He smiled as he helped Olivia put on a life jacket.
Seeing him busily preparing, Olivia couldn’t help but ask.
“Jason, where did you get the money to rent a speedboat?”
Jason waved his hand.
“It’s not expensive! Don’t worry about it, didn’t you say you wanted to experience the thrill of speed on the sea? Today you’ll be fully satisfied.”
Before Olivia could ask further, Jason pushed her onto the speedboat.
Olivia stiffened slightly as Jason held her in his arms.
“Why don’t… I sit in the back?”
“It’s safer for you to sit in front of me on your first speedboat ride.”
Jason said, positioning her properly.
“You can see the scenery better from the front too. Don’t worry, I’m very skilled.”
“Hold on tight, we’re setting off!”
D
<
Olivia didn’t say anything more, focusing on the scenery that was starting to move before her eyes.
The speedboat shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
Olivia’s face was splashed with seawater.
Thankfully Jason had given her goggles to wear beforehand.
Olivia wiped the water off her goggles, seeing the distant scenery from the middle of the ocean for the first time.
Just then, dolphins leapt out of the water in the distance.
“Dolphins!”
Olivia exclaimed in surprise, staring intently at the group of little creatures.
“We’re so lucky to see dolphins in the shallow waters.”
Jason increased the speed, causing Olivia to lose her balance and bump hard against him.
Jason freed one hand to wrap around her waist.
“Olivia, are you okay?”
Olivia shook her head, only hearing the roar of the water in her ears.
When they got close to the dolphins, Jason slowed to a stop.
The dolphins nearby weren’t afraid of people, continuing to leap and play even after seeing them.
Olivia heard a splash.
She turned back anxiously, only to see water splashing up.
“Jason!”
Olivia called out, but got no response.
She looked around frantically.
“Jason!!”
“Olivia!”
Jason’s voice came from in front.
He swam towards her like a knight of the sea, alongside the dolphins.
Jason clung to the edge of the speedboat.
“I brought the dolphins to you!”
Olivia was stunned for a moment, then angrily pulled on his arm.
“Get up.”
Seeing her frown, Jason obediently climbed back onto the boat.
“Do you know how dangerous that was?”
Jason reflexively shook his head, then nodded vigorously.
D
<
JasonHCAIVELY SITOOK THIS seat, then ruutu vigorously.
Olivia sighed.
“Don’t do that again.”
Jason’s eyes sparkled.
“Olivia, were you worried about me?”
“How could anyone not worry when you do something like that?”
After Olivia spoke, she noticed Jason’s slightly reddened face.
She seemed to understand something in her heart.
She explained,
“I’ve seen you as a younger brother these past few months. Of course I would worry.”
Hearing her words, Jason’s eyes dimmed.
“Olivia, is it just concern for a brother?”
Olivia nodded: “Yes.”
The dolphins in the distance were still happily jumping. Jason’s eyes reddened.
“Don’t you know…”
“That I like you?”
17
Jason’s voice brushed past her ear. Olivia felt it was unreal.
“Jason, do you know what you’re saying?”
Water droplets slid down his face and nose.
“I do.”
“I like you. I really like you.”
Olivia opened her mouth, not knowing how to refuse.
Just then, a warm flow dripped from her nose.
Blood trickled down Olivia’s lips.
This time, she didn’t turn away from Jason to wipe away the unsightly sight.
She stared steadily at Jason, her eyes growing hot.
“Even like this, do you still like me?”
Even setting aside the age gap with Jason, she couldn’t escape the fact that she was a cancer patient.
She didn’t have much time left.
Jason’s hand trembled as he wiped her nosebleed, but he couldn’t seem to clean it properly.
He cried as he hugged Olivia.
10:19 AM
<
He cried as he hugged Olivia.
“I do.”
–
“Even if you only had one day left to live, I would still like you. I’ve liked you since the first time I saw you. I know liking someone isn’t fair. I don’t want your response, I don’t want you to give me anything, I just want to like you properly. I won’t cause you any trouble…”
Olivia gently patted his back, her gaze fixed on the distant dissipating clouds.
“Jason, will you promise me one thing?”
“You tell me.”
“After I die, scatter my ashes into the ocean. I want to travel with the sea.”
Jason’s body shook. He buried his face in Olivia’s shoulder.
“Okay…
“Don’t cry, I’m not dead yet.”
“Okay, wuwuwu… Olivia…”
“Didn’t you say there were white dolphins? Take me to see them next time?”
“Okay, wuwuwu, Olivia…
Olivia comforted him helplessly.
Such a child.
The more content Olivia was, the more difficult things became for Ethan.
Since learning about Olivia’s miscarriage, he hadn’t slept well for several nights.
Seeing him so distracted, the department head had no choice but to give him time off.
His stomach ulcer had also conveniently flared up.
In the past, Olivia would always prepare stomach–friendly meals for him.
But now the refrigerator was empty, not even leftovers to be found.
Linda’s call came at this time.
“Ethan dear, come home for a meal.”
Ethan dragged himself out of bed and listlessly returned to the Hayes house.
The first thing Ethan did upon entering was ask Linda if she had any news of Olivia.
Linda shook her head.
She had tried to find Olivia several times, but Olivia’s phone was disconnected.
She couldn’t find her.
Linda comforted him.
“Don’t worry, Olivia is just being stubborn. She’ll come back in a few days.”
Sophia sat on the sofa, clearly unhappy.
<
Sophia sat on the sofa, clearly unhappy.
The child in her belly was almost two months along, yet Ethan was still thinking of Olivia.
