Chapter 4 She and William, No Longer Connected

Isabella's car headed toward Evergreen Hospital.

Online, news of Isabella’s “death countdown” had gone viral.

Comment sections everywhere were buzzing with discussion.

"Honestly, I think Isabella is pretty great. She's bold about her feelings and has nothing to be ashamed of."

"I feel the same way. Plenty of people like William. As long as she's not a homewrecker, who she likes is her own business."

"The videos she uploaded and that live stream from some villa really opened my eyes to a glimpse of how rich people live. It's such a shame she won't be around much longer."

"Who is William's wife anyway? Can't she just step aside? Isabella only has six months left."

"I know this one—she's a musician named Amelia. I heard after she married into wealth, she stopped working!"

...

Meanwhile, at Evergreen Hospital.

Amelia’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Calls and texts from acquaintances poured in. Some sounded concerned, some were fishing for gossip, some were outright mocking. All of them were about Isabella and William.

She had just glanced at the online news and learned about Isabella's death countdown.

She didn't read any further.

It didn't matter anymore.

After the cooling-off period, she and William would have nothing to do with each other.

Time flew by. She checked the time, and just as she looked up, she saw Mia coming over with her bag.

"How are you feeling? Any discomfort?" Noticing Amelia’s pale face, Mia helped her stand, worry written all over her.

Amelia smiled and shook her head.

She’d already made her decision. That meant there were things she just had to endure.

Mia knew exactly what Amelia was thinking. But all she could do was sigh softly, then help Amelia into the elevator to go downstairs.

When the doors opened on the first floor, they stepped into a crowd.

The hospital lobby was always busy, but today felt packed. Amelia even spotted a few reporters mixed in.

“So many people here. Reporters too. It must be some celebrity getting checked out. They always cause a scene like this.” Mia was still rambling when her expression suddenly changed. She tried to steer Amelia in the other direction.

But it was too late. Amelia had already seen them.

There they were; two familiar figures.

The man was tall, sharp-featured, and carried himself with effortless authority. Even in the chaos, his styled hair and tailored suit were immaculate.

The woman beside him was small and frail, her face pale. She looked unwell, and it only made her seem more delicate. She stumbled slightly, and in the next second, the man caught her, pulling her close to shield her from the crowd.

It was William and Isabella.

“Don’t look,” Mia hissed, furious, trying to block Amelia’s view with her body.

"Mia, let's go." Amelia had already decided to leave William. She didn’t want him to know she was at the hospital, and she definitely didn’t want a confrontation. Not here. Not now.

"Go? Why should we leave?" Mia was even angrier. "You're only in the cooling-off period, you're not divorced yet. He’s still your husband, and here he is, out in public cuddling another woman. This is ridiculous.”

Husband...

Amelia looked away.

There was a time when that word had made her quietly happy.

But now...

“Mia, I’m not feeling well. Let’s just head back.” Amelia changed the subject.

Mia immediately shifted her focus to Amelia’s health and stopped paying attention to the other two.

As Amelia left, Isabella’s eyes swept through the crowd and landed on them.

A flash of smugness crossed her eyes.

“William, I’m sorry for dragging you here,” Isabella said, her voice thick with guilt. “I know you hate dealing with the media, but I…”

"Don't worry about it. Let's go see the doctor first." William's expression remained unchanged.

But for a split second, something flashed across his mind, but he couldn’t quite catch it.

The two went to the relevant consultation room together.

Isabella handed her medical records to the doctor.

The more the doctor read, the deeper his frown became.

"Your condition is very serious," the doctor said.

Isabella forced a smile and said softly, "I know."

She took a deep breath and continued, “Doctor, I’d like something for the pain. The strongest you can prescribe.”

“Given your condition, I strongly recommend hospitalization,” the doctor said, glancing back at her chart. “Aggressive treatment might give you more time.”

"That won't be necessary." Isabella gave him a bleak smile.

She wiped the tears slightly seeping from the corners of her eyes and said, "I don't want treatment anymore."

William, beside her, gripped her hand tightly.

But she just shook her head.

"Doctor, I just want to live with dignity in the final stage of my life," she said. "So please, just prescribe me some strong painkillers."

The doctor let out a long sigh, but finally nodded understandingly.

Outside, reporters were livestreaming everything.

The reaction was instant.

“This is a real person. A living, breathing life that’s almost gone.”

“I cry when I stub my toe. I can’t imagine late-stage cancer pain. Yet she keeps smiling through it. She's so strong."

"I cried so hard when she said she wouldn't get treatment anymore. You don’t get it unless you’ve been sick yourself, or watched someone you love go through it.”

Countless people shed tears of sympathy, their pity for Isabella reaching its peak.

...

Isabella got her medication quickly. When they came out of the hospital, Amelia was sitting on a bench outside, waiting for Mia to bring the car from the parking garage.

Before Amelia could react, a sharp-eyed reporter spotted her. In seconds, the three of them were surrounded.

Cameras flashed nonstop.

William also noticed her presence. He frowned slightly. "What are you doing here?"

Amelia stood up. She looked at William, then at Isabella's hand in William's arm.

Before she could say anything, the reporters started firing questions.

“Ms. Martinez, did you come here to catch them together after seeing the posts?”

“Ms. Martinez, what do you think about your husband being out with another woman?”

“Ms. Martinez, what are you going to do about Isabella?”

Everyone assumed Amelia was there on purpose. To confront Isabella.

Even William thought so.

At that thought, his irritation flared.

He spoke: "Isabella is sick. Don't you know that?"

His voice carried a hint of warning.

Amelia almost laughed at how absurd it was.

He was implying that she was targeting Isabella.

But she wouldn't stoop so low!

“Amelia.” Her silence had stretched too long, and the reporters were already turning to ask Isabella about being “the other woman.” William said her name.

He expected her to speak up for Isabella.

Just like every time in the past, Like she was supposed to obey him.

But she didn't want to anymore.

She was walking away from him. Why should she follow his lead?

Her hand moved to her abdomen on instinct. The dull ache there hadn’t fully faded.

“I’m looking for a friend,” Amelia said at last.

They were already in the cooling-off period. She didn't want to reveal her pregnancy, nor could she let too many people wonder why she was at the hospital.

This response also answered William's question.

After speaking, she turned to leave.

But the reporters wouldn't let her go.

They kept pushing forward, jostling her.

“Ms. Martinez, do you know people online are saying you should divorce Mr. Brown so he can be with Isabella?”

“Isabella is dying. Do you still want to make her suffer right now?”

"Ms. Martinez..."

Amelia didn't want to answer any of these questions. She just wanted to leave.

The crowd had boxed all three of them in. No one was getting out easily.

William wasn’t stepping in. Seeing that, someone in the crowd shoved Amelia hard.

Amelia stumbled, immediately clutching her stomach protectively.