My Wife Said Only Death Could Set Me Free

Chapter 7

Luka still knows how to put on an act.

"Lyra, managing such a big company on your own isn't easy, and spending thirty million on a gift for me might be a burden."

Thirty million? That's insane!

When it came to life and death, I couldn't even get 800,000 from her. But for some pretty boy, that she squandered a few million was like throwing away a piece of tissue.

A surge of unfamiliar emotion shot through me, making my legs feel unsteady. I stumbled a bit, and Lyra instinctively tensed up, nearly dropping Luka to come support me.

But I was already so disappointed in her that I didn't want her touching me. I dodged to avoid her and steadied myself against the wall behind me. Her footsteps halted midway, and her face visibly turned cold. "Isaac, have you had enough of this?"

Enough? Again, I'm the one causing trouble?

A bitter smile crept onto my lips, as if, in her eyes, I was always the one being unreasonable.

My headache was making me feel nauseous. Even though the nightclub was filled with colorful, dim lights, it couldn't make my dying appearance look a bit better.

I didn't know where this anger came from, but it made me completely lose my rationality as I reached for that brooch.

I pulled too hard and too roughly, accidentally pricking Luka's skin with the pin, causing a small red bloom to appear on his white shirt.

Feeling hurt, he stopped pretending and instinctively tightened his face. "Isaac!"

See? This is his true self, looking at me with a glare full of malice.

I simply ignored him and sneered. "You know, acting like this will ruin your image in Lyra's eyes. Why not keep pretending?"

Luka realized something was off and immediately began to gauge Lyra's feelings. But Lyra wasn't even looking at him; her gaze was fixed on me.

I met her gaze head-on and said firmly, "Lyra, remember this: the buyer of this brooch can be anyone, but it absolutely can't be you!"

"Favorite" belonged to the former Lyra. The current her didn't deserve it anymore.

Suddenly, she was enraged by what I said, pushing me hard, making my back hit the wall painfully. Her deep-set eyes were filled with fury. "Isaac, are you out of your mind?"

"Ha! I've been crazy for a while now," I scoffed. "Not just crazy, but I won't be living much longer."

I had no complaints about how things were developing; it was all our own doing. But we used to have so many wonderful moments. Our past was as wonderful as this brooch, which shouldn't be trampled like this.

In a fit of anger and embarrassment, Lyra tried to take the brooch back from me, but I wouldn't let her do it.

Finally, a cold smile crept onto her lips as she leaned closer to me and said, "Isaac, you have to choose: the brooch or Mia's life?"

I felt a wave of panic wash over me. I never expected her to say something like that. I knew that if she acted on it, no hospital would be able to save Mia.

I was already sentenced to death by fate, so it didn't matter to me. But Mia, she could live.

Lyra snorted and tried to turn away, but I quickly grabbed her arm and said, my voice trembling, "I'll give you the brooch back. Just don't harm Mia."

"Isaac, it's too late for that."

Suddenly, Luka stepped in from behind, holding a bottle of strong liquor, pretending to be a mediator, and positioned himself in front of Lyra. "Mr. Smith, since you're Lyra's legal husband, if you drink this bottle of alcohol, I'll let this matter slide. Okay?"

The light shining through the bottle was blinding. A whole bottle of high-proof liquor would take half a life to drink down, let alone for someone like me.

I glanced at Lyra; she did take a couple of steps back, seemingly in favor of this solution.

Yeah, I had no choice in this.

I took the bottle and, mixing all my complicated emotions, poured it down my throat.

It burned, not just in my stomach but in my entire head.

My body broke out in a cold sweat, and in less than half a minute, my shirt was soaked.

As I was finishing the drink, I felt I couldn't hold it down any longer and started to vomit. But as I did, the liquid changed from the original golden color of the liquor to a shocking red.

It soaked my pure white T-shirt like blood.

No one knew I was really on the brink of death.

Thud—

My body couldn't support itself any longer, and I collapsed onto the floor.

Just as I lost consciousness, I thought I heard Lyra's anxious shout, "Isaac!"

It felt like I slept for a long time, and when I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by the stark white of a hospital room. It was that kind of white that felt closest to death.

Only Roman was by my bedside. He had his head bowed, and when he saw I was awake, he looked happy, but just as he was about to show it, it seemed to hurt the injury on his face.

It should have been from a fight.

Noticing my gaze, he covered his mouth and said, "Damn it, I really shouldn't have fought. I didn't perform well and took a couple of hits."

"Who did you fight?" I asked.

"Just to be clear, it's got nothing to do with you," he explained. "I just couldn't stand Luka."

Luka is Lyra's favorite, and as his subordinate, Roman hitting him would lead to serious consequences.

Seeing that I looked uncomfortable, Roman casually said, "It's fine; even if they fire me, I can find another job."

"What about you? Aren't you going to explain anything?"

I noticed his red-rimmed eyes and knew what he was referring to. I was lying in the hospital, so everything that needed checking had been checked.

"Did the doctor tell you?" I asked.

Roman's eyes were a bit misty. "With something this serious, how could you not tell me? Do you know that the alcohol aggravates your condition? Do you really not want to live?"

"Honestly, I don't." But I still had tasks left unfinished.

I had to save Mia. I needed to participate in school activities. I wanted to see the sights I missed and relive the past I lost… If I didn't have so many wishes, I might not have made it this far.

My father passed away early, so I've always lacked love.

After being with Lyra, I felt I had the best love in the world.

But I never expected it all to be an illusion. Today, those past moments only prove we loved each other.

That's nothing.

It was only when I saw Luka wearing that brooch that I finally realized—the real fool was me.

We had gone through four years of dating, three years of marriage. Even during our most passionate times, Lyra never cared for me like this.

She willingly handed to Luka what she couldn't give me. If there's one thing I regret in this life, it's choosing to help her by abandoning her.

I often wonder, if I hadn't been in such a difficult position back then, would the ending have changed?

Roman seemed surprised by my gloom. His expression was complicated as he opened his mouth but only repeated the doctor's advice. "Don't lose heart. If you cooperate with the treatment, you might still have a few more years. I'll talk to Lyra."

"Don't," I stopped him.

Even if I cooperated with the treatment, it would only buy me two or three more years. Giving my last days to medicine makes no difference between living one more day or one less. While I still had breath, I wanted to see Mia again.

I had promised Mia I would visit her every day during visiting hours. I didn't expect it to be delayed until now. I could already imagine Mia's old childlike tantrum when she saw me. Even now, before reaching the ICU, I could picture her frowning at me.

This thought brightened my mood a little.

But Roman suddenly pushed me back down onto the bed, preventing me from moving.

"Where are you going?"

"To see Mia!"

"Don't… don't go." His voice suddenly became choked, and he avoided my gaze for no apparent reason. Seeing his reaction, my expression hardened. I didn't dare to speculate; I was even scared, so scared that my whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Without thinking, I immediately broke free from Roman's grasp and desperately tried to run toward the door.