Chapter 8
Kathleen walked all the way back home.
She hadn’t even recovered from her cold, and now, it had worsened. Her nose was stuffy, her head throbbed, and her throat burned.
She took some cold medicine, wrapped herself tightly in her blanket, and curled up in bed. No matter how long she lay alone there, the bed never seemed to get warm.
By dawn, Kathleen couldn’t take it anymore. She threw on a down jacket and took a cab to the hospital.
With an IV drip in her arm, her mind was in a daze. She sat there, watching others being cared for by family or friends. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
Someone once said that loneliness came in levels. She was probably well past level ten.
Time dragged on painfully, but she didn’t dare fall asleep. She forced herself to stay awake, checking the IV now and then.
Shawn happened to be at the hospital for a follow-up when he noticed Kathleen sitting nearby.
Her head drooped slightly, and her hair was messy. An IV needle was stuck in the back of her hand. Among the crowd, she looked particularly alone.
Suddenly, Kathleen looked up and met his eyes. Without thinking, she called out, “Shawn…”
However, he ignored her and walked away. Colin followed behind without a word.
Kathleen hadn’t expected to see him here. That one glance felt like a hallucination. She pressed her lips together. What was she hoping for?
Surely he wouldn’t come over and ask how she was doing. Even she found the thought laughable.
…
As he came out of the director’s office, Colin could barely contain his excitement.
His voice trembled slightly as he tried to suppress his feelings. “There’s still a chance. You should head over and get ready.”
Yet, Shawn remained indifferent. From the diagnosis to the death sentence, he had long made peace with it.
Any so-called chance was just a form of struggle. As for this glimmer of hope, he didn’t think much of it. No hope meant no disappointment.
As he passed the infusion area again, he glanced over.
Kathleen was still there, nearly done with her IV. She seemed to have fallen asleep.
“Stay here and take her home,” Shawn said, taking off his coat and handing it to Colin.
Colin took the coat. He hesitated for a moment before replying, “Okay.”
After Shawn left, he walked over and stood beside Kathleen.
Once the IV was finished, he called in a nurse.
Kathleen jolted awake, surprised to see Colin standing there. She instinctively looked around for Shawn.
“Mr. Vance has already left,” Colin responded.
She wiped her forehead and slumped back into the chair. Her body still felt weak, but at least she was more comfortable now.
After resting for a while, she finally stood up and collected her medication. He followed behind her.
…
As they stepped out of the hospital, the cold hit her like a wave. She instinctively hugged herself for warmth.
Colin handed her Shawn’s coat.
She looked at it, a wry smile on her lips. Her voice was hoarse. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Colin didn’t really know either, so he replied, “He was worried about you.”
Regardless of what Shawn’s reasons were, leaving his coat meant he didn’t want her to catch a cold.
Kathleen took the coat and wrapped herself in it. She really was freezing. It carried a faint scent, crisp and cool like Shawn himself.
…
Once inside the car, the heater was blasting, causing her to feel drowsy.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she finally woke up.
The car was parked, but Colin wasn’t inside.
Kathleen looked out the window and saw him on a call. Judging by his posture, she guessed he was speaking with Shawn.
She waited until he was done before stepping out.
Colin turned back, and Kathleen handed him the coat. “Thank him for me.”
“We’ve not arrived yet,” Colin said, not taking the coat. “You can call me if you ever need anything.”
Kathleen bit her lip before putting the coat back on. “Can’t I call him?”
He paused for a second before he replied, “Sure, you can.”
After all, Shawn never said she couldn’t.
“Thanks. I’ll head in now.” Kathleen smiled faintly and walked toward the apartment complex.
…
Chelsey called once she was home. After finding out Kathleen had gone to the hospital alone, she gave Kathleen a good scolding.
Listening to Chelsey’s nagging, Kathleen felt a warm glow inside.
