Chapter 23: Farewell in the Ashes
Evelyn finally understood the reason behind all his unusual behavior today.
She softened her voice. “You love me, don’t you?”
“……”
“We’ll get married. That child would only stand in the way of our happiness. You can easily have children—we’ll have our own someday. The one in my belly will carry the Hamilton name.”
“……”
“Don’t overthink it. She’s only been pregnant for a month. That’s not even a life yet, just—”
“Enough.”
The image of that blood-soaked tissue flashed before Alexander’s eyes, the searing crimson burning his heart.
“When will you be back? I’ll wait for you for dinner.”
“I need to be alone.”
……
The distance from the OB-GYN Department to the Medical Waste Center was only two hundred meters.
As a doctor, she usually covered it in two minutes. Today, it took her twenty, even with Vivian’s support.
Waves of pain radiated from her abdomen, her hospital gown soaked with cold sweat.
Vivian turned away, discreetly wiping her tears.
“Vivian.”
Vivian quickly wiped her face. “What is it?”
“Do you have a lighter?”
“I don’t smoke. Why do you need one?”
“I want to burn it.” Evelyn stared at the crumpled paper in her hand. “Medical waste gets shredded and buried. I don’t want it mixed with all that filth.”
Vivian nodded firmly. “I’ll find one.”
“Where?”
“I’ll manage. You rest.”
Evelyn held her back. “No smoking on hospital grounds.”
Vivian suddenly remembered. “Alexander was smoking earlier…”
“……”
“Forget I said that.”
In the end, Vivian bought a lighter from a convenience store outside the hospital.
They found an empty corner.
The paper dissolved into ashes in the flames.
A gust of wind scattered the remnants until nothing remained.
Vivian lifted her head, watching the last traces vanish into the air.
She turned to Evelyn.
The oversized hospital gown made her look even frailer, as if the wind could carry her away at any moment.
“Evelyn, just cry.”
Evelyn shook her head. “Let’s go, Vivian.”
“I’ll help you back to your room.”
“Not this way.” Evelyn pointed to another path. “We can go around.”
“But that’s much longer. In your condition—”
Then Vivian understood.
Alexander was still there. She’d rather endure the pain of a detour than see him again.
Tears spilled over.
Evelyn gently wiped them away. “I’m not even crying.”
Vivian turned her face. “The wind got in my eyes.”
Evelyn leaned against her shoulder. “Don’t cry.”
“Okay.” Vivian whispered, “You’ll have a better life.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Alexander just now… he looked terrible.”
Evelyn smiled faintly. “Did he?”
“Like he’d lost his soul. I’ve never seen him like that.”
Evelyn gazed into the distance. “Time heals everything.”