“Mom,” Ethan looked at her and said, “It’s my fault.”
Frank’s face fell: “What do you mean it’s your fault? She’s just too willful! Begging to marry you, then not cherishing it herself, and now pulling this disappearing act.”
In the past when he heard them say such things,
Ethan only thought, yes, that’s right.
But now hearing it felt somewhat jarring.
He looked at Frank, explaining on Olivia’s behalf.
“Dad, I was the one who proposed back then.”
These words stunned Sophia.
Olivia had mentioned this to her before, but she never imagined it was actually true.
Sophia’s expression darkened.
“Then she’s even more ungrateful.” Frank’s face fell further, “You’ve indulged her for so long, what more does she want?”
“That’s right, you haven’t wronged her.” Linda said, “Olivia will come to her senses.”
Ethan was at a loss for words.
He had indeed wronged Olivia.
He gripped his chopsticks, bracing himself to be scolded as he said to Linda.
“Mom. I really did wrong Olivia.”
“Last year before New Year’s, Olivia… had a miscarriage.”
Linda’s hand paused as she was about to serve Ethan food. Shock gradually appeared on her face.
“What did you say?”
18
A mocking smile tugged at Sophia’s lips.
She almost pitied Olivia for her bad luck, unable to even keep a child.
Frank gripped his chopsticks tightly: “Ethan, what’s going on?”
Ethan explained what happened that day, lowering his head in remorse.
“Dad, Mom, scold me, hit me.”
Linda’s hand holding the chopsticks trembled.
She remembered.
During New Year’s, Olivia had been more silent than usual, not saying a word.
She also looked thinner than before.
Olivia had even cried secretly in the kitchen.
10:19 AM
<
Before Olivia could answer, she was called away by Sophia.
So that day, her daughter had lost a child.
Linda’s eyes reddened.
She only regretted the things she had said earlier.
She didn’t know Olivia had suffered such grievances.
This was her failure as a mother.
The atmosphere at the table fell into silence.
Ethan’s ringtone broke the silence.
It was an unfamiliar number.
“Hello, is this Mr. Hayes?”
Hearing it wasn’t Olivia, Ethan felt somewhat disappointed.
“Yes, it is.”
“Ms. Hayes left a notebook at Heart Studio. Are you able to come pick it up? We can’t reach Ms. Hayes.”
“What notebook?”
“It’s…” The other party was silent for a moment before continuing, “It’s a notebook with Ms. Hayes‘ cancer diagnosis notice inside.”
Linda suddenly stood up from the table, then clutched her chest and collapsed.
Sophia and Frank hurriedly helped her up and called an ambulance.
After retrieving the notebook, Ethan walked to the downtown hospital in a daze.
Before he even reached the entrance, he could hear Linda’s anguished cries from the hospital room.
“Olivia has cancer, and you’re still trying to upset her! Frank, you’re not human!”
“Mom, Dad didn’t mean to. Don’t be angry.”
“I, I didn’t know she was sick either.”
Ethan pushed open the door, holding Olivia’s forgotten cancer diagnosis notice.
Several pairs of eyes turned to look at him.
Ethan spoke with difficulty.
“It’s… leukemia.”
Linda burst into tears again.
Frank also sighed repeatedly.
“Dad, Mom, don’t panic. Olivia can still be saved.”
Ethan analyzed seriously.
“She has leukemia. As long as we find a matching bone marrow donor, we can still save her.”
Linda’s hope was rekindled.
D
<
Linda’s hope was rekindled.
“That’s right, we can still find a bone marrow donor for Olivia!”
A flash of smugness crossed Sophia’s face.
Olivia’s illness came at such an opportune time.
“When Olivia comes back, I’ll remarry her. No matter what, I’ll take care of her for life.”
Sophia’s expression froze.
Ethan still wanted to remarry her?
Ryan, who had just arrived at the hospital room, happened to hear Ethan’s words.
He rushed in front of Ethan, grabbing his collar.
“Ethan, you want to remarry Olivia? What about Sophia? She’s pregnant with your child.”
Ryan’s words instantly froze the air.
Sophia bit her lip in shock.
Although she wanted people to know about her pregnancy,
She hadn’t expected Ryan to blurt it out so directly.
At this point, she might as well cry.
Frank’s eyes widened: “You, you’re saying Sophia, Sophia is?”
Linda clutched her heaving chest, looking at Ethan, “You, you!”
Ryan interjected: “Dad, this isn’t Sophia’s fault-”
“Shut up!”
Glared at by Frank, Ryan fell silent.
Ethan stood frozen.
He and Sophia had agreed to keep this a secret. How did Ryan know?
Before he could think further, he was slapped hard by Linda who had gotten off the bed.
“You bastard!”
Linda didn’t spare Sophia either, turning to slap her as well.
“You shameless woman!”
Linda trembled with anger, her hand numb from the force.
The loud slaps echoed in the hospital room. A crowd of onlookers gathered at the door.
Sophia turned her back, hiding her face.
Frank slapped his thigh and sighed.
“Where am I supposed to show my face? What a mess this is!”
Linda fainted again.
J
10:19 AM
<
Nurses and doctors began rushing in and out of the room.
19
Olivia’s health was deteriorating day by day.
The day before New Year’s Eve, Jason cleaned the house spotlessly.
“Although Florida isn’t cold, we should still have a New Year’s atmosphere.”
He helped Olivia outside.
At the door, he pasted new Spring Festival couplets.
After finishing, he nodded in satisfaction.
