Bitter 9

Chapter 9
Since I had taken on the work, I did not want to delay it. After all, I would be paid for the work. Although my body was weak after the surgery, my mind was still sharp and functional. Jean Alston was almost in tears when I called her. “Eva, you’ve finally reached out to me. I thought you had abandoned me!” Jean was an intern I hired last year and later became my full-time assistant. Though a bit flighty, she was genuine and dedicated to her work. Most importantly, she could handle solitude well. Design work often required working alone for long periods, and she was really well-suited for this job. When I left the company, I did ask someone to look after her at work, but it seemed she had not been doing well. I cleared my throat and asked her to bring me the earlier proposal and design drawings for Dawnstar Corporation. She hesitated. “Eva, aren’t you no longer on this case? I’m afraid they won’t give me the files if I ask.” “Just tell them Leonard requested it. Also, inform HR that I’ll be working from home these few days, and you’re back to being my assistant.” Now that I was going back to work, I would need my own people. I could not do it alone like before. Moreover, I might have to keep working to have money to stay alive. When Jean arrived at the ward, she was stunned. “Eva, you… you… tumor… hospitalized…” Reaching my hand out, I looked at her wearily. “Give me the files. Don’t worry. The surgery was successful. I won’t die for now.” Just for now. I knew that in my condition, there was a high possibility of relapse. Now, I could only live each day to the fullest and work hard to earn money. Jean handed me the files while crying. She also gave me a laptop. “Eva, I thought you might not have brought your laptop, so you can use mine for now. “But how can you work on designs in this state? Mr. Harmon is too much!” Her crying grew louder as she continued to complain. Apparently, Leonard had indeed put aside all his work to accompany Lily. They went diving and took cruise ships. Lily would post several photo collages on her Instagram every day. “You’re here in the hospital, yet he has the heart to go play with his mistress! Men really are all trash!” I tapped her head with the pen in my hand, “Don’t lump all men together. Only Leonard isn’t a good man.” Jean sobbed for a while before heading out to buy some fruit. Only then did she finally manage to smile. But when she looked at me, she always seemed like she was hesitant to say something. “Jean, you’ve peeled that apple down to the core.” Upon hearing my words, she finally looked down at the apple. She then took an embarrassed bite herself. “I’ll peel you another one in a bit. This one was just practice. But… Eva, aren’t you angry? Are you and Mr. Harmon going to divorce?” Holding a pen, my hand froze. I did not know how to answer her. Rationally speaking, I did want a divorce. There was a considerable amount of joint marital property, but I would not ask for much as long as it was enough for my medical treatment. But emotionally speaking, I did not want a divorce. Even though Leonard was not treating me well, I knew that he was the only man in my heart. He just did not know that. Thinking of my current situation, I shook my head with a bitter smile. In my condition, what was there to explain to him? Even if I did, he would not listen. I handed the files with the marked problems to Jean. I told her to redesign these parts when she got back. “The authorities from Dawnstar Corporation must have discovered some problems with the project. We can’t be careless. I can’t keep working on designs now, so you’ll have to do a lot of it. “My office in the design department is probably still unused. You should move in there for now, but don’t tell anyone about my hospitalization.” Jean gripped the files tightly. “Not even Leonard? He surely doesn’t know, right?” “He knows. There’s no need to mention it.” I closed the laptop, expressionless. I had told him I needed to be hospitalized, but he probably did not believe me, and I did not plan to explain further. Jean seemed reluctant to leave me. She lingered in the ward for over half an hour. Only when a nurse came to remind her did she finally have to leave. But before leaving, she turned back and held her phone out to me. “Eva, I know you might not care, but Leonard is too much. “This money is also your marital property. How can he use it to buy an apartment for Lily? It’s at least 2 million dollars.” I glanced at Lily’s Instagram post on Jean’s phone. It was indeed a cozy loft apartment that was already furnished. Clearly, it was not bought recently. The caption read, “Our cozy little nest”. In the corner of the photo was Leonard’s side profile. “You should go back now. Work is more important.” Laying weakly in the hospital bed, I felt a pain in my chest again. Two million dollars. Leonard was really generous with his mistress. Had he truly fallen in love with her? I suddenly remembered how my mother was still living in a rented house before she died, and I felt sad. The once glamorous Mrs. Greene had wasted away to skin and bones, living in a tiny apartment with just one bed. I knew she wanted to see our old villa again, but we had no money left. Back then, I had begged Leonard to lend me some money for the sake of our marriage. But what did he say? “You and that mother of yours don’t deserve to use my money. It’s good enough that you’re alive now. You should atone for what you’ve done!”