But it wasn’t working.
The fear only kept growing stronger.
As she struggled to steady her breathing, Juliet suddenly rushed over to her side. The moment Juliet looked at Amara’s face, her expression tightened with worry.
“Where’s Elias?” Juliet asked immediately.
Amara slowly opened her eyes and turned her head slightly. Juliet stood next to the stretcher with her arms crossed tightly against her chest, anger and disbelief written all over her face.
“Didn’t you tell him about the surgery even until now?” she asked again.
Pain flashed briefly across Amara’s face. She immediately lowered her eyes, a flicker of embarrassment crossed her pale face.
“I did,” Her voice sounded small. “But I think he’s busy.”
She tried to smile faintly.
“He didn’t see my messages… and he didn’t answer my calls either. He’s probably very busy.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Juliet’s expression darkened completely.
“You’re kidding me, right?” Juliet snapped angrily. “His wife is about to go into a life-threatening surgery, and he’s busy making money?”
She immediately pulled out her phone angrily.
“Making money for what? Your fucking funeral?” she snapped. “I’ll call him right now—”
Before Juliet could press the screen, Amara quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t.”
Juliet froze and looked down at her.
Amara’s pale lips curved into a small, exhausted smile.
“Maybe letting him pay for my funeral wouldn’t be such a bad use of his money in the end.”
A weak laugh escaped her lips afterward.
The joke was light.
But the sadness behind it crushed Juliet instantly.
Juliet’s eyes reddened with frustration and panic.
“You’re still making a joke?” she said angrily, her voice trembling emotionally. “Do you even understand how serious this surgery is? The doctors literally told me there’s a very high chance you could die on that operating table!”
Her voice cracked near the end.
“This isn’t some small surgery! Why don’t you understand that?” Juliet’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m terrified for you.”
Amara’s weak smile slowly faded.
Her glossy eyes lowered toward her trembling hands resting against the blanket, and suddenly a painful thought crossed her mind.
‘I’m about to walk toward death… and I’m still hoping for his affection.’
A part of her still desperately hoped Elias loved her.
