Chapter 5

My gaze turned colder. When Nora met my eyes, she, for once, didn't jump to Julian's defense the way she usually did. She just muttered, "Ian, you've gone too far. You shouldn't curse at people. "

"It's him I'm cursing at, " I shot back. 

Nora stayed silent, and Julian's expression darkened. I looked at him coldly. "What, you can't take it?"

And then Julian snapped. He rushed at me like a madman, grabbing a chair off the ground, ready to go at me. 

"I've had it with you! Even Nora's never spoken to me like that! Who do you think you are, cursing at me?"

We started fighting, but I wasn't expecting him to hit me on the head with the chair. The next moment, everything went black, and I lost consciousness. 

When I came to, I found myself lying in a hospital bed. It wasn't Nora or Julian by my side, but my mother-in-law, Susan. 

As soon as she saw me awake, she rushed to apologize, "Ian, I'm so sorry. I never thought my daughter could be so out of control. "

I shook my head. "Mom, it's not your fault. "

She sighed deeply. "I know Eva's death has hit you hard, but you need to keep moving forward. "

I forced a small smile. "I know, Mom. You should go take care of your own things. I just need a moment alone. "

She looked at me with concern. "Alright, but call me if you need anything. "

As she left, the weight in my heart returned. My thoughts were filled with images of my daughter. Tears started flowing again, soaking into the pillow. 

After a while, Nora came in, holding my favorite mung bean cake. But she looked exhausted, her face worn. 

While I was unconscious, she'd gone to the hospital where our daughter had been treated, but she couldn't find any trace of her. 

I wiped away my tears and looked at her coldly. "What are you doing here?"

Nora set the cake on the bedside table and hesitated before speaking. "Ian, is our daughter really gone?"

I replied icily, "You've asked that question a dozen times. "

"I just. . . " Her voice cracked. "I just want to know if she's still alive. "

"Then go ask that bastard Julian. He'll tell you whatever you want to hear. "

Nora frowned. "Ian, don't blame Julian. He only lied because he didn't want to see me upset. He was just trying to protect me. "

What a joke. Julian was only thinking about himself, wanting Nora all to himself without any worries, but she's here making him out to be some kind of hero. 

I sneered. "Then why don't you go and be with your precious lover?"

She hesitated, then tried pleading with me again. "Ian, please, just tell me where our daughter is. I didn't see her name on the hospital's death list, so she must still be alive. "

Of course, she didn't see itEva hadn't even been registered yet. 

I couldn't take it anymore and snapped, "What's the point of caring now? Where were you when it mattered?"

As my anger flared, the pain where Julian had hit me grew sharper. Nora reached out as if to help but hesitated and pulled back. 

Just then, her phone rang. After a brief conversation, she said anxiously, "Julian's in the next ward. He's not feeling well. I'll go check on him and be right back. "

And with that, she hurried out. 

My hatred for her deepened. But not long after, the door opened again. 

Julian walked in, holding a bundle of fruit knives .