"So Jeffrey has such a pitiful friend. It's really... too tragic." Amelia set down her water cup and shook her head with regret. "Alex is right. Donating a kidney can save a life. But... compatibility is a huge barrier. It's very hard. And the voluntary principle before donation is ironclad. No one can force it."

She lifted her eyes to Jeffrey and brushed the issue back lightly. "I hope Emma finds a suitable, willing donor soon."

Alex's smile stiffened for a moment. He said awkwardly, "Yes, yes..."

Jeffrey's eyes darkened instantly, but his face stayed the same.

When they got into the car after leaving the hospital, Amelia suddenly spoke. "The girl Alex mentioned earlier, this Emma, is she your childhood friend who grew up with you? How come you've never mentioned her?"

Panic flashed in Jeffrey's eyes. He forced a strained smile. "Oh, her... just a neighbor from when I was little. We played for a few years. Haven't been in touch for ages. Not close at all..."

Not close? Amelia sneered inside but did not call him out. She continued. "Really? Alex seems to know her condition so well. Emma must be staying at this hospital, right? Since we're here, why don't we visit her?"

Right after Amelia finished, a faint tire screech sounded. Jeffrey hit the brake instinctively.

He turned his head to explain. "I'm not sure exactly where she is. And you're tired... let's not disturb her."

Amelia took in his discomfort completely.

She suddenly sighed. "Actually, what Alex said today really upset me. A young girl suffering like that is too cruel..."

Seeing Jeffrey's eyes light up instantly, she went on. "If... I mean if, I can help her, I'm willing to try."

The words hit Jeffrey hard. He blurted out almost immediately. "Amelia! You mean it? You... you're really willing?"

He grabbed her wrist. His eyes held an ecstasy she had never seen.

This emotion felt far more real than when she accepted his proposal.

"But I need to think about it. After all, it concerns my body and future..."

"Of course, of course you need time!" Jeffrey's low mood vanished. His tone carried excitement. "Come on, baby. I'll take you for sushi!"

At the sushi restaurant, after ordering, Jeffrey said warmly. "I remember you love the sea urchin here. I had them save some today. I'll check the kitchen to make sure everything's perfect."

Amelia nodded slightly and watched him stand to leave the private room.

The door closed. At the same time, his phone on the table lit up suddenly. One message after another popped up.

Amelia reached for the phone. The latest messages carried a coquettish tone that stabbed her eyes. "Jeffrey, Alex said you came to the hospital this morning! Why didn't you visit me?"

"I'm so bored alone in the hospital. I miss you."

"What about that super delicious caramel pudding you promised to buy? You said you'd bring it today!"

Below was a shared location. It pinpointed right near the sushi place.

Bringing her here for sushi was just convenient along the way.

After reading, Amelia put the phone back in place.

Jeffrey returned soon with an easy smile on his face. "I checked. The sea urchin quality is top-notch today. You'll love it."

The dishes arrived one by one. Jeffrey still carefully peeled the sea urchin for her and dipped it in soy sauce.

Halfway through the meal, Amelia suddenly looked troubled. "Jeffrey, I thought about it again. Kidney donation surgery isn't minor. Recovery takes a long time. I'm afraid of aftereffects. Aren't we... getting married soon?"

Jeffrey paused while picking up food. "Baby, don't overthink. The wedding is just a formality. Sooner or later doesn't matter. Once you're fully recovered, we'll have a grand one. I promise."

Amelia understood his implication.

For Emma, their wedding could delay indefinitely. Their future could step aside anytime.

At that moment, Jeffrey's phone lit up again.

He glanced at the screen. His face changed slightly. It was the hospital caregiver.

He picked up the phone right away and gestured an apology to Amelia. He said softly, "Office emergency. I'll take it outside."

A few minutes later, he came back. He spoke while grabbing his jacket nearby. "Sorry, Amelia. An urgent project issue at the office. I have to handle it. Take your time. Have the family driver pick you up after. Okay?"

Amelia nodded and watched him leave the private room.

Twenty minutes later, Amelia wiped her mouth slowly. She stood and went downstairs to hail a cab. "To Moss Private Hospital."

