"I'll just take a look outside and not go in," Georgia firmly asserted, her voice carrying an undertone of determination.
Du Yue, his eyes filled with uncertainty, hesitated for a moment, as if torn between conflicting loyalties. Gazing at her scarred body, Georgia comprehended his unspoken concern and softly asked, "Do you think I look like this now? What are the odds for them?"
Du Yue had no immediate response, his silence indicating the gravity of the situation. After a contemplative pause, he finally moved aside, allowing Georgia to pass.
She approached the door cautiously, her footsteps heavy with uncertainty. Peering through the small square window, she observed the scene within.
On a sofa beside a large window, Jack sat with his head slightly bowed, engrossed in a book. Nestled against him was a frail, pale woman, and together, they perused its pages. Sunlight streamed in, casting a soft, ethereal glow around them, akin to a fairy-tale couple, their harmony evident.
Suddenly, the woman raised her head and whispered something to Jack. His lips curved upwards, and a gentle smile graced his eyes.
The sight of Jack's smile sent a sharp pang through Georgia's heart. In her recollection, he had never been so gentle with her.
Indeed, love—or its absence—could be discerned in a person's eyes. But why had he married her? Merely to secure her kidney as a match for Ye Wan'er?
A wave of suffocation washed over Georgia, her teeth clenching. She bade farewell to the scene and turned away.
After a few steps, a sudden realization struck her, causing her to pivot back toward Du Yue. In a soft voice, she inquired, "They loved each other before they knew me, didn't they?"
Du Yue hesitated for a moment, his eyes betraying uncertainty. He paused and whispered, "I'm sorry, Madam, I can't answer that."
Observing his subtle reaction, Georgia let out a wry chuckle. She had gleaned the answer she sought from his hesitation.
It appeared her marriage with Jack hadn't involved a third party, as she had once suspected. She was the one who had disrupted someone else's relationship.
Ironically, she had clung to her principles and boundaries all along, only to realize the absurdity of her beliefs now.
In the VIP ward:
After gently coaxing Ye Wan'er into sleep, Jack closed the book and stepped out of the ward.
Du Yue approached him, his face showing signs of uncertainty. "Yu Zong..."
Jack's expression was weary as he inquired, "What is it?"
"My wife was here just now..."
Du Yue relayed the encounter that had occurred half an hour earlier.
Jack frowned, a complex expression flitting across his deep eyes. He responded in a subdued tone, "I'll go see her."
He then walked away.
Standing at the door of Georgia's ward, Jack paused and observed the still figure on the bed. His emotions were tangled and intricate.
"Master, are you going in this time?" Aunt Rong approached him.
Jack nodded.
Aunt Rong, about to say something and then stopping herself, asked, "Aren't you going to see her this time?"
In the past few days, Jack had visited several times but had never entered the room. He had simply glanced at the door before departing.
Jack hesitated momentarily, extended his hand, and gently pushed the door open, entering the room with measured steps.
Hearing the door, Georgia instinctively turned her head to see him. Her gaze was filled with a hint of annoyance.
At this point, she had no desire to see him whatsoever.
Jack pursed his lips, his voice soft as he inquired, "How have you been recovering these days?"
Georgia responded tersely, "Very well."