Chapter 45

A faint whisper came through the late-night call. "Evelyn... it hurts."

Nathan's voice carried a barely detectable tremor.

Evelyn's heart clenched.

She knew this man too well. Proud as he was, he never showed weakness easily. The last time his stomach acted up, he'd stubbornly endured until passing out before being rushed to the hospital.

During their time living together, she'd experimented with different soups and porridges for him daily. She'd stayed up until 3 AM studying acupressure just to ease his stomach pain.

It took her six months to nurse his condition back to health.

All she got in return was his complaint that she nagged too much, calling her a fussy housewife.

Memories surged like a tide, then receded just as quickly.

"If it hurts, see a doctor." Her voice was ice-cold.

"I want your porridge." Nathan stubbornly repeated.

Silence stretched between them.

In the end, Evelyn hung up first.

When the nurse came for rounds, she found Nathan motionless, still clutching his phone.

"Mr. Evans, you need to rest—"

His eyes remained closed, his face frighteningly pale.

......

At the first light of dawn, Evelyn called Dylan.

"Does your stomach still hurt? Want some porridge?"

Dylan answered groggily but snapped awake at her voice.

"Evelyn!"

"Your porridge last time was amazing. I've been craving it every day..."

She didn't expose his lie, simply telling him to come pick it up at noon.

Between her and Nathan, this bowl of porridge was all that remained of their connection.

......

Nathan's stomach condition gradually improved.

Chloe unfailingly delivered homemade porridge each day.

"Leave it there," he'd always say.

Today was no different. As Chloe set down the thermos, she leaned against his shoulder.

"Darling, you're finally better. I couldn't sleep these past few days worrying about you."

Nathan gave a faint smile before suddenly asking, "Don't you have classes?"

"I took leave to be with you." She pouted. "You're more important than anything."

Nathan's mind drifted to the past.

That year on his birthday, he'd wanted to take Evelyn to the beach. But she'd insisted on attending her last class.

He'd given her the silent treatment for three days.

In the end, he was the one who apologized first.