Chapter 4The Day I Was Diagnosed

Luke entered a high-end club. The bouncer bowed and scraped to him, clearly showing he was a regular.

I followed him in.

Standing in the shadows of the hallway, through the crack of the half-open private room door, I saw dim lights and a table full of liquor bottles.

As soon as Luke entered, people on the sofa started jeering:

"Yo, Luke, not keeping 'Sis' company today?"

He sneered, loosened his tie, and downed half a glass of wine:

"Spent too much time with her lately. She's getting pushy."

The girl I saw in the photo leaned in, her finger tracing ambiguously over his collarbone:

"Luke, do you have something for me?"

Luke took the gift box out of his pocket. "Here, play with it."

The girl opened it and pouted dissatisfiedly. "Isn't this last year's style?"

Luke glanced at it. "Yeah, I originally planned to give it to her."

"What? Didn't you give her the $9.99 stuff?" The group of rich kids quickly gathered around. "Luke, you didn't catch feelings, did you?"

Standing in the shadows at the door, I couldn't help clenching my trembling fists.

Luke was silent for a moment, slowly blowing out a smoke ring:

"What nonsense. A tacky, cheap old woman like her? You think I'd be interested?"

"I was just thinking, I'm bored anyway. I'll reveal everything in a few days."

"Honestly, compared to me, she's not bad. Sometimes I use her as a punching bag when I'm mad."

The crowd erupted in teasing boos again.

I was only meters away, yet it felt like I was in an abyss.

"Luke, actually that woman isn't ugly. She looks quite delicate. After you reveal the truth, maybe I'll go comfort her while she's heartbroken. I could probably score."

The girl named Mimi slapped the blond guy who spoke:

"No way. That woman looks sickly. What kind of taste do you have?"

Blondie chuckled. "I just like that fragile type... Luke, is she sick or not?"

Luke swirled his wine glass. "Just a bit of anemia. She's dramatic."

Mimi covered her mouth and laughed. "Right, last time I switched the pills on her nightstand. It's been so long, and she hasn't noticed?"

The girl's laughter was as melodious as a nightingale, but it sounded like needles in my ears.

No wonder my illness accelerated.

It was because the expensive special medicine I gritted my teeth to buy was switched by Luke!

A metallic taste surged in my throat. I covered my mouth and swallowed it desperately.

Inside the room, Luke seemed a bit agitated, checking his phone repeatedly.

Mimi lay on him. "Luke, why do you care about her?"

Luke pinched her chin, smiling frivolously:

"What's the rush? I'm waiting to see when Snow gives in. Are you jealous?"

"Don't worry, she's about to be past tense."

After speaking, he lowered his head and kissed her.

Whistles and laughter erupted in the room.

Standing outside, my fingernails dug deep into my palms, but I felt no pain.

I slowly took out my phone and sent him a message:

[I'll take you guys skiing this weekend.]

Almost the next second, a deafening cheer came from the room.

"Fuck! She replied!"

"Luke, you win again!"

Luke lazily held up his phone, the screen's light reflecting his triumphant smile.

He shook it at the room full of people and said, "See? What did I tell you? She can't leave me."

Mimi giggled and fell into his arms:

"It's a deal. After skiing, bring her to my birthday party at my family's hotel. Then reveal your identity and announce our relationship."

Luke paused, lowered his head, and bit her ear. "Of course."

After they finished being intimate, he looked down and typed on his phone.

Soon, I received a reply:

"Okay. Classes are busy these days, so I won't come back. See you at the ski resort this weekend."

I replied with a single word: "Okay."

Then I turned and left.

The club hallway was very long. My shadow was stretched thin and lonely.

The night wind was still cold, but this time, I didn't cry.