Love Is Blind, I’m Not Chapter 06

I spoke with Nicole for nearly two hours that night.

When I hung up, I fell into a deep sleep.

After that, I divided my days into three grueling shifts, sleeping only two or three hours each night.

Some ten days later, I made my first loan repayment, leaving a small balance in my account.

I carved out time to visit Dad at St. Martin’s Hospital.

He was still asleep when I walked into the ward. I sat down beside his bed and drifted off before I knew it.

I woke to find Dad tracing the raw, cracked skin on the back of my hand. When he saw my eyes open, he asked in a hoarse voice, “What happened to your hand?”

I quickly pulled my hand away and forced a smile. “The office is renovating. I cut myself moving supplies.”

Dad stared at me for a long time, then murmured, “Felicity, how did you get that three hundred thousand for my medical bills?”

I’d prepared my excuse long ago. “My boss advanced part of my salary, and former classmates pitched in the rest.”

Dad exhaled in relief. “Once I’m better, we’ll pay it back slowly.”

I nodded firmly. “Okay. I’ve picked up lots of side work lately, so I’m swamped. I’ll come see you again at the end of the month.”

Dad kept watching me. Beneath his oxygen mask, his lips curved faintly.

“Go on and get back to work. I’m alright. Don’t wear yourself out rushing to the hospital all the time.”

The days that followed blurred into nonstop, endless labor.

Three days before my second payment was due, the hospital called.

The nurse’s gentle, sorrowful voice pierced through the haze in my mind.

“Ms. Carlisle. Your father suffered sudden heart failure just now. I’m afraid… please come quickly.”

Everything turned chaotic that day. I can barely remember sprinting through the hospital doors. All I recall is Dad’s body covered by a white sheet in the ward, doctors and nurses struggling to hold me back…

Someone shouted for a sedative. A sharp prick bit my arm, and everything went black.

When I regained consciousness, Nicole sat beside me, her eyes badly swollen from crying.

At the sight of me waking, she hurried to speak. “Felicity, how are you? Do you want some water?”

I stared blankly at her and whispered, “Where’s Dad?”

Tears rolled down Nicole’s cheeks. “He’s at the funeral home. I’ve handled all the arrangements, waiting only for you to wake.”

I nodded numbly. “Thank you.”

Nicole choked back a sob, remembered something, and handed over a crumpled sheet of paper.

“Your dad left this with the head nurse before he passed. It’s… his last will.”

My hand trembled as I took it. It took immense effort to make out the shaky handwriting.

My child, you were never good at lying. I guessed where that three hundred thousand came from.

I wanted to stay with you, not leave you all alone in this world.

But my body has failed me. Medicine cannot stop the pain, and IV fluids leave me freezing to the bone. I won’t last much longer.

Don’t cry. The greatest regret of my life is failing you, never giving you one single easy day.

And do not fear. Your mother and I’ll watch over you. Live well, from now on.

I turned the thin sheet of paper over and over, my hand shaking uncontrollably.

I tried to cry, but all that escaped my open mouth was a raw, ragged sound that tore from my throat.

Nicole held me tight, repeating over and over, “Let it out. It’ll feel better.” “Felicity, you still have me.”

That same night, I walked out of the funeral home clutching a cheap wooden urn holding Dad’s ashes. The rough edges of the box dug sharply into my palms.

Nicole walked beside me, but as we neared the alley leading home, a black Maybach was parked conspicuously along the curb. Harris stood beside the car, his gaze fixed on me.

He spoke. “Nicole, get in the car first. I need to speak with her.”

Nicole frowned and stepped in front of me. “I’m not leaving.”

Harris sounded weary. “Please. I won’t hurt her.”

Nicole stood her ground.

I tugged gently at her coat. “Nicole, go ahead. I’m fine.”

Only then did Nicole walk toward the car, glancing back again and again.

Once the car door shut, Harris’s gaze settled on me, then drifted to the urn in my arms.

He pressed his lips together, his voice surprisingly soft. “My condolences.”

I looked at him with no expression. “Harris, what do you want?”

I’d chased him for five years; I knew him better than anyone.

Harris smiled and pulled a folded paper from his pocket.

“I’ve settled your high-interest loan, principal plus interest—five hundred thousand total. My assistant handled it.”

I froze where I stood, the heavy urn pressing against my chest.

I stared at him in shock as he went on slowly.

“Nicole keeps getting distracted worrying about you. Our wedding is coming soon, and I don’t want her grieving over you any longer.”

“This money is to buy your silence and absence. Don’t disturb our lives ever again.”

I stared at the loan document that had once crushed me, and the whole thing felt absurd beyond measure.

The price I’d traded half my life to secure was laid out before me so casually.

I hugged the urn tighter; splinters dug into my palm.

Dad’s words echoed in my mind: I must live well.

I stepped forward and took the paper from his hand. “It’s a deal, Mr. Parker.”