Previously, Nathan would go to the office occasionally. However, since I had started dozing off more often, Nathan had completely abandoned his work responsibilities. He handed everything over to his assistant and devoted himself to staying by my side 24/7.

One day, I playfully complained, "You really should go back to work, you know? We built this company together, and I don't want you to let it go to waste!"

With that signature, affectionate look in his eyes, Nathan replied, "Julia, don't worry. Even if the company went under, we'd still be just fine financially."

"Ugh, don't say such unlucky things! I want the company to thrive! I want to be a vice president, what do you think?"

"As long as you want it, I'll make you the president if that's what you want."

I chuckled. "I'm just kidding! I really only care about the money. You can keep being the boss while I spend your earnings!"

"Alright, whatever you say goes."

Later that night, I noticed Nathan refusing to sleep in the empty hospital. Instead, he insisted on squeezing into the bed with me. As I nestled against him, I couldn't help but feel the sharpness of his ribs through his shirt, and I frowned.

"Nathan, why are you so skinny? It feels like I'm hugging a skeleton!"

He rested his chin on top of my head, his voice low and soothing. "It's alright. As long as I can make you healthy, that's what matters. If you gain weight, I'll be happy."

I pouted, poking at his sides playfully. "What do you mean you'll be happy if I gain weight? What's that got to do with you? You should put on some weight too!"

Nathan caught my hand and placed it over his heart, his warm breath brushing against my ear as he said in a husky tone. "Julia, don't tease me. You're still recovering. I don't want to push you."

My face flushed crimson, and I quickly withdrew my hand, embarrassed. After a long pause, I finally said, "Nathan, I'm serious. You really need to gain some weight, okay?"

"Okay."

But Nathan didn't keep his promise. Over the next couple of weeks, he only grew thinner, and his complexion seemed to worsen.

I panicked, wrapping my arms around him, tears streaming down my face. "Nathan, please tell me you're not hiding some serious illness from me! You can't lie to me!"

He chuckled softly, patting my head, seemingly unfazed. "Silly Julia, don't overthink it. I'm perfectly healthy."

I retorted, "I'm not overthinking! Just look at how thin you are! If you don't get checked out, I won't recover either! I'll just lie in bed all day!"

Reluctantly, Nathan agreed to go for a check-up after I pushed him enough.

At that moment, Emma walked in, leaning against the doorframe as she watched me carefully navigate my way along the wall.

"Julia, congratulations! You should be walking like a normal person again pretty soon!"

I smiled, "Thanks! The doctor said I'm recovering really quickly."

Emma suddenly added, "You've become a bit distant with me, Julia."

I forced a laugh. "Well, I've been out of it for six years! That's a long time without seeing you, and you've changed so much. Of course, I'm a bit out of the loop."

"But you're not distant with Nathan."

I felt a bit shy, saying, "That's because Nathan hasn't changed. He's still the same person to me."

Emma's smile faded a bit. "Is that so?"

Suddenly, I remembered something, so I asked, "Emma, I heard Nathan mention you're engaged. Why haven't you brought your fiancé by for me to meet?"

Her face hardened, and after a long pause, she replied, "I'll definitely bring him by when I have time."

I looked at her curiously. "Who's your fiancé? Do I know him?"

Emma forced a smile. "No, you don't, Julia. Just focus on resting. I have to go now, but I'll visit you again soon."

Just as Emma left, Nathan returned from his check-up, holding the results in his hand.

I took the report from him and said, "Emma just stopped by, but she left in a hurry."

Nathan handed me the report and gently guided me toward the bed. "What did she say?"

I glanced at the report, and the words "medical examination passed" instantly lifted a weight off my shoulders. I smiled brightly, "Oh, she didn't say much—just rushed out. Seeing that you're healthy makes me so relieved!"

I muttered, "But seriously, why are you so thin?"

Since Emma's last visit, she had been coming almost every day.

Each time Nathan saw her, his expression darkened, and Emma would look at him with red-rimmed eyes.

Even I, usually oblivious, couldn't ignore the tension brewing between them.

Unable to hold back any longer, I asked Nathan, "What's going on between you and Emma? Why is it so weird?"

Nathan hesitated, searching for the right words. "Julia, let's just keep our distance from her, okay?"

"What do you mean by that, Nathan? We've been friends for ten years."

He looked increasingly uneasy. "Julia, please, just listen to me. If she comes by again, I want you to send her away."

"Fine," I replied, but I was determined to get to the bottom of this the next time Emma showed up.

However, before I could confront Emma again, Nathan suddenly changed.

He was hardly ever in the hospital room anymore, only stopping by once a day, and when he did, he would just sit there in silence.

I could hardly receive any response from him when I asked.

I felt a knot of fear tightening in my stomach. "Nathan, what's wrong? Please talk to me!" I cried, but he simply wiped away my tears without a word.

In the days that followed, Nathan didn't come at all. I couldn't take it anymore and called him, but Emma answered.

After that, I tried calling again, and again, it was Emma who picked up.

Eventually, I gave up, my heart heavy with despair.

When Emma came by that day, I was practicing walking.

She stood at the door for a long moment before finally speaking up.

"On the day you woke up, Nathan and I were getting engaged. He's been stopping me from coming to see you. He promised me that once you were better, he would tell you the truth."

My nails dug into my palms, but I forced a smile.

