Rachel's face turned pale. She gripped her phone for a moment before accepting the call eventually. "What's wrong, Chris?"

Joel momentarily stopped biting on his bagel when he heard the nickname "Chris".

He couldn't hear what was spoken on the other end of the call, but Rachel sounded extremely gentle when she replied.

"Don't worry. Even though I got caught in the rain, I'm not sick."

"Alright, alright. I'll go get changed now."

"You don't have to worry about me. Just take care of yourself when I'm not around, okay?"

"I'll buy them for you every day if you like the bagels there."

Looking at the bagel in his hand, Joel suddenly lost his appetite.

Rachel's bright expression turned gloomy once again after she ended the call.

She said in a low voice, "Christopher had another episode last night. You know how he gets whenever it rains."

Joel asked, "Did you buy two portions of this bagel?"

No wonder it was already stale. Rachel must have brought it to Christopher first before bringing it home.

Rachel did not deny it.

Joel asked calmly, "Is Christopher alright?"

This time, Rachel replied, "I got there in time, so nothing serious happened. But his mental state is really unstable. He could snap at any given time."

"So you'll have to constantly stay by his side, am I right?" he asked.

She replied, "Yes."

Joel asked, "Are you a doctor, Rachel? Can you cure his depression?"

Rachel's temper flared. "I've told you countless times. He got depressed because I was already married to you! I have to take up this responsibility!"

"What about me? I'm your husband. What about your responsibility toward me?" Joel asked.

Rachel looked incredulously at him. "You're healthy, and he's sick. How could you even compare the two?"

Joel retorted, "So, is being healthy my fault now?"

"Why have you become like this, Joel?" she asked.

He said, "How have I become now?"

Rachel replied, "You're cold, selfish, and even turning a blind eye to those in need!"

Joel looked at her coldly. He took a deep breath and asked, "What if I told you I'm also sick now?"

Rachel frowned. "How are you sick now? Aren't you healthy enough to fight with me now?"

Joel chuckled, lowered his head, and closed his eyes. He slowly let out a deep breath.

Rachel continued, "Can you stop making a fuss, Joel? I only went to save his life last night. That's all."

Joel smiled slightly. He then looked up at her and asked, "Do you need to kiss him to save his life?"

He must have touched a nerve, as she suddenly lost it. "He was having an episode then, and he's standing right at the edge of the rooftop! What if he had a meltdown and jumped down if I refused him?"

Joel stood up as well. "But you already had him in your arms, didn't you? You could've pulled him away from the edge, so why did you still have to kiss him?"

Rachel said coldly, "You're truly impossible, Joel!"

She left, slamming the door behind her. The loud bang echoed through the house.

However, all Joel could feel at that moment was a sharp pain coming from his stomach. He rushed to the washroom and vomited violently.

He let out a bitter laugh when he saw the bright red blood in the toilet.

Joel had advanced-stage cancer. He had less than a month left to live.

All this while, he had been going to the hospital for check-ups and chemotherapy. His hair fell out in clumps, noticeably thinning—yet his wife had never noticed.

Joel found himself waking up in the toilet the next day.

His mental state was affected as his condition worsened for the past few days. Sometimes, he would faint from the pain.

All he remembered was vomiting a lot of blood yesterday, staining the toilet bowl red.

Joel flushed the toilet, watching the thick, red liquid swirl away.

The doorbell rang suddenly. He wondered if Rachel had come back.

Joel hurriedly cleaned up the mess and rinsed his mouth. He then wiped the bloodstain off the washroom floor before heading to the door.

"Rach—" he started.

However, Rachel wasn't the one standing outside—it was Christopher.

Christopher had already changed into a set of designer clothes. His hair was perfectly styled, and his complexion looked healthy.

He looked nothing like someone who had just gone through a suicide attempt due to depression.

Christopher smiled and greeted, "Hello, Mr. Lewis, I'm Christopher Scott."

Joel wasn't sure what made him come unannounced. "Why are you here? You're not welcome at Rachel's and my house."

Christopher sneered. "Perhaps you should start being nicer to me now, Mr. Lewis. After all, I'll be the man of this house from now on.

