My father-in-law, a man of courage, was stabbed three times in an act of valor. By the time he was rushed to the hospital, he was nearly breathless. Using traditional Chinese acupuncture and ginseng soup, I managed to keep him alive. Grasping my hand, he uttered, "Let Emma see me..."

I immediately called my wife, Emma Smith, but her childhood friend Dave answered, "Emma is in the shower. What's the matter?"

"Please tell her that her father is in the hospital, dying, and wants to see her one last time," I said, suppressing my anger.

Then I heard Emma's voice, "James, are you cursing my dad? Even jealousy has its limits!"

The call ended abruptly, leaving me with a heavy and complex heart. My father-in-law treated me like his own son, which was why I tolerated Emma's closeness with Dave Brown. Though Emma and I had shared love, her betrayal filled me with pain and anger. However, I had to restrain myself now for my father-in-law's last wish. I called again, but before I could speak, Emma lashed out.

"James, can't you let it go?"

"I told you Dave has been tired lately, and I was just helping him relax. Can't you stop being unreasonable?"

She retorted and hung up. When I tried calling back, her phone was turned off. Helpless, I instructed my apprentice, "Emily, continue with the acupuncture as I taught you. Keep it up until I return!" Without even changing my coat, I rushed down and drove to the wellness center.

Recently, Emma had mentioned Dave was exhausted and needed some health treatments, asking me for recommendations. Caught up with caring for my father-in-law, I casually suggested one. Later when she returned home, she said that the health club was very good and she even applied for a membership card.

This shop was opened by my friend. I often came here to give guidance to the technicians, so even the waiters knew me. When I entered the store, someone greeted me, but their expressions were evasive. After all, they all knew that Emma was my wife, and she and Dave came here almost every week for health care, so it was naturally awkward for her to see me at this time.

"Where's Emma?" I asked casually.

Just then, my friend hurried over, "James, Emma and her friend are in your usual room."

''I know.'' I nodded and ran to the elevator.

The health club reserved a private room for me where I can drink coffee and receive treatments.

I have some distinguished patients who are personally cared for by me in this room.

As I opened the door, I found Emma in a loose robe enjoying a foot massage. Dave, too, was relaxed, even holding my tobacco pipe, with my gifted Pu-erh coffee on the table.

"James, are you sick?" Emma confronted me, "You actually came here. Do you not trust me that much?"

"Now you see, I'm just here with Dave for a foot massage. We did nothing wrong!"

When Emma saw me, there was still panic in her eyes, but it was immediately replaced by her arrogance.

I had no time for arguments, "Your father is dying in the hospital. He wants to see you one last time. If you don't want to regret it, come with me now."

Dave sneered, "Really, James? Your father-in-law treats you like his own son, and you curse him out of jealousy, don't you?"

Emma, moved by my words, suddenly pointed towards the door, "Get out. Don't embarrass me here!"

I took a deep breath, holding back the urge to lash out as I knew this woman could lose her sense once slighted, which could prevent her father from seeing her one last time. I gave her a deep look, knelt before her and said, "Emma, we've been married for years. You know how proud I am. Today, I kneel to prove I'm not lying. Come with me."

Seeing my gesture, Emma calmed down significantly and stood up. However, Dave interjected, "James, can't you come up with a better lie? Her father called her an hour ago asking what she wanted for dinner, how can he be dying?"

"People got drunk at the market and attacked, he defended them and got stabbed. It's only my acupuncture that's keeping him alive!" I explained.

I looked at her and said, "Emma, if you leave with me now, I'm even willing to divorce you so you can be with Dave openly. Isn't that enough?"

"What are you talking about? When did I say I wanted a divorce? I've told you many times, Dave and I are just old friends. It's not what you think," Emma replied, her panic intensifying.

"Just come with me now, no matter what you say, I'll agree," I pressed.

"Emma, you should go with him. He's even threatening you with divorce. I don't want to be the one breaking up your marriage, even though I always felt he didn't deserve you," Dave suddenly suggested.

Just as Emma was about to leave with me, she sat back down and coldly told me, "James, you should know I hate threats the most. Get out!"

"Why don't you just call the hospital? Then everything would be clear." I was nearly out of patience with their absurdity.

"Everyone knows you're the darling of your hospital, even the director asks his daughter to apprentice under you, probably wanting to marry her to you."

