Chapter 3
Evelyn stood alone in the lake, a profound desolation washing over her.
She searched through the night, bent over in the freezing water, until she finally found the bracelet
By dawn, she could barely stand, her body purple from the cold. Still, she rushed to the Hernandez Industries building, the bracelet clutched in her trembling hands.
Summer was waiting in his office. She took one look at the bracelet and sneered. “It’s filthy. I don’t want it anymore.” With that, she snapped the chain and tossed it in the trash.
Issac barely glanced up. “If you don’t like it, I’ll buy you a new one.”
“You’re too good to me,” Summer smiled radiantly.
Evelyn slipped out, soaked and shivering.
The executive floor staff barely reacted – they’d seen her endure worse over the years. None of them understood why she stayed.
She didn’t even take a sick day, just swallowed some cold medicine and accompanied Issac on his site
inspections.
By evening, Summer arrived to take Issac to dinner.
“Join us, Evelyn,” she invited with false warmth.
The reason for the invitation became clear when the food arrived – every dish was extremely spicy, except for a mango dessert. Summer knew Evelyn was severely allergic to mango.
There was a time when Issac would carefully pick out even the smallest chili pepper from Evelyn’s food.
Now, he seemed to have forgotten.
He focused entirely on Summer, pouring her water, serving her food, never once glancing at Evelyn.
“Why aren’t you eating, Evelyn?” Summer asked with feigned concern.
Issac looked up, his eyes cold. “If you’re not going to eat, why are you here?”
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Evelyn forced herself to pick up her chopsticks and take a bite of the spicy chicken.
After dinner, Issac left with Summer.
Alone in her apartment, Evelyn broke into a cold sweat, her stomach churning with excruciating pain from the spicy food.
She lay motionless on her bed, the pain too intense for tears. Every torment she’d endured these years was penance for Sophia’s death.
Each moment of suffering lightened the crushing weight of guilt, if only slightly.
Even as consciousness slipped away, a resigned smile crossed her lips.
Days passed.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly – the lack of treatment combined with frequent drinking had accelerated the cancer’s progression. Still, she only took basic painkillers to get through each day.
That weekend, Evelyn lay on her couch, the pain so severe she could barely move.
Then Issac called. “Summer wants the lobster roll from Sullivan’s. Go get her some.”
As his assistant, she never truly had days off. When he needed something, she had to deliver.
But today, the pain was unbearable. “Could James handle it today? I’m…”
“When did I give you the option to refuse?” His icy voice cut through her protest.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“Either get it done, or clean out your desk for good.”
The line went dead.
Forcing herself up, Evelyn stumbled out the door.
Sullivan’s was in an exclusive part of town, famous for their fresh lobster rolls that people would wait hours for. After queuing for three hours, she finally got Summer’s order.
But when she arrived at Issac’s place, Summer’s face darkened at the sight of the package.
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“Who told you to add extra mayonnaise?”
Through labored breathing, Evelyn managed, “I thought you liked it that way?”
Summer dumped the entire sandwich in the trash. “Not anymore.”
“Get another order,” Issac commanded, his voice flat.
When Evelyn returned with the second order, Summer complained about the seasoning.
Issac, seemingly blind to Summer’s deliberate torment, simply said, “Get another.”
This cruel cycle repeated several times.
On her final trip back, night had fallen. The winter wind cut through her thin coat as she clutched the latest order from Sullivan’s.
Evelyn could barely stand, the pain in her stomach overwhelming, making each step uncertain. The world swayed around her as she crossed the street, the package trembling in her hands.
In her dazed state, she didn’t see the delivery van coming.
A horn blared-
The vehicle slammed into her!
The impact sent her rolling across the cold pavement. Blood erupted from her mouth as her body absorbed the shock.
The scent of fresh seafood mingled with the metallic taste of blood.
Her vision scattered like static. Was this finally it? Could she at last go see Sophia?
A tear of relief slid down her cheek before everything went black.
At St. Mary’s Hospital, Dr. Lucas Reed froze when he saw Evelyn being rushed into the ER.
“Evelyn! Evelyn!”
She remained unresponsive, blood continuously flowing from her mouth.
The chief surgeon looked alarmed. “Internal bleeding?”
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“She has stomach cancer!” Lucas’s voice cracked with fear,
The medical team’s expressions changed instantly as they rushed her into surgery.
Hours later, they’d managed to stop the external bleeding, but her vitals were rapidly declining, The monitors showed critical readings across all major systems,
“What’s happening to her?” Lucas demanded frantically,
The senior surgeon shook his head. “Terminal stomach cancer – her body was already weak. The trauma has triggered multiple organ failure.”
On the bed, unconscious and bleeding, Evelyn kept murmuring one name through cracked lips.
“Issac… Issac…”
As her life seemed to slip away, Lucas gripped her hand, his voice breaking. “Hold on, Eve. Please hold
on.”
“I’ll get him here. Just wait a little longer. Please wait.”
With trembling hands, he took out her phone and called Issac.
“Evelyn, how does it take this long to pick up a simple order?” Issac’s cold voice answered.
“It’s Lucas Reed.”
Silence fell. Then, “Why do you have her phone?”
Looking at the flatling heart monitor, Lucas’s voice shook as he delivered each word:
“Come to St. Mary’s Hospital. Say goodbye to Evelyn while you still can.”
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