Chapter 3

• Rhys’s tone carried a hint of coaxing as he said, "Selene, I know you're not feeling well right now.”
• “But you'll be in the hospital for a few days anyway, so the house will be empty. Milo has a fever, and Lilian is struggling to take care of him alone. Let them stay for a few days, and as soon as Milo's fever goes down, I'll find a place for them to move out. Okay?"
• Lilian slightly tugged at his sleeve, speaking softly, "Rhys, maybe we should forget about it. Don't make Selene angry... I'll take Milo to a hotel."
• "Listen to me. Hotels are noisy. How can you take care of a sick child there?" Rhys reached back and patted her hand, the gesture natural and affectionate.
• Turning back to Selene, his tone hardened a bit. "Selene, I'm not asking for your opinion. Lilian has been taking care of the child alone for so many years. It's not easy. You're a considerate girl, so can't you show some understanding?"
• "Understanding?" Selene looked at the figure of Rhys standing protectively in front of Lilian, and suddenly, she started to feel like the past five years had been a joke. The last trace of warmth in her eyes then disappeared completely. "Rhys, what have the last five years of suffering with you meant?”
• “When I gave up my offer from Cambridge for you, you said, ‘Selene understands me best’. When I invested half of my life savings into your company, you said that you would take care of me in the future. And now, lying here with half a foot in the grave, you want me to tolerate you bringing another woman and child into our home?"
• Rhys's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes flickered for a moment, seeming a bit guilty from her words.
• But when he met Lilian's pleading gaze, he quickly regained his resolve. "Selene, things are not as you think... My feelings for Lilian are more about responsibility. As for you..."
• Selene looked at the face she had once loved deeply and suddenly felt incredibly distant as a wave of exhaustion and disgust washed over her. She did not even have any desire to argue further.
• "Rhys, get out.”
• “Take your ‘responsibility’ and your son, and disappear from my sight. If you dare to step one foot further into that house, I will call the police."
• Lilian promptly tugged at Rhys’s sleeve, her eyes reddening. "Rhys, let's go. Don't make Selene angry anymore. It's my fault. I shouldn't have come back to disturb you."
• Rhys looked down at her, his eyes full of pity. "Don't talk nonsense. I'll handle these things."
• Then, as he was about to leave with Lilian, he turned around and glanced back at Selene. "I'll find you the best caregiver. Rest well."
• The hospital room door closed, shutting out the outside world.
• Selene settled on the hospital bed until it was dark, and the attending doctor walked in with a new test report, frowning. "Selene, the test results are out. The tumor wasn't completely removed, so we need to schedule a second surgery as soon as possible."
• He handed her the report, underlining, "high risk of recurrence."
• "This surgery is very difficult, with a high risk of bleeding. The probability of post-operation complications is over 60%. You will need to contact your family immediately. The consent form for the surgery needs to be signed, and someone needs to be with you 24/7 for at least a week after the surgery. You can't handle this alone."
• Selene stared at the words on the report, clutching the blanket tightly.
• So even the tumor removal couldn't give her a way out.
• "I understand." She handed the report back to the doctor.
• "Your emergency contact is Rhys, right? I'll call him now."
• She was about to shake her head and say it wasn't necessary, but the doctor had already dialed the number.
• The phone rang three times before it was answered, and Rhys's voice came out sounding impatient. "Who is this?"
• "I'm Selene's attending doctor. Her condition is quite serious, and she needs a second surgery..."