The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous I found it. I snorted in response. “Since Joe’s going to die soon and he can’t live without you, why don’t you just marry him? Maybe it’ll bring him some good luck.”

“Benjamin!”

Winnie’s expression darkened as she yelled, “Joe is sick! How could you accuse us of something like that?!”

“Accuse you? You transformed our new house into a rehabilitation center and spent so many nights with him. You spent all my money on him too. How dare you claim that I’m accusing you?”

I sneered as I saw her expression turn ashen. In the end, she still shouted in anger, “You’re insane! Joe was right. You’re not worthy to be my husband!”

After that, she hurried off and slammed the door in my face.

“Think about what you just said! Don’t think about leaving before you apologize!”

When it was close to midnight, I suddenly felt pain in my stomach.

I struggled to find my medication. However, I recalled that Winnie had stopped my gastric medication supply last month to save money for Joe’s treatment.

Before she left, she had tightened security as well. So, I could not leave, and no one else could enter.

Even if I asked my father to transfer money for medication, I would not be able to receive it.

I gritted my teeth as I decided to give Winnie a call.

We were in love before, so I believed she would not be cruel enough to refuse helping me.

However, I did not expect Joe to answer the call.

“Winnie’s accompanying me for my doctor’s visit. What’s up?” he said casually.

I was taken aback. Before I could say anything, I heard Winnie’s anxious voice. “Joe, are you still in pain?”

He immediately sounded weak.

“Yes… Winnie, Benjamin’s looking for you…

“You should go back. I’m fine on my own. I can’t keep being a burden to you…”

Winnie was still worried. “You can’t even stand upright from the pain. How can I leave you here alone?”

I heard some muffling sounds before Winnie answered the call, “Benjamin, weren’t you so smug during the day? Why are you calling me after just a few hours?

“I’m telling you: don’t bother me. If anything happens to Joe because of you, I’ll never marry you!”

She ended the call in fury, and the pain in my stomach overwhelmed me.

I touched my forehead and realized that I was having a high fever.

As I slipped in and out of consciousness, I seemed to hear Winnie’s voice from three years ago at the Smith family home.

“Benjamin’s the only one I’ll marry! I’ll be damned forever if it’s anyone else!”

I did not know how much time had passed before the butler found me. He immediately sent me to the hospital.

The butler made a phone call on the way there, and Winnie answered it impatiently. After instructing him to get me to drink more water, she hung up on him.

When I opened my eyes, I heard the doctor telling someone they had a mild cold. The patient was in the bed next to mine.

The curtains were drawn open, and I saw Winnie holding Joe’s hand. She had her back toward me and seemed extremely worried.

“How are you feeling? Are you thirsty or hungry?”

Joe stared lovingly at her as he shook his head. “Winnie, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“You’re having a cold! How could I not be worried?”

After that, she stood up to pour him some water. Then, she cut some fruit and fed it to him.

She only remembered I was there after over an hour, and she frowned.

“I told you I’d forgive you if you’re willing to apologize.

“You’re pretending to be sick to force me home?”

I was dumbfounded. I only got diagnosed with gastritis because the Smith family had overworked me. I had pulled many all-nighters for their projects.

I caught a fever because I had chronic fatigue. She thought that I was feigning my illness?

Unfortunately, when I opened my mouth, my throat felt extremely parched. I struggled to get myself some water.

“Water…”

Before I could say it out loud, Joe started coughing violently.

Winnie immediately passed him all the water. From her peripheral vision, she recognized that I was also looking for water. “You’re an adult. Why are you trying to snatch Joe’s water when he’s ill?” she said impatiently.

My hand froze midair, and I did not miss the cocky glance from Joe.

He had won again.

My throat hurt, and I said in a hoarse voice, “Winnie, I’m a patient too.”

She grew more impatient and waved the butler over.

“Send him back. Don’t waste money on this.

“He keeps failing his test. My parents aren’t giving me a single cent right now. I can’t afford to pay his medical bills!”

I was feeling extremely weak from the high fever. So, I allowed the butler to carelessly leave me at home alone.

Fortunately, the doctor had prescribed me some medicine. I consumed it with cold water and curled up on the couch to sleep.

I was covered in sweat when I woke up, but I finally regained some strength.

I had a dozen text messages.

Aside from the address my father had sent me regarding the succession ceremony, the other text messages were from Joe’s throwaway account.

[Thank you for your sudden fever. To make it up to me, Winnie allowed me to hug her the whole night.]

[Winnie said she has more money for me to try new treatments. Even though it’s useless for me, it’s still your hard-earned money. I’ll treasure it.]

He also sent me a photo of a marriage certificate.

Besides the certificate and another photo of them, I saw Winnie’s handwriting that detailed her wish. [Joe, I hope to grow old with you in the next life.]

On the bottom right corner, their thumbprints formed a heart shape.

[Look, Benjamin. Don’t Winnie and I look good together?]

In the past, Joe had sent me various provocative messages. I had treated it as drivel from a dying person.

However, I only felt calm when I read his latest messages.

[Congratulations.]

After I replied to him, I started packing my belongings.

My father had arranged a private jet for me. Since I had agreed to leave, there was no need to stall my stay.

I was halfway through packing when Winnie returned. Her face fell when she saw my luggage.

“Are you leaving?

“Joe still has ten more treatment sessions left. You’re leaving him to fend for himself?”

I did not stop packing. “Doesn’t he have you? I’m making space for him by leaving.”

She then threw a few boxes of gastric medication at my feet. Winnie was furious.

“These ten sessions are going to cost thirty million dollars! If you’re not around, how am I getting the money?

“Benjamin, you said you’d marry me. If you leave now, you’d be going against your word!”

I zipped up my luggage and got to my feet. Then, I saw Joe standing behind her.

I sneered. “Winnie, if you really wanted to marry me, you wouldn’t use Joe’s illness as a threat.”

She was taken aback, and Joe immediately ran over.

“Winnie, don’t fight over me. This is all my fault.

“My illness is holding you back. I’m dying anyway, so all these treatments are just wishful thinking. I’ll be damned if I affect your life anymore.”

His face was pale as he held Winnie’s hand.

“I’m already very happy that I had three more years with you.

“Winnie, I hope you have a happy life with Benjamin. I’ll see you in the next life.”

After that, he ran out with teary eyes.

Winnie was anxious. She looked up and slapped me across the face. “Why can’t you be generous toward a terminally ill patient? Are you even a man?” she said through gritted teeth.

I snickered after getting hit.

“If I’m not a man, why don’t you rush after him?”

Her gaze fell onto my luggage again, and something seemed to occur to her.

“You’ve found another woman, haven’t you? No wonder you’ve been acting strange these past few days, Benjamin.

“No one will want a man who’s failed eight times, I’m telling you. You’re nothing without me!”

Just then, the butler came over.

“Ms. Smith, Mr. Anderson has run toward the bridge…”

Winnie’s eyes widened, and she immediately left. But she still yelled her final warning, “Benjamin, don’t ever come back if you leave! Even if you do, I’ll never forgive you…”

Her voice trailed off as she left. The butler glared at me before leaving with the remaining staff.

A while later, the bodyguards my family employed arrived as expected.

“Mr. Lowe, the succession ceremony will commence in five hours.”

So, I smoothed out my collar.

“Send a few people to the Smith family’s home. They owe me millions. I want you to get it all back for me.”