Chapter 3

That night, Julian knocked on my bedroom door.

"Celeste wants chicken soup. Go make it."

I lowered my gaze, silently walking towards the kitchen.

Resistance was pointless; I had long since learned to obey.

In the kitchen, I mechanically processed the ingredients. The cold water on my hands numbed my fingertips.

I suddenly remembered how Julian used to love my soup. Back then, he always liked to wrap his arms around my waist from behind, saying, "My fiancée is such an amazing cook."

The water in the pot bubbled and gurgled, the steam blurring my vision.

I raised a hand to wipe my eyes, unsure if it was steam or tears.

Three hours later, I stood before the master bedroom door with the simmering chicken soup, knocking softly.

"Come in," Julian's voice came from inside.

Pushing open the door, I saw Celeste propped against the headboard. Julian sat on the bed beside her, peeling an apple.

His method of peeling was unique; the peel would form one continuous strip. He had learned it specifically for me, once.

"The chicken soup is ready," I placed the bowl on the bedside table.

Celeste lazily picked up the spoon, took a sip, and immediately scrunched up her nose. "It's too salty! Do you want to choke me to death?"

I pressed my lips together. "I'll make another one."

When I brought up the second bowl, Celeste only tasted a bit before pushing it away. "Bland as water. Make it again!"

By the time the third bowl arrived, Celeste shrieked the moment she touched the rim. "It's so hot, how am I supposed to drink this!"

She abruptly flung her hand up, sending the entire bowl of scalding hot chicken soup splashing all over me.

"Ah!" I cried out in pain, my chest instantly red and blistering.

"Julian!" Celeste clutched her slightly reddened fingers, her eyes welling up with tears. "It hurts so much…"

Julian's face darkened. He shoved me away. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

I stumbled back a few steps, my back hitting the wall. The pain made my vision swim. "It wasn't me, she knocked it over herself…"

"Shut up!" Julian interrupted sharply, his eyes ominous. "Still trying to make excuses?"

He pressed the call button, and two bodyguards instantly appeared at the door.

"Lock her in the wine cellar, for a day and a night," Julian said coldly. "Watch her carefully. Don't let her try to kill herself."

As I was dragged away, the last thing I saw was Julian carefully holding Celeste's hand, gently blowing on it.

The moment the wine cellar door closed, an icy chill immediately permeated my limbs.

I huddled in the corner, my teeth chattering uncontrollably.

The cold gradually seeped into my body, and my consciousness began to blur.

In a daze, I seemed to be transported back three years ago—

Back then, I was hospitalized for acute appendicitis. Julian dropped an international conference and flew back overnight.

The doctor said I needed rest, and he truly stayed by my hospital room for three days and three nights. Even the nurses said they'd never seen anyone so worried about his fiancée.

"Evie… Evelyn!"

Through the haze, I seemed to hear Julian's voice, tinged with an unprecedented panic.

A hallucination. It must be a hallucination.

The Julian of today, how could he possibly be so anxious for me?

When I woke again, the pungent smell of disinfectant told me I was in a hospital.

I heard the doctor's stern voice beside me:

"Mr. Julian, Ms. Evelyn's physical condition is very poor, especially after her previous…"

"Doctor," I suddenly interjected, my voice hoarse. "I know my own body well."

The hospital room fell silent. Julian stood by the window, his expression unreadable against the backlight.

"Just make sure she doesn't die," he said indifferently. "You don't need to tell me anything else. I don't care."

The moment he finished speaking, his phone rang.

I saw his expression soften instantly. "Celeste… good girl. I'm paying the bills. I'll be right there with you."

After hanging up, Julian left the room without looking back.

I struggled to pick up my phone and opened my social media.

Celeste had just updated her Ins status, with a photo of Julian guarding her bedside.

"Just a tiny burn, and someone was so worried, staying up all night by my side~ If it weren't for paying the bills, he wouldn't even leave~"

Looking at Julian's tender gaze in the photo, I understood everything instantly.

My being brought to the hospital was merely an afterthought.

I touched my chest, where the artificial heart emitted a faint tremor.

Six days. My life's countdown, only six days left.