After Chelsey finished her rant, Kathleen finally mentioned that Shawn had sent Colin to take her home and left her his coat.
“Didn’t he say he wanted to keep his distance? What’s with this sneaky act of kindness? What does this even mean?”
Kathleen lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. She glanced at the coat draped nearby. “Maybe he thinks I caught the cold because of him. He’s not as cold-hearted as we imagined.”
Chelsey sounded worried now. “Just don’t fall for him again because of this little bit of kindness, okay? I’m not being cold-blooded, but he doesn’t have much time left.”
She was worried that Kathleen would get attached again. Kathleen wouldn’t be able to handle it when Shawn died.
“You’re overthinking it. I won’t.” Kathleen sniffled.
She wouldn’t fall in love with him, and neither would Shawn.
…
Kathleen spent the next three days resting at home. Before Chelsey left on a business trip, she made Kathleen some meals and stocked up the fridge.
On the fourth afternoon, the sun came out bright and warm.
Kathleen finally went outside. She brought Shawn’s coat to the dry cleaners.
When it was done, she picked it up. As she stepped out, someone stormed over and blocked her path.
She frowned at the sight of Ryan, whom she hadn’t seen in ages and thought she would never see again.
Ryan glanced at the bag in her hand. When she’d packed it earlier, he’d clearly seen that it was a man’s coat inside.
“Kathleen, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”
Kathleen narrowed her eyes. “See a doctor if you’re sick.”
“I heard you got married.” He confronted her. “We just broke up, and you’re already married? Tell me who’s that guy.”
Kathleen had never realized how aggressive and unreasonable he could be.
Love really couldn’t be based on imagination. She didn’t know his true nature until things went wrong.
“What’s the point of all this?” She didn’t want to see him at all.
However, Ryan wouldn’t let her go.
“When did you start fooling around with him? Bring him here! If he’s got the guts to steal my girl, I’ll make him pay!”
Kathleen was disgusted by his crude way of speaking. She glared furiously at Ryan, who was enraged at the moment. “Don’t you dare act like the victim here. You cheated on me!”
“If you had come back sooner, I wouldn’t have! I booked a hotel, and you still wouldn’t spend the night with me. What kind of relationship is that? I’m a man. If you won’t sleep with me, can’t I just find another woman? You pushed me to it!”
Ryan accused her as if he were the one who’d been wronged.
“I’m not doing this with you. It’s pointless. Let’s move on.” Kathleen turned to leave.
He was still insistent. “Do you think we can just move on after you posted that video?”
“So what do you want?”
“Get back together with me, and I’ll forget the whole thing ever happened.”
Sometimes, one could only laugh when being too stunned to speak.
Kathleen looked at him like he was insane and walked around him.
“Kathleen!” Ryan grabbed her wrist tightly. “I’m giving you a chance. Don’t be ungrateful.”
She turned and stared at his hand. “Let me go!”
“Come with me!” Ryan dragged her toward his car.
Kathleen struggled, but he only gripped her tighter.
He forced her toward the car, yanking the door open with his free hand. The more she resisted, the rougher he got.
Ryan shoved her inside once the door was open. She swung the freshly cleaned coat at his head. The lightweight garment did nothing except further enrage him.
He pushed her harder, and she fell back into the seat.
Kathleen kicked out as Ryan climbed in after her.
“Ryan, you must have a death wish!”
She was both panicked and furious. She punched and kicked before grabbing her phone and keychain to smash them into his head and face.
She went wild and didn’t hold back at all.
Ryan hadn’t expected her to fight back so fiercely. If she’d had a knife, she would’ve stabbed him.
Some passerby had called the police.
…
When the police showed up, Ryan stumbled out of the car, holding his face and wailing.
Kathleen scrambled out after him. Her hair was a mess, her cheeks flushed. She was panting heavily. Then, she saw the blood on his forehead, bruises, and scratches on his face, making him look like a wreck.
Both of them were taken to the police station.
