Chapter 1: Weariness

In a private hospital in a coastal city,

"Miss Ingram, it's not too late to start chemotherapy. Call your family," Osmond closed the medical records with a serious expression.

"I'm afraid of pain. Please prescribe some medication for me first," Chloe forced a smile and said, "I hope you'll keep my medical condition confidential."

Call her family? Where would she find family now? After losing her parents, she only had Mortimer left.

Chloe slowly descended while leaning on the cold handrail. Should she tell Mortimer about her illness? She hesitated.

Mortimer was no longer the young boy he had been nine years ago, and now he seemed thoroughly fed up with her. Why invite trouble?

Chloe stood at the hospital entrance, watching the falling snowflakes. She tightened her scarf and sighed softly. At the bus stop, she took out the diagnosis report, pondered for a second, and then discarded it in the nearby trash can.

Back home, she took out a handful of colorful pills and swallowed them with warm water.

The room's temperature gradually rose, and Chloe finally felt a hint of warmth. She dialed that memorized number, calling it again and again. After eight tries, the call finally connected.

In that instant, Chloe's eyes lit up, and her voice choked, "Mortimer, it's snowing outside."

Listening to her voice, Mortimer frowned. "Have you never seen snow before? You're in your twenties; can't you be more mature? I'm busy, I'll hang up."

Somewhere along the way, he had grown particularly impatient with Chloe. She always beat around the bush about everything. It was frustrating.

Chloe hesitated to speak cautiously, "Tomorrow is New Year's Day, and I'm at home..."

"No, I can't come. I have things to do," Mortimer cut her off and hung up.

Chloe stared at her phone with a busy tone still playing, feeling her eyes welling up with tears. Three years ago, Mortimer's heart had already moved on from her. After nine years together, she couldn't bear to shatter that final illusion.

Mortimer returned a week later. Chloe hadn't expected it, and when she saw him standing at the door, the pills in her hand suddenly became too hot to hold.

Mortimer, however, didn't spare her a glance. He went straight to the study. While he was in there, Chloe quickly put down the pills, preparing to talk to him about something.

Just as she was about to open the door, Mortimer came out holding a file. Chloe was so stunned she didn't know how to react.

Mortimer glanced at the frail Chloe and frowned, "Is this your way of showing yourself off?"

Seeing his annoyance, Chloe blurted out, "No, Mortimer, I went to the hospital..."

Before she could finish, Mortimer's phone rang. A gentle woman's voice came through, "Mr. Shaw, the banquet is about to begin."

"Okay," Mortimer replied, and Chloe keenly sensed the tenderness in his tone.

Mortimer pushed Chloe aside and walked out, taking his bag with him. Chloe couldn't help but say, "I went to see a doctor, but he couldn't help."

The door slammed shut, and Chloe muttered to herself in the room, "I saw a doctor, but he couldn't help."

Silence enveloped the room, and the only response to her words was the sound of the wind and snow outside, echoing her muffled sobs.