased it for a hundred years. It was the home he'd chosen for himself. From then on, he'd live facing the sea, with flowers blooming in the warmth of spring. On the morning of the fifth day, instead of checking out, Nathaniel extended his stay for another two days to keep his luggage there until he was ready to leave. Then he took a cab to the airport. Arthur arrived not long afterward. He grinned and said, "Mr. Scott, you're finally back! Ms. Sullivan has been talking about you nonstop these past two days. We're practically getting tired of hearing your name!" Nathaniel didn't respond. He simply got into the car. He'd heard enough empty words already. He didn't want to respond, lest he have to listen to even more lies. When he got home, everything seemed to be back to normal, just as it had been before he left. Jessica threw her arms around him. "Honey, welcome home!" Clara was equally delighted. "Mr. Scott, Ms. Sullivan told me first thing this morning to buy some of your favorite ingredients. I made all your favorite dishes today." Jessica snuggled up to him, gently nuzzling him. "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. So... how about we turn in early tonight?" Nathaniel pushed her away. "I'm tired." "No, don't be like that! I've missed you so much." She tried to cling to him again, but the next second, the front door swung open. York stood in the doorway, looking a little flustered. "Oh, Mr. Scott, you're back?" Nathaniel felt the arms wrapped around him stiffen instantly. He smiled faintly. "Mr. Lawrence, long time no see. What brings you back to Zelvania all of a sudden? Was life abroad not to your liking?" "I..." York hesitated. "I just left my wallet at home. I'll grab it and then leave." The moment he finished speaking, a deafening crash erupted above him. The massive crystal chandelier in the villa had come loose and was crashing down. In the split second before impact, Jessica rushed toward York and threw herself over him. "Look out!" Chapter 7 Nathaniel woke up in the hospital. His entire body was wrapped in white gauze, and every inch of his skin throbbed with pain. "You have three major fractures and seventeen smaller cracks in your bones," the nurse explained. "The metal fragments and shattered diamonds have also left you with numerous small wounds. You'll need to rest and recover for a while." He asked, "What's the date today?" "The thirteenth." Thankfully, his new name wouldn't officially take effect until tomorrow. He still had another day and night. There was still time. Nathaniel wasn't particularly surprised when York appeared in the doorway. Nathaniel gave a faint chuckle. "Come to see if I'm dead?" York replied smugly, "Mr. Scott, you're surprisingly hard to kill. I already had my dad loosen all the screws on the crystal chandelier. I can't believe something that heavy still failed to kill you." "You were that sure Jessica would save you?" "Of course," York said smugly. "I'm the biological father of the baby she's carrying, after all. She wouldn't want her child to be born without a father, would she?" "So you knew about my vasectomy, too?" "Hahahaha! Not only did I know, I was the one who suggested it to Jessica. But what can I say? She listens to me now. Whatever I tell her to do, she does. She really is a good wife, isn't she? Mr. Scott, thanks for training her so well. You did all the hard work, and now I get to reap the rewards." Even the sound of York's voice made Nathaniel sick. He pointed toward the door. "Get out." "Don't rush me out, Mr. Scott. There's still one more act to this show..." Nathaniel grew wary. "What show?" "Since you survived the chandelier, I can't marry her. So I've decided to put on one extra act just for you." As soon as he finished speaking, York suddenly grabbed Nathaniel's hand and pressed it against his own throat. "Help!" York collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony. "It hurts! I can't breathe!" With a loud bang, the hospital room door burst open. The moment Jessica saw York lying on the floor, her eyes blazed with fury. "York! Are you okay?" York’s eyes welled up with tears. "Jessica, you're here! It hurts so much..." "Doctor! Doctor!" The doctors and nurses rushed over. Jessica helped York onto a hospital bed, and they wheeled him away. Not once did she spare Nathaniel a glance. Two hours later, Jessica returned. Her expression darkened, fury radiating from her. In a low voice, she demanded, "Nathaniel, why did you hurt York?" Nathaniel replied, "Shouldn't you be explaining to me what's going on with the baby you're carrying?" "Yes, I'm carrying his child, but that doesn't give you the right to try to kill him!" Nathaniel briefly closed his eyes. "Did he tell you I tried to kill him?" "Who else could it have been? Are you saying he deliberately grabbed your hand and used it to choke himself?" "So what? Did I actually choke him to death?" "No, but he was badly shaken. He looked so pitiful." Nathaniel turned his face away, unwilling to look at her. "Go take care of him. I can't stand the sight of you." Jessica sighed and spoke softly. "Nathaniel, I know this has been a huge shock to you. But I can promise you that you'll always be my husband. Even if York is the father of my child, he can never take your place in my heart." "Then what place does he have in your heart?" Jessica's voice grew solemn. "I admit that I did fall in love with him during the time I had amnesia. After I regained my memories, deep down, I still loved you more. I wanted to build a life with you, too, but York... I just couldn't let him go either." So you went along with his so-called 'win-win' plan and tricked me into getting a vasectomy? And you had the nerve to call it fair? "Nathaniel, York won't try to take your place. You'll always be my favorite, my one and only husband." A nurse's voice came from outside. "Is there anyone here for York Lawrence in Bed 34?" Jessica immediately asked anxiously, "I'm here for York Lawrence. What's wrong with him?" "Nothing serious, don't worry. He woke up and didn't see you, so he asked us to help him find you." Jessica nodded, looking at Nathaniel guiltily. "Nathaniel, I'll go check on him first." "Okay, go ahead." "Get some rest. York needs me right now. I'll have to stay with him tonight so he can sleep. I'll come keep you company tomorrow." "Okay." Watching Jessica walk away, Nathaniel gave a bitter smile. There would be no tomorrow. "Jessica, may we never meet again in this life or the next."