Sophia abandoned all her work to stay at the hospital, taking me up and down for examinations. Blood draws, medication, needle marks covered my arms until there was no unmarked skin left. Yet I didn't make a sound. My endless silence only terrified her more.
Passing by Ethan Rivers' hospital room, Gabriel's expression was complicated as he pressed me. "What are you trying to do? Does a cold really require this many tests? Are you deliberately putting on a show for us? Just trying to make us feel sorry for you?"
I didn't explain. These past days, my face had grown increasingly pale. My whole body had wasted away significantly. My eyes never looked toward him.
An inexplicable anger rose in Gabriel's chest. "Since childhood, you've been different from your brother. Scheming and jealous. Doing these things only makes us hate you more. If you know what's good for you, check out early. Disappear from our sight."
After speaking, Gabriel shoved me hard. My emaciated frame couldn't stay steady. I nearly fell. The test reports in my arms scattered everywhere, all over the floor.
Gabriel was startled. "What are you pretending now? I only pushed you lightly. Now you're even playing the victim with your own father."
I didn't explain. I bit down and endured the pain. Bent down to pick up the scattered papers. Inside were all kinds of my test results.
Gabriel glanced over, randomly picked one up. "Why do you need a new heart when you're healthy?"
Then he was about to look at the others.
Ethan Rivers' voice came from behind. "Dad."
He pushed his wheelchair forward, looking extremely weak, tugging on Gabriel's sleeve. "Dad, don't be angry with him. He just wants you to pay more attention to him. You've been with me for so long. It's normal for him to be unhappy. Go be with him. I'm fine."
Saying this, Ethan weakly clutched his chest and began gasping for breath.
Seeing this, Gabriel immediately dropped the test report. "You fool, you're in this condition. He's your brother and doesn't think of helping, but stays here pretending to be sick, competing for favor. Why even talk to him? If it weren't for him, would you have been born with this disease?"
Father and son, so devoted. What a beautiful picture. My heart had gone numb.
Behind me, Sophia emerged from the report room. Seeing this scene, her expression changed completely. She rushed forward in quick steps to gather the reports. Then, without a word, dragged me back to the hospital room.
The moment we entered, the report was thrown at me. Sophia's voice was heavy. "You did it on purpose, didn't you? You deliberately dropped the test report in front of Ethan, wanting him to see what's inside so he'd feel guilty and refuse the surgery. Jackson, your heart is truly vicious."
The cold words fell heavily on my heart. I lowered my head and smiled bitterly. "If you say so."
Nothing I said mattered anyway. Whenever it involved Ethan Rivers, Sophia lost all reason. My family around me, my lover, even my daughter — they all only believed Ethan. No amount of explanation was useful.
I returned to bed in silence. "Is there anything else?"
Sophia was silent for a moment. Then her eyes fell on the nightstand. The sketchbook Tyler had destroyed.
"Ethan has one wish before surgery. To appear at a fashion show as a designer. Aren't you preparing for next year's show? Give your spot to Ethan."
I looked up. "You know that's my dream, too. How long have I worked for this? And now you're telling me to give my spot to him. Why? I can't agree to that."
Sophia's brows furrowed again. "It's just one spot. What's the big deal? Ethan is different from you. He's afraid of the surgery. He just wants to fulfill a small wish before going under the knife. You're his brother. Can't you even do this for him?"
My fists clenched tight. How could she say it so lightly? As if everything I'd sacrificed didn't matter. As long as Ethan Rivers wanted something, I had to give it up.
"I've already agreed to give him my heart. Now he wants to take my life's work, too." My eyes reddened as I questioned Sophia, trembling inside.
Outside the door came Ethan's choked sobbing. "If everyone won't agree, then I won't have the surgery. Surgery is so dangerous. What if I go on the operating table and don't come back down? I just want to fulfill one small wish. If everyone can't do this for me, I'd rather die like this."
Hearing this, Gabriel quickly shook his head. "My dear boy, don't say that. Dad agrees. Dad agrees."
Then Gabriel strode before me, commanding, "This time, give your spot to your brother."
It wasn't a negotiation at all. I refused. "They invited me. This is my life's work."
Gabriel's face darkened immediately. He shouted, "Ethan is your biological brother. Can you not be so selfish? Are you deliberately trying to push him to death to be happy?"
My eyes reddened stubbornly, refusing to yield.
Gabriel repeatedly said the word, "Fine." Finally pulling out his phone, right in front of me, saying, "Won't listen? That little company of yours — forget about it. Believe it or not, I'll have someone acquire your company right now. Don't you treasure your life's work? Think carefully. What's more important? The company, or one spot?"
My whole body trembled. I couldn't believe it, staring at him. This was my father, using my weakness to hurt me again and again, forcing me to compromise. My fists clenched so tight they could have bled. I knew when Gabriel said this, he really would do it.
Sophia also urged me from the side. "There will be more opportunities for spots later. Just give it to Ethan this time. Don't be stubborn anymore."
Tears fell, but I suddenly laughed. I looked at the people before me. All of them my closest family. Wife, family, daughter, all of them sided with Ethan Rivers.
"I'll give it up," I said. Then looked at everyone. "Are you all satisfied now?"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, turning to look at Ethan Rivers. Only I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, letting tears fall uncontrolled. The light in my eyes dimmed bit by bit until it was completely extinguished.
When night fell, Sophia brought back a bowl of congee. Seafood congee that I loved. The aroma was rich, but I had no appetite at all. Just lay silently on the bed.
In the trash was the sketchbook I'd thrown away myself.
Sophia personally brought the bowl of congee to my lips. I still didn't react, just coldly turned my head away.
After a long silence, Sophia set the bowl down. "Then eat it yourself."
The hospital room returned to silence. I looked at the bowl of congee on the table, raised my hand, and threw it straight into the trash.