Lily is puzzled, taking the file. But when she opens it and sees the large words, she freezes.
It says “Test Results”. Below the title are detailed values and indexes. She knows full well what this
means. Her face turns pale. Closing the file, she places it on the shoe cabinet beside her, forcing a
smile. “Didn’t you say you were going to find Orson? Why did you give me this? Do you think the
previous examination is not thorough? If you’re worried, we can go there another day....”
“Lily,” the man interrupts her and says the words she fears the most, “I’ve known.”
Know? Know what?
Suddenly, she feels a “blow” on the head. It hurts and she gets a little dizzy, but she tries her best to
continue, “What are you talking about? We’ve talked about your conditions. Don’t you trust Karl? Fanny
has made dinner. Adair says he’s hungry. Let’s eat....”
Rex looks at her big eyes that are filled with panic which shouldn’t be there.
The large living room is quiet. After a while, the man lifts her chin with his warm fingertips, his voice
soft, “Has anyone told you that you are a terrible liar?”
“…”
“Don’t lie to me, and don’t hide anything. I’ve known everything,” he repeats seriously, shattering her
last shimmer of hope, “This is the correct report, right? You and Karl have been trying to hide the fact
that my recovery won’t be easy, and that I’m addicted, with a 50% chance of failure of withdrawal.”
Every word he says sounds like torture to Lily.
As if choked, she fails to tell him that he is not right.
She is panicking, her heart pounding through her chest. She knew that this day would arrive, but didn’t
see it coming so soon.
“You know how serious this is, so you didn’t tell me, afraid that I will give up. However, I am the patient
and have the right to know. This is not a joke. When I reach the late stage of withdrawal, my mind will
be affected, and I might hurt you and Adair....”
“No, you won’t!” Lily shakes her head and grabs the man’s big palm. “Karl said that it was not that
scary. We just need to work as a team!”
“Addiction is not something that can be defeated by efforts. It is physical but it will make me lose
control.” The man’s eyes are scarlet. How can he not feel the pain? He tries his best to break free from
her hand, afraid that he will change his mind. “Lily, I want to be responsible for you and Adair.”
He will be the same as a drug addict, losing control, a slave of desire. He will cost them a normal life,
forcing them to live in his shadows.
“You are responsible for us if you fight this.” Lily smiled, not realizing that tears are hanging by her
eyes. “I don’t need you to do anything else. Just recover.”
“What if … I can’t?” He asks a cruel question, because he can’t ignore the 50% chance of failure.
For her, as long as he holds on, nothing can be a problem. Everything will be fine. She does not know
that he is not confident he can control himself from doing dreadful things under the influence of
addiction.
He can’t gamble with her and Adair with his faith. He doesn’t want to hurt them, not at all.
Lily is choked by his question. She has never thought about what to do if Rex can not defeat this thing.
She just believes in him.
Now she realizes that she can’t deny the 50% chance of failure, either.
However, no matter what, she will be there for him. Half a year, a year, or two years. No matter how
long it takes, she will not give up on him.
“You’ve got me,” Lily says firmly, “No matter what the result is, I won’t leave you.”
Her words smash onto Rex’s chest fiercely. After a burst of pain, he feels everything in him is shaking.
In front of her, he can’t say those cruel words that he has been preparing all afternoon.
Their eyes met, and sparks fill the air. One is a moth that throws itself into the flames, and the other is
the flames that can’t extinguish itself.
The conversation is stuck. They are both trying to do what is best for each other, but they are on two
separate boats.
After a while of silence, the man lowers his eyes and turns around, saying, “It’s not up to you. Don’t be
a child. I’ve made up my mind. Think it through and explain this to our son.”
“Rex.” Behind him, Lily smiles bitterly. “You keep saying that you are doing this for me and for our
family. But have you really considered my feelings?”
What she fears the most is him shunning her.
She does not want to leave him, nor does Rex intend to leave her. However, reality gives them no
choice. He has to consider her life and safety. Now he is not worthy of having her.
He clenches his fists until his fingers hurt. In the end, he walks forward without a word.
Lily looks at his tall and resolute back and shouts, “Rex!” Tears blurs her sight.
Rex does not turn around and walks with steady steps.
She grits her teeth, letting her tears run free. Then she rushes over and hugs the man’s strong waist,
choking, “Don’t leave!”
Rex lowers his head and his gaze lands on her fair arms. He takes a deep breath and frowns hard,
then ruthlessly twisting her arms outwards. “Let go,” he says.
“No!” Lily knows that if she does that, this man will disappear again. “We missed each other five years
ago. If you do that again, I won’t wait for you!”
The man’s body shakes, and he slightly loosens his grip. Lily holds her breath and waits for him to turn
around and hug her.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t....
In the next second, he pushes her away even harder. Without a word, he goes straight up to the
second floor with a freezing breeze.
Lily watches as he walks up the stairs and disappears at the corner of the stairs. She stands alone in
the middle of the living room, her head a mess. With no outlet for her mixed emotions, she covers her
chest, unable to breathe.
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