"I might even show some mercy and put up a shabby grave for you somewhere. I'll even drop by and place some wilted flowers on your grave once in a while."

Joel's gaze landed on Christopher's exposed wrist. All he saw was a men's sports watch and a leather bracelet. There were no signs of injury at all.

He recalled Christopher having yet another suicide episode last week. He wasn't threatening to jump off, but he had wanted to self-harm.

Joel still remembered the bloodied photo he had seen. How was it possible for Christopher's wrist to be free of blemishes in just a few days' time?

He asked, "Where are the cuts on your wrist?"

Christopher laughed and replied, "Cuts on my wrist? I'd never cut my wrist when it's so painful and would even leave a scar!"

Realization dawned on Joel suddenly. "Is your depression just a lie? Have you been deceiving Rachel?"

Christopher's smile grew wider. "It doesn't matter as long as she believes it. Women are vain creatures. It'll feed her ego knowing that a man suffered from depression because of her.

"She'd also feel even more guilty toward me. Whenever I faked an episode, she'd worry and think about me. She'd even drop everything to be by my side."

"Christopher!" Joel was beyond enraged. "You're using depression to deceive her and tear her family apart. Do you have no shame?"

Christopher looked at him gloatingly. "Don't you think you're ridiculous, Joel?"

He loosened his collar slightly, showing Joel the love bites on his neck. "I have these marks all over my body."

Christopher then stepped forward and grabbed Joel's hand. He placed it on the love bites on his neck. "Do you want to see them? She has kissed every inch of me, even my—"

He deliberately leaned close to Joel's ear and whispered the intimate parts that were hard to say aloud.

Christopher asked, "Where else do you want to see? Tell me, Mr. Lewis. I can show them all to you. I'll show you just how much Rach loves me, and how wild she gets when she's with me."

Joel struggled to retrieve his hand, yet Christopher refused to let him go.

Suddenly, Christopher's expression shifted from smug amusement to one of fear. Joel's hand was also pressed against his neck.

Christopher cried out loud, "Please let me go, Mr. Lewis. I'll truly die like this!"

"Chris!"

A cold wind swept through, and Joel felt himself being shoved back. He fell onto the ground. The sharp pain made him turn away, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

When he looked up, he could only see Rachel cradling Christopher preciously in her arms.

Her voice was filled with concern when she asked, "Did he hurt you?"

Christopher hugged her tightly and cried out, "I'm so scared, Rach—"

"Don't be, I'm here now," Rachel replied.

Christopher said, "I'm no longer afraid of anything with you by my side."

Rachel helped him up and walked right past Joel, who was lying motionless on the ground.

She brought him straight to the bedroom—her and Joel's master bedroom—and slammed the door shut.

Through the wall, Joel could still hear Rachel's voice. It was filled with guilt and concern. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you at home resting?

"I've told you, he has been moody recently. He's irritable and quick to anger. And your mental health isn't doing good either. What should I do if something happens to you?"

"But I don't know where else I could go other than to come and find you," Christopher replied.

Joel chuckled bitterly and wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. He then slowly got up and leaned against the couch to rest.

He was growing weaker each day due to his chemotherapy. It was hard for him to even get onto the couch now.

Rachel was met with the scene of Joel struggling to get onto the couch when she walked out.

She looked at him condescendingly and coldly asked, "Are you done pretending?"

Joel looked up slightly. "What are you talking about?"

Rachel replied, "You were so aggressive trying to strangle Chris earlier, yet you're pretending to be weak now?"

Joel argued back, "I did not strangle him!"

"How did your hand end up on his neck then? Are you saying that he somehow took your hand and placed it there?" Rachel asked furiously. Her gaze was nearly murderous as she accused him.

Joel looked at her in disbelief. "That's right. He grabbed my hand and placed it on his neck."

Shock and disappointment flashed past Rachel's eyes. "I barely recognize you anymore, Joel."

Joel chuckled bitterly and replied, "I could say the same of you."

He finally made his way onto the couch and momentarily caught his breath. "Believe it or not, Rachel, Christopher just admitted to me that he doesn't have depression. There were no cuts on his wrist either. You can check for yourself if you don't believe me."

Rachel frowned. "I was there when he cut his wrist. I saw it for myself when his blood pooled on the floor."