"I bet you've already arranged everything with the hospital. If you call, they'll definitely back you up," Dave sneered.

Hearing this, Emma became even more furious, pointing at me, "No wonder you mentioned divorce. So you want to become the director's son-in-law? Wow, James, you're really something. I've totally seen through you now!"

Crazy?

I didn't know what to say anymore. I could only stand up and say, "Emma, I won't say much more. If you don't want to regret it, just come with me."

With that, I turned to a friend at the door, "From now on, these two are not allowed in this store. Kick them out."

Then I went downstairs.

What followed was chaos, but my friend supported me, calling security to escort them out.

I waited downstairs for the disheveled Emma, coldly saying, "Get in the car. We're going to the hospital!"

Emma approached me in two steps and slapped my face, "James, you're really something, kicking me out?"

"Your dad is dying. Can't you think straight?" I shouted.

At that moment, Dave suddenly cried out behind me and collapsed.

He then screamed loudly, clutching his chest, claiming his heart was acting up.

Seeing this, Emma quickly went to help him, "Are you alright, Dave? Let's go to the hospital."

"We can't go to James's hospital. I'm afraid he'll kill me."

The grown man was pitifully wiping tears.

"Alright, alright, we'll do as you say."

Emma glared at me, then helped Dave into the car.

I didn't bother with them anymore and returned to the hospital. In the ward, my father-in-law's complexion looked very good, especially after seeing me. He even laughed out loud. But I knew this was just a moment of lucidity before the end.

"James, give me a cigarette," he said with a smile, reaching out his hand.

I nodded, took out one of my specially blended cigarettes, lit it, and placed it between his fingers. "Dad, I couldn't bring Emma back."

"I know, you've done your best."

After taking a drag, my father-in-law chuckled bitterly, "It's also my fault. I pushed you two together, and it ended up harming you."

"Don't say that, Dad."

"At least I got married and found a father I never had. I'm quite content with that."

I also lit a cigarette and sat beside his bed. That was the truth because my relationship with my father-in-law was genuinely like father and son. We shared remarkably similar values, and since he was a military man who had seen combat, he was the type of person I admired most. I often thought that if my biological father were still alive, he would be just like my father-in-law. Even though Emma and Dave were entangled, I never pursued it, and after failing to persuade her, I simply let it be.

"James, please allow me one more selfish request," he said. "After I'm gone, give Emma one last chance. She's spoiled by me, so she's very willful, but I'm sure of one thing—she loves you and has never wronged you." Holding my hand, he continued, "But if she doesn't appreciate what she has, then you don't have to consider me in any decision you make."

"Alright." I nodded. That was just my father. To exaggerate a bit, finding fatherly love had redeemed me, a man ready to die for such a father.

"Let it be," he murmured, slowly closing his eyes.

After my father-in-law passed, I called Emma several times, but she never turned her phone on, and when I called Dave, he answered but ignored me. I could overhear their conversation.

"Dave, you don't think something really happened to my dad, do you? After all, a man with such pride knelt before me."

"Emma, you're not a man. You don't understand men, but I am a man, and I understand men best. He is just jealous, and that means he cares about you even more."

"But I'm still a bit worried."

"Oh, don't worry. Come on, Emma, let's do something exciting..."

The call ended there.

Staring at my father-in-law's body, I thought, 'Is this not betraying me?' It would be a lie to say it didn't hurt, given all the years we shared. But I had completely given up on Emma.

My father-in-law was a soldier who disliked waste and preferred decisive actions. He wouldn't have wanted a big fuss over his body.

So, I quickly had him cremated, took his ashes home, and started preparing for the memorial service over the phone.

All night, Emma didn't return. Probably, she was playing some thrilling game with Dave. I didn't want to think about it anymore and just sat on the sofa, recalling the years gone by. Unknowingly, dawn broke. Seeing that it was time, I picked up the ashes, got up to leave for the memorial service. Just as I stepped out, I saw Emma coming out of the elevator.

Seeing me, her expression turned frantic. I also noticed bruises around her eyes, as if she had been hit. "Something happened last night, so I didn't come home. Don't overthink it." Emma explained.

I just gave her a cold look and said, "Change into a black dress and then follow me..."

But she suddenly saw the urn I was holding and screamed, "Husband, what are you holding?"