Startled by Alla's continuous cries, Maggie quickly nudged her. "Alla, what's wrong?" As Alla's consciousness slowly returned, she opened her eyes to find only a worried Maggie before her, the visions of Casiano and Ricky having vanished. She realized she'd just had a nightmare, recalling past events and people she didn't want to see. Shaking off the lingering images in her mind, she swallowed against her dry throat. She tried to reach for a glass of water, only to find an IV drip in her arm.
"You had a high fever, so I brought you to the hospital," Maggie gently explained, helping Alla drink some water. The sweet water rolled down her throat, gradually reviving Alla...
"Maggie.."
"Hmm?" Maggie gently brushed away the damp hair from Alla's forehead, tucking it behind her ear, and softly asked, "Are you hungry?"
Alla shook her head with some difficulty, "Did the doctor say anything?" Her heart failure, she hadn't figured out how to tell Maggie yet. Suddenly falling ill and being rushed to the hospital, Maggie probably knew everything by now.
"The doctor didn't say much. Seeing you unconscious with a high fever, they immediately put you on an IV drip. They also drew some blood, the report should be out by now." Maggie finished speaking and stood up intending to fetch the report, "I'll go get it now."
Alla quickly stopped her, "Maggie, I'm a bit hungry, could you get me something to eat first..."
Maggie nodded, "Wait here, I'll get you some porridge." Watching Maggie leave with her bag, Alla mustered her strength to stand up. She pushed the IV stand towards the report machine and took out her report. Her heart failure could be diagnosed through a blood test. She didn't want Maggie to see it, afraid that she would be upset and unable to face Alla's impending death.
They had relied on each other since childhood. The news of her imminent death would undoubtedly deal a major blow to Maggie. Alla tore up the report and threw it into the trash bin, ensuring Maggie wouldn't see it. She turned around intending to push her IV stand back to her room when she saw several luxury cars drive into the emergency entrance. A group of bodyguards in black suits alighted, protecting Casiano as he got off.
He was holding Ella, rushing towards the hospital. Seeing his anxious appearance, Alla's heart sank. She remembered when she had been rushed to the hospital due to a heart attack while they were together. What was his reaction then?
Alla remembered him standing by her bed, looking down at her curled up in pain. Like a man bestowing alms to a beggar, he disdainfully tossed a bank card at her. He thought she was pretending to be ill to win his sympathy and ask for money.
Thinking of this, Alla smiled bitterly, her laugh causing tears to well up in her eyes. No matter how resentful or unwilling she was, she still moved her stiff legs and turned around. He had said he never wanted to see her again, and she would make sure of that! In the remaining time, even if she and Casiano crossed paths, they would never meet.
The footsteps behind her were getting closer, each step landing on her heart, causing pain throughout her body. Casiano passed by her without looking at her, just as she had expected. A man's heartlessness wouldn't consider past emotions, especially when there were no emotions between them to begin with.
Alla held her chin high, stubbornly refusing to let her tears fall. It was just a man who had discarded her. It was nothing she couldn't handle.