The cab stopped at the hospital entrance quickly.

Amelia did not get out. She just rolled down the window. Her gaze fell on the well-kept small garden below the inpatient building.

On a bench not far away sat a figure Amelia knew very well.

Jeffrey.

Beside him sat a young woman in a blue-and-white hospital gown. Long hair draped her shoulders. Her face looked pale.

This was Amelia's first time seeing Emma.

At that moment, Jeffrey leaned slightly. He held a book and seemed to read to her.

Emma rested on his shoulder. She occasionally lifted a finger to point at the page. Jeffrey bent his head to listen. Smiles touched his eyes and brows.

Anyone who saw them would think they were deeply in love.

Amelia sat in the cab and watched quietly for a long time.

Perhaps she had cried all her tears. Only numb dull pain came from her heart now.

His affection for her existed only because she qualified as an organ donor.

She watched Jeffrey carefully tuck the slipping blanket back over Emma's legs...

Enough.

Truly enough.

"Let's go." Amelia withdrew her gaze and rolled up the window.

In the hospital garden, Emma suddenly said, "Jeffrey, your wedding date... is it soon?"

Jeffrey stiffened for a moment. Then he hummed lightly.

"I, can I go? I want... to see the most important moment in your life."

Jeffrey's heart twisted instantly. "Silly, that's just a necessary formality. If you go, won't it hurt you more?"

How could he let her witness that fake wedding planned carefully to save her?

That would be too cruel for Emma.

Emma lowered her head. Her voice carried some choking. "I just... just want to see. And, Jeffrey... do you still blame me for insisting on breaking up to study abroad back then..."

"How could I blame you?" Jeffrey's voice stayed gentle. "Emma, I never blamed you. You had your dreams. All I could do was support you. I didn't want to tie you to me. That would be too selfish..."

Emma's tears fell instantly. She parted her lips slightly to say something.

In this tender moment, Alex hurried over.

He did not even notice Emma's presence. He leaned to Jeffrey's ear and said. "Mr. Moss, bad news! Miss Fuller came earlier. She was in a cab..."

Jeffrey's gentle expression froze on his face. His heart skipped a hard beat!

Amelia came?

She saw?

How much did she hear?

Huge panic enveloped Jeffrey instantly.

He stood up abruptly. He had no time to explain to the confused Emma. He just tossed Alex a quick "Take care of Emma" and ran fast toward the parking lot.

Jeffrey floored the gas pedal all the way back to the villa.

He parked and rushed inside. The living room lights blazed.

Jeffrey's rapid breathing choked when he saw the scene.

Amelia stood in the center of the living room. Two open suitcases sat at her feet. Inside were decorations they had picked together before.

Jeffrey suppressed the questions in his mind and spoke gently. "Amelia, what are you doing?"

Amelia looked up at the sound. Her face showed nothing unusual. She answered. "You're back? Nothing much. These things feel old. They look off. With the wedding coming soon, clear out the old stuff. Replace with new ones."

Jeffrey's heart, lodged in his throat, settled back.

He sighed in relief and walked over. He naturally wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "So that's it. You scared me. By the way, Alex called earlier. He thought he saw you at the hospital?"

Amelia gently pulled from his embrace. She looked at him and explained. "Yeah, I meant to find Alex to learn about surgery risks. But right after arriving, I felt we already bothered him today. Going again so soon for personal matters seemed rude. And honestly, I'm still a bit scared..."

This explanation made perfect sense. It fully erased Jeffrey's doubts.

He reached to pull Amelia close again. His voice filled with tenderness. "Baby, you're always so understanding. Don't worry. I'll find the best doctors in the world. The best meds. You won't have any issues. Once everything ends, we'll have the grandest wedding! Whatever you want, I'll give you!"

He whispered sweet words in her ear. But to Amelia, they were cream coated in crap.

A lick tasted sweet cream at first. But later came endless disgust.

She opened her phone and looked at a ticket to Arton seven days later.

Departure time counted down second by second.

The day after takeoff was the wedding date she had already canceled.