Joel said, "Then go take another look at his wrist now, and you'll find out whether I'm telling the truth or not."

Rachel gritted her teeth as if weighing the truth of his words.

Joel snorted. "Go on then. What's wrong? Are you scared of finding out that I'm telling the truth—that Christopher has been lying to you from the start?"

"I believe in Chris." Rachel turned and walked to the bedroom. "I'll go now."

A startled scream came from the bedroom.

Rachel rushed over in an instant. "Chris!"

"Rach—"

Joel forced himself to stay conscious. He leaned against the wall as he stumbled to the bedroom door. He finally saw what was happening inside.

Christopher's wrist and arm were covered in blood. His previously smooth skin was currently cut open, with blood dripping down from the wound.

Rachel anxiously said, "Why did you hurt yourself again?"

Christopher was bawling his eyes out. "It's all my fault! You wouldn't have fought with Joel if it wasn't for me. Just let me be, Rach. Just let me die! Joel would feel at ease if I died!"

"What nonsense are you sprouting? I won't let you kill yourself!" Rachel yelled.

Christopher cried harder. "I've been wanting to end it all for countless times, Rach. But I couldn't bear to do it whenever I thought of you—"

"I won't leave you, Chris. I'll always stay within your sights from now on. I'll stay by your side and protect you." Rachel suddenly turned around and glared viciously at Joel. While gritting her teeth, she said, "I'll never let anyone hurt you again!"

Joel felt his strength left him. He used the wall to support himself as he stared coldly at the two.

Christopher only had a small wound on his wrist, but the floor was full of blood. The blood was likely from a blood pack he'd prepared earlier and not from his body.

But he was right about one thing. Regardless of whether it was the truth or otherwise, as long as Rachel believed it, it would be the truth.

Christopher hiccupped. "Don't be angry, Joel. I'll clean up the blood stains on the floor."

Rachel carried him and placed him down on the bed. "Just stay here and get some rest."

She then turned around and ordered Joel, "Go wipe the floor."

Joel thought he was hearing things. "What?"

"You almost strangled Chris to death, and even caused him to relapse and attempted suicide. Shouldn't you be doing something to make up for your actions?" Rachel asked.

Joel laughed bitterly. "I'm not your household staff, Rachel. If you want the floor cleaned, do it yourself."

Rachel erupted in anger and said, "Take it outside if you want to argue! Don't disturb Chris' rest!"

"Rachel, you—"

Christopher cried and pleaded, "Please don't fight with Joel anymore, Rach. I'll just leave now—"

He then tried to roll out of the bed. He fell down and landed right in Rachel's arms.

She helped Christopher back into the bed and even thoughtfully tucked him in. She then said, "This is my house. You're not the one who should be leaving."

Joel chuckled. "Are you trying to kick me out, Rachel?"

Rachel replied, "Go out and reflect on yourself. You can come back when you've figured out what you've done wrong."

Christopher continued to pretend. "No! Don't kick Joel out, Rach! I'm not worth it—"

Meanwhile, Rachel remained cold toward Joel. "What now? Do you need me to get the security guard to escort you out?"

"No need." Joel coldly spat, "This is no longer my house now."

His phone suddenly rang, and he accepted the call.

"Hello, Mr. Lewis. I'm calling from the body donation department of the Metropolitan General Hospital. Do you still remember that you signed a body donation agreement recently?" Amy asked.

Joel replied, "I remember."

Amy continued, "Thank you for your selfless contribution. We understand that you're in the advanced stage of stomach cancer, and you may not have much time left.

"Could you provide us with the number of any of your family members? We'll reach out to them to arrange for the body donation after your passing."

Joel choked out a sob and replied, "I have no family."

Amy replied, "How could you not have any family? If that's the case, we won't be able to collect your body right away. If your body starts to deteriorate, it wouldn't be suitable for organ donation or medical research anymore."

Joel gave it some thought before replying, "Just give me three more days. I'll personally go to the body donation department after three days."

Amy said, "That's fine with us. We also offer hospice care, which can help make your final days as comfortable as possible."

"Alright."

After ending the call, Joel suddenly heard Rachel's confused voice. "Body donation? What exactly is going on, Joel?"