The air in the ward instantly froze.

The nurse awkwardly clutched the medical chart and slipped out, leaving only Tessa and Clifford staring at each other across the room.

"Are you still mad about the blood donation?" Clifford seemed to catch on. He stepped closer and reached out to touch Tessa's face. "It was a matter of life and death, Tessa. I didn't have a choice."

She turned her head away, and his hand froze in midair for a second before dropping. He softly said, "Once things settle down, how about we take that trip to the snow mountain like we talked about?"

Tessa closed her eyes, exhausted. She said nothing.

Clifford waited a while, but she didn't respond. He went on asking, "When can you be discharged?"

She immediately sensed something amiss. She opened her eyes and looked at him before asking, "What is it?"

He hesitated before answering, "Tania wants to have beef stew… Yo

When Tessa woke up again, Clifford was right by her bedside, his eyes bloodshot and terrifyingly red. He clutched her hand as he shakily said, "Tessa, I swear I didn't know that there'd be an avalanche… I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry…"

His fingertips were icy cold, but his palm was drenched in sweat, as if he were terrified she might disappear. "You can hit me, yell at me, or whatever you want…"

The ward door burst open. Tania rushed in, her eyes swollen and red. "Mrs. Jones, this was all my fault. Please don't blame Mr. Jones…"

She was crying like her world had just fallen apart. "You don't know how nervous he was because of you. When he heard about the avalanche, he completely lost it. He ran in to find you and didn't even think about his own safety. He's still covered in injuries—"

"That's enough!" Clifford cut her off and pulled her into his arms. "This has nothing to do with you. T

Tessa woke up to a sharp, searing pain. When she opened her eyes, she realized that she was already in the hospital. Turning her head slightly, she saw Clifford sitting beside the bed with dark circles under his eyes.

"Tess, you're awake." He immediately leaned in, his voice filled with relief. "Are you feeling any discomfort?"

She tried to speak, but her throat was so dry that she couldn't make a sound. The last thing she remembered was Clifford running off with Tania in his arms, and the thundering hooves charging toward her.

"Tania was injured," he suddenly said urgently. "She has a blood clotting disorder, and the bleeding won't stop. The hospital's blood supply is running low…"

Tessa felt her heart sink as she listened.

"Your blood type is the only match," he said, taking her hand. "Tess, would you please donate some blood to help her?"

Tessa found him to be absolutely unbelievable.

She yanked her hand away, and the sudden movement tugged at her broken ribs. The pain stole her breath.

He'd let her get trampled by horses without so much as a word of explanation, and the first thing out of his mouth now was asking her to save Tania while injured.

"No." Her voice was hoarse, and the single word sliced through her like a blade.

Clifford's brow tightened. "Please, for the baby. Just hold on a little longer. Once the child's born, all of this will be over."

A chill ran through her entire body. She stared into his eyes, searching for even a flicker of guilt or remorse. But the man she had loved for 20 years looked back at her with nothing but anxiety and impatience.

"Mr. Jones, Ms. Evans' condition is getting worse…" a nurse whispered at the door.

Clifford immediately stood up and forced Tessa upright. "Tess, please."

She was practically dragged to the blood collection room. The moment the needle pierced her vein, pain flooded her senses like a tidal wave.

"Does it hurt?" the nurse asked, confused. "It shouldn't. I was being really gentle."

Tessa shook her head, but the tears wouldn't stop. She had always been terrified of needles. Every time she needed blood drawn in the past, Clifford would cover her eyes and gently reassure her, "Be good, Tess. It'll be over soon."

But now, while her blood was being taken for someone else, he stood outside checking his watch over and over and didn't even spare her a single glance.

By the time they’d taken 400cc of her blood, her vision was already starting to fade to black. The nurse helped her sit and rest, but she saw Clifford take off running toward Tania's room without even looking back. She staggered after him, stopping just outside the slightly open door.

Inside, Tania lay on the hospital bed. Her face was pale, and thick bandages were wrapped around her wrist.

Clifford sat by her side, holding her hand tightly while looking at her affectionately. "Don't be scared. Everything's okay now," he whispered. "The baby's fine too."

Tessa's gaze landed on Tania's wrist. Tania was wearing a familiar string of rosary beads. It was the same one she had gotten three years ago at Mount Fraizer after praying for days. Clifford had once solemnly slipped it onto his wrist, saying, "I'll never take this off as long as I live."

And now, he had given it to another woman. He'd actually handed Tania something Tessa had prayed for on her knees, as if it meant nothing. A stabbing pain gripped Tessa's chest. She couldn't bear another second of the sight before her and abruptly turned to leave.

Back in her ward, she curled up in bed and let her tears soak her pillow. It turned out that heartbreak could hurt so much that it made it hard to breathe.

The next morning, a nurse came in to check on her and handed her a form. "Mrs. Jones, could you please complete your medical file?"

She filled it out mechanically until she got to the marital status section. She paused, then firmly checked the box that labeled "Single".

"Mrs. Jones, I think there's a mistake here," the nurse said, surprised. "You selected the 'Single' option… but isn't Mr. Jones your husband?"

"He's not," Tessa said calmly. "He won't be for much longer."

"What did you just say, Tess?"

The ward door slammed open.

Clifford stood there in shock, staring at her like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

The air in the ward instantly froze.

The nurse awkwardly clutched the medical chart and slipped out, leaving only Tessa and Clifford staring at each other across the room.

"Are you still mad about the blood donation?" Clifford seemed to catch on. He stepped closer and reached out to touch Tessa's face. "It was a matter of life and death, Tessa. I didn't have a choice."

She turned her head away, and his hand froze in midair for a second before dropping. He softly said, "Once things settle down, how about we take that trip to the snow mountain like we talked about?"

Tessa closed her eyes, exhausted. She said nothing.

Clifford waited a while, but she didn't respond. He went on asking, "When can you be discharged?"

She immediately sensed something amiss. She opened her eyes and looked at him before asking, "What is it?"

He hesitated before answering, "Tania wants to have beef stew… You make the best one. I don't trust anyone else."

Tessa sat there, stunned. In a single moment, ever

Chapter 5