Chapter 4

The heart was fully extracted and placed into a hypothermic transport system.

Hours later, it began to beat again inside Liam's chest.

The surgery was a success.

Evelyn left the operating room, waiting outside Liam's room until his vitals stabilized before returning to her office.

She leaned back in her chair, rubbed her temples, then pulled out her phone.

The screen was blank, no new messages or missed calls.

For the past five years, I'd messaged her daily – trivial updates, interesting tidbits, weather forecasts, even just a simple "Goodnight."

She rarely replied.

Now, she stared at "Daniel Stone" in her contacts, a slight frown on her face, and pressed dial.

Busy signal.

Once, twice, until it automatically disconnected.

Her patience finally seemed to run out. She opened SnapChat, sent a voice message, her voice edged with suppressed irritation:

"Daniel, there's no point in delaying. I'm already at the courthouse waiting for you. I expect you to keep your word and show up."

I looked at her sharp, cold profile, feeling only a sense of absurdity.

Well, good. From now on, she would never be bothered by the name "Daniel Stone" again.

My body remained unclaimed in the St. Mary Ann Medical Center morgue.

Because I was an orphan.

Raised in a church orphanage, getting into art school was one of the few bright spots in my otherwise bleak life.

The other bright spot? Meeting Evelyn.

In college, she was the undisputed genius of the medical school, the center of every social circle, an unreachable moon.

Back then, by her side stood the equally brilliant Liam.

I first saw her at an inter-collegiate charity event.

She stood at the podium, calmly and clearly articulating the vision of Doctors Without Borders, radiating brilliance.

Later, when someone maliciously targeted me, she calmly diffused the situation.

That dormant heart, for the first time, began to beat fiercely, uncontrollably.

But I knew the vast chasm between us. And besides, she already had a worthy companion.

It wasn't until later that news of her breakup with Liam circulated.

Then, one dreary afternoon, I delivered custom-made cufflinks to her friend.

She walked me to the door, then suddenly looked up, her gaze emotionless:

"Daniel, do you need a marriage? Or rather, would you be willing to marry me?"