Felix truly hadn't expected Carol to show up at the hospital, and his expression turned chilly as he approached the bedside, pulling

the weeping Listina into an embrace.

"Stop crying, okay?"

Listina's eyes simmered with resentment, especially since she was the one confined to the hospital bed, while that woman got to

see Felix every day.

"Felix, why don't you quit that job you have with her? I can't stand it if she comes here again. I'm feeling so messed up inside, filled

with doubts I can't shake off."

"Okay, don't overthink it."

Listina's lips curved, and her tears stopped just as quickly as they had come.

"Listina, the doctor's coming tomorrow. You'll need to cooperate with the check-up and get your strength back. Otherwise, the

chances of a successful surgery might drop."

"What are the odds?"

"About 70 percent, they said."

Panic flashed across Listina's face. Those were not the high odds she had hoped for; she couldn't bear the thought of leaving Felix

behind.

Sensing her fear, Felix lowered his gaze, holding her hand firmly, "It'll be okay."

After leaving the hospital, he called Carol, "Where are you?"

Carol had just returned to her apartment, her forehead throbbing painfully. Glancing in the mirror, she noticed a swollen bump had

formed.

If this woman wasn't Felix's cousin, Carol would have really lost her temper. Hearing Felix's voice on the phone, she was about to

complain about Listina throwing an apple at her, but he spoke first.

"Don't cto see Listina again, Carol. I've told you, her emotions are unstable, and your presence is a trigger for her."

Carol felt a twinge of hurt, her lips pressing as she massaged her bruised forehead.

Felix's tone softened, "Did you tell her about us?"

"No."

"That's good."

In that moment, Carol felt like she was being treated as a dirty secret. Angrily, she hung up the phone.

Aside from a baffling cold war stago, she and Felix rarely argued. He was always so patient with her, yet now, because of

Listina, Carol felt like a bomb was ticking in her chest.

But then Felix sent a text explaining that Listina's parents had died because of his own father, and immediately, her anger

dissipated. No wonder Felix was so accommodating with Listina; there was this history between them.

[If she did something that upset you, don’t be angry, Carol. The doctor just told me, she may have depressive disorder. She's been

in the hospital for years.]

Carol couldn't bring herself to argue after reading his message; she had no choice but clam up. That evening, Felix cover to

cook dinner.

When he asked about the bump on her forehead, she had to lie, saying she had bumped into something at the diner.

He gently massaged the sore spot, his voice filled with suspicion.

"You got this at the diner?"

"Yeah."

Her pain seemed to lessen under his touch, but her heart ached for him, bearing the weight of past generations.

With the double loss of Listina's parents, it was clear that other relatives were unwilling to step in. Felix had been supporting her all

these years; it must have been really hard for him.

Carol couldn't bear to imagine the details. Now she finally understood why he had to juggle jobs and be strict with himself; he

probably left all his earnings to Listina.

She took a deep breath and called the hospital to prepay for all the surgery expenses, hoping to ease Felix's burden somewhat.

Watching him bustling in the kitchen, she couldn't bring herself to be angry at Listina any longer. Realizing that Listina had been in

the hospital for so long explained her behavior. She decided to pay her a visit sother day. Maybe with more contact, Listina

would let her guard down.

Carol's intentions were simple; she believed that Listina's defensiveness stemmed from a lack of friends her own age, not to

mention her depression.

A few days later, Carol visited the hospital again, this twith an expensive fruit basket in hand. Listina had been laughing with a

nurse, but her expression turned monstrous at the sight of Carol.

Carol hesitated to speak, only to hear Listina's sarcastic voice.

"Didn't finish you off last time, huh? Cback for another round? Didn't I tell you to get lost? Stay away from me."

"Ms. Geo, I mean you no harm."

"Ha! As if! Having this bitch face, you're after Felix, aren't you? Just so you know, fawning overwon't help. Felix only has eyes

for me. You're nothing!"

Carol tried to ignore the insults, but Listina's words grew more vicious until she hurled a fruit knife at her. The blade sliced a wound

across Carol's palm, and blood spilled onto the floor.

"Serves you right! Women like you deserve to be scarred!"

Listina's malice was overwhelming, her eyes bloodshot as if she wanted to pounce on her and chew her alive.

Carol couldn't understand why Listina's animosity was so palpable. Fed up, Carol, who had always been pampered, was

unaccustomed to such humiliation. She grabbed the fruit basket and walked out, Listina's voice trailing after her.

"Not even naked would Felix give you a second glance."

With the door shut behind her, Carol held the fruit basket, suddenly feeling ridiculous for her misplaced kindness.

As she approached the elevator, she encountered Felix. His face darkened at the sight of her, "Why are you here again?"

Unnoticed by him, blood from Carol's palm dripped down the basket's handle.

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