Matthew’s expression softened, almost like a dad looking at his kid. “To me, you’ll always be that


    little girl. But listen, being serious and stubborn is great for work, not so much for life.”


    I knew why he said it, but people don’t change overnight. We are who we are.


    “Rea, sometimes not knowing everything brings a little happiness. You don’t have to figure it all out,


    you know?” His words were soft, almost fatherly.


    Seeing the worry in his eyes, and thinking about his illness, I nodded, even though deep down I still


    held onto my beliefs.


    “Rea,” Matthew said softly.


    “Yeah?”


    He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”


    “No, it’s something You’ve definitely got sc


    back


    ing on your mind,” I pressed, sensing he was holding


    Matthew chuckled. “Nothing gets past you, does it?”


    “Why hide it? Whatever secret you’ve got that you can’t tell Lindey or Wayne, you can tell me. I’ll


    keep it locked up. promise.” I raised my hand like I was swearing an oath.


    Heughed, amused. “I don’t have any secrets.”


    Thinking back to what happened earlier on thewn with Thorsten, Sasha, and their daughter, I


    couldn’t resist. “What if it’s something like… I don’t know, a secret family?”


    Matthew nearly choked. “What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t have anything like that.”


    “Really? Nothing?” I tilted my head, feigning suspicion.


    “Really, nothing,” he said, shaking his head firmly.


    “Well, your best friend does, doesn’t he? They say you’re influenced by thepany you keep…” I


    trailed off, teasing.


    Matthew looked surprised, like he didn’t expect me to know. I didn’t keep him in suspense for long.


    “I yed with his daughter earlier on thewn. She’s sweet.”


    Matthew sighed. “People are different. Just because Thorsten’s my friend doesn’t mean I agree with


    everything he does. I’m not like him.”


    Seeing how serious he’d gotten, I smiled. “Rx, I was just kidding. I know you and Lindey are


    solid. You’d never hurt her.”


    He stared off at the nk white wall, his voice low. “Rea, I’ve been meaning to tell you… my illness


    isn’t mild. It might not be something I can beat.


    “And if–if the dayes when I’m not here anymore, I want you to promise me something: don’t


    cry.


    “Just… promise me you’ll keep your head up and keep going.”


    A wave of sadness and fear tightened around my chest. My eyes burned, and my throat felt like it


    was closing up. I gripped his arm tightly. “You’re not going anywhere. You’ll be fine. You have to


    be…”


    Matthew rested his hand gently on my head. He didn’t say anything more.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Neither did I. I just stayed there, my head resting on the side of his bed, listening to his breathing.


    At some point, I drifted off.


    When I woke up, Matthew was still asleep, and his jacket was draped over me. I carefully ced it


    back over his nket before quietly slipping out of the room


    As I stepped into the hall, my phone buzzed in my pocket. The number was unfamiliar.


    “Hello?” I answered.


    “Is this the owner of Unit 402, Block 6, Willow!


    “Yeah, that’s me. Who is this?”


    ences, Emberholm?”


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