"I know it's harsh to tell you this right now, Julia, but I can't be without Nathan. He's waited for you for six years, and I've waited for him for six years. Do you have any idea what those six years were like for us? Do you know Nathan tried to kill himself three years ago because of you? Nathan took a handful of sleeping pills by your bedside, and I'm the one who found him and saved him. His life is mine now. I don't care why he suddenly agreed to get engaged to me—whether it was out of gratitude or something else—but I don't care. All I care about is being with him...

"We could have had a life together, but why did you have to wake up? Why did you have to wake up that day? He had already accepted me. I know Nathan regrets it now, the moment you woke up he started regretting it..."

Emma's voice grew more frantic, her emotions getting the best of her as she nearly broke down. "Julia, I've given you everything. Please don't take Nathan away from me, okay?"

I leaned against the wall, making my way slowly back to the bed, feeling numb. I looked at Emma and managed a wry smile. "Can you give my dad back to me?"

Emma was taken aback. "But he... he's been..."

Suddenly, a furious shout came from outside the door.

"Shut up. Why did you even come here?"

I looked out the door.

Nathan stood there, his face a mix of anger and distress, eyes fixed on me.

I clung to a shred of hope. "Nathan, what happened to my dad? Could you let him come see me?"

Nathan pointed to the door, his voice cold. "Emma, please leave immediately."

Emma covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran out.

The familiar Nathan seemed to return. He squatted by the bed, gently taking off my shoes and carefully placing my feet on the bed.

I looked at him with quiet obedience. "Nathan, tell me the truth. Where is my dad?"

Nathan lowered his gaze, pulling a blanket over my legs, then sat beside me.

He was silent for about a minute before saying, "Your father had a heart attack six years ago. He's gone."

My spirits plummeted with each word. "I knew it. Even though he loved to travel, he also loved his daughter. He would have come to check me when I woke up."

Deep down, I had a bad feeling, but Nathan hadn't mentioned it, so I hadn't dared to ask.

I could fool myself into believing my father was just away on a trip.

But now the tears fell uncontrollably. Nathan reached out to wipe them away.

I quickly turned my head, saying, "I can do it myself."

Nathan's hand froze, then fell back to his side, awkwardly still.

I leaned back on the bed, taking a while to say, "I want to see my dad."

"Julia, once you're a bit more recovered, I'll take you."

After a pause, I said, "I already know about you and Emma. Nathan, don't come back here."

Nathan was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Okay."

He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a few cards, handing them to me.

"These cards have quite a bit of money on them. The PINs are the same as before."

I took the cards, wanting to throw them back in his face out of pride, but I restrained myself. After all, I needed the money right now.

Turning my head away, I said coldly, "I need to rest."

Nathan murmured, "Julia, take care of yourself. I'm leaving."

I couldn't hold it in anymore and asked through my tears, "Nathan, why have you changed too?"

Nathan didn't turn around. He stood still for a few minutes before striding out the door.

Lately, I'd found myself reminiscing more about the past. Maybe it was the growing sense of melancholy that came with age.

I remembered when I was a freshman in high school, trying to be trendy by dating a guy. One night, he called me, saying he had a fever and needed me to come keep him company while he got an IV. It was already past ten at night, and I wasn't keen on going. I refused, so he threatened to break up with me.

Honestly, I wasn't very into him. I just thought dating was cool, and he was handsome and persistent, so I agreed. I regretted it almost immediately.

That night, I decided to break up face-to-face. But when I arrived, I found out he wasn't even sick—he had just made a bet to see if he could get me out.

I wasn't furious; it gave me a good excuse to end things. I immediately broke up with him, but he felt humiliated and started hurling insults at me.

We argued, and he tried to hit me. That was when Nathan, who had just finished his evening study session, showed up.

What followed was Nathan taking on three of them single-handedly, and both sides ended up battered.

Nathan was usually so easygoing, but that night, seeing him so fiercely angry and covered in blood scared me to death. I thought he might die.

Afterward, instead of blaming me, Nathan comforted me, showing such concern that I promised him through my tears to stay away from relationships and focus on studying with him.

Nathan never came back after that day.

Instead, I found myself frequently seeing Nathan and Emma together on TV and my phone, making appearances at various events.

They looked so perfect together—handsome and beautiful, almost too good to be true.

I learned that Nathan had become a billionaire business tycoon, with his every move closely followed and celebrated by the media.

His relationship status was especially newsworthy; his engagement with Emma even trended on social media for days.

The media painted Emma as the perfect supportive partner, highlighting their six years together as a testament to their love. They had weathered numerous storms and emerged victorious, eventually sealing their commitment.

I realized how naive I had been, thinking that Nathan would remain loyal to a comatose patient like me for six long years.

In my absence, Emma had stepped into my place, sharing those years with him.

The realization made me weep uncontrollably. I even thought to myself, "If only I had never woken up.

Why did you lie to me, Nathan?"

That night, I was haunted by nightmares, slipping back into a void of nothingness.

The dark figure was back again.

Fortunately, the ringtone of my phone jolted me awake.

I answered the call, but there was only silence on the other end.

After a couple of minutes, tears streaming down my face, I asked, "Nathan, is that you?"

No one answered.

The next day, I sneaked out of the hospital. I needed to see for myself if Nathan had truly changed his heart.

At the company's entrance, Nathan and Emma stepped out of the same car. Emma had twisted her ankle, and Nathan looked extremely worried. He quickly checked her injury and then scooped her up in his arms, hurrying inside.

From the taxi, I watched the whole scene unfold clearly. It was like a punch to the gut.

My spirits plummeted, and I knew it was time to give up. I returned to the hospital, defeated.