If Cassie was standing outside,how could she possibly sneak into the operating room to take Olivia’s liver?
Cassie’s expression stiffened for a moment before she quickly composed herself,though a hint of displeasure flickered in her eyes."It depends on my condition at the time,”she said cautiously.“If my health allows,I’ll definitely be there.”
She could not even tolerate such a trivial inconvenience,yet she secretly coveted her liver.
Suppressing her disgust,Olivia reached out,gently taking Cassie’s hand and patting its back."Miss Winslet,don’t worry.With parents who adore you and Lucian,who treasures you so much,I’m sure you’ll recover quickly and be discharged from the hospital with us.”
She deliberately emphasized with us and Cassie Winslet deserved every bit of it.
Cassie’s jaw tightened.She wanted to pull her hand away,but Olivia seemed particularly persistent today,sticking close,showering her with affection and slipping in sharp-edged words masked with warmth.
Cassie was furious inside.
Suppressing her frustration,she finally turned to Lucian the moment he entered the room,pouting slightly as she spoke."Lucian,can you take me downstairs for a walk?I’m afraid I’ll tire Mrs.Rhodes.I haven’t dared to drink too much water all afternoon because I didn’t want to trouble her,even I avoided going to the restroom.”
Lucian adored Cassie,so how could he bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance?His expression darkened as he instinctively stepped in to shield her."What’s going on?I asked you to take care of Cassie,Olivia.Is this how you look after her?”
Olivia had long known that Lucian would never take her side,but witnessing his blatant favoritism firsthand still sent a sharp ache through her heart.
She lifted her reddened eyes to meet his gaze."Lucian,we are husband and wife.I’m even willing to donate my liver to you.Yet you can’t give me even the smallest bit of trust?Would you rather believe an outsider over me?Are you really going to pick a fight with me over someone else?"
"Cassie isn’t…"He almost blurted something out but stopped himself,drawing in a deep breath to compose his tone.
"Olivia,I know you love me,but no matter how much you do,you can’t act like this and cause unnecessary trouble.Do you want Cassie to laugh at you?She’s already unwell and people who are sick can’t handle distress.If you neglect her,it might worsen her condition.How am I supposed to explain that to her or to the Winslet Family?”
He had to answer to everyone.Everyone mattered except her.
Who told her to be so stubborn,so foolish?She knew perfectly well that the Rhodes Family had the means to find a more suitable liver match that would not cost them anything beyond money.Yet she had still volunteered,making herself the most convenient sacrifice.
"Believe what you want,but I did not neglect Miss Winslet."Tears welled in Olivia’s eyes,but her voice remained steady as she pointed toward the nurse’s station outside.“If you refuse to trust me,then ask the attending nurse.When she came to check the ward,I specifically asked Miss Winslet if she needed water or if she wanted to get up and move around."
Cassie’s expression shifted."Lucian…"
Olivia said nothing more.She just turned and walked away.
“Olivia,wait…”Lucian’s voice followed after her,carrying an uncharacteristic tremor of unease as if he had finally sensed something slipping beyond his grasp.
But before he could take a step toward her,a soft,delicate voice held him back.“Lucian,I’m hungry.Could you buy me some chicken soup from that old restaurant back then?Remember how we used to sneak out for it before we went abroad,skipping the food at home?It’s been so long and I really miss it.”
She strode into the elevator.
No hurried footsteps followed.No familiar voice called out to stop her.Lucian did not chase after her and Cassie’s soft,irresistible pleas did not echo in the corridor.Olivia’s seemingly unshakable heart gradually steadied,settling into a cold calm.
Of course.Cassie and Lucian were a perfect match,running toward each other without hesitation.
Then,she had no reason to feel guilty about leaving before the surgery.They would get exactly what they deserved.
This was the outcome she had planned for,the result she wanted.And yet…why?Why was there still that dull,uncontrollable ache buried deep in her chest?
Perhaps it was because everything had started so beautifully,only to crumble the moment they disagreed.Seven years of companionship and not even a trace of it remained in Lucian’s heart.He could remember sneaking out for chicken soup with Cassie when they were students,yet he never once noticed when Olivia skipped lunch waiting for him.
She allowed herself a brief moment of disappointment,but she had more important things to do and she would not let something so trivial wound her.
After locking the car door,she pulled the divorce agreement from her bag and gave it another look.Then,for the first time in a long while,she indulged herself.She went to a hot pot restaurant she had been craving for ages but never dared to eat too much at,savoring every bite.
Satisfied and full,she swiped the unlimited supplementary card Lucian had given her,buying luxury items with stable resale value and a new house.
By the time she returned home,Lucian was already there,sitting on the sofa,waiting for her.
The moment he heard her footsteps,he rushed to meet her.“Olivia,you’re back.”
Without sparing him a glance,Olivia turned away.
Lucian’s expression shifted slightly as he reached out and grabbed her arm,pulling her into his embrace.Without a word,he held her tightly,trapping her in his arms.“You’re still angry,Olivia.I called you so many times this afternoon,but you didn’t answer.I was worried…and scared.I thought you wouldn’t come back tonight,that you wouldn’t want to talk to me anymore.”
His deliberately softened tone carried a hint of grievance,but to Olivia,it was nothing short of laughable.
She struggled to break free,but his grip was firm.Placing her hands against his chest,she tried to put as much distance between them as possible.“Weren’t you full of confidence when you were putting me in my place?What are you so afraid of now?”
