Chapter 22 Her body was extremely weak; when a strong wind blew by, she almost felt as if she would be swept away. Before she could recover, a nurse came in and handed her a stack of payment slips. "Ms. Scott, these are all the expenses for your hospital stay during this period. Please take a look, and if there are no issues, sign and make the payment." Valerie kept flipping through the payment slips, feeling as if darkness was closing in on her again. The countless items added up to nearly a million. She couldn't understand, so she frowned and questioned the nurse: "I've only been hospitalized for a few months to recover from my injuries. How could it cost so much?" "Oh, these are the combined costs for your private room, hiring a caregiver, and eating premium nourishing meals, among other things. There are no issues." The nurse explained calmly, then added, "All of this was arranged for you by Mr. Hernandez. He hasn't paid the bills and said this is part of your punishment." Valerie's face turned pale, her heart filled with grievance, yet she was powerless. After taking several deep breaths, she still had no choice but to pay the bill. Chapter 22 In an instant, her savings were almost completely drained. During her days with Duncan, she had indeed received quite a lot of money. But the more she earned, the more she spent. In order to maintain her luxurious lifestyle, and to make herself more like Angela. Valerie had undergone some cosmetic procedures to subtly alter her appearance, and had bought many clothes, bags, and accessories identical to Angela's. Now, even if she sold those things, the money she could get back would be a mere fraction. What was truly frightening wasn't this, but the fact that she had no idea how she would live in the future. Her appetite had already been spoiled; ordinary clothes and accessories could no longer satisfy her. She had no job, no income, and could only watch her savings dwindle away. Valerie let out a self-mocking laugh. "Duncan, you really are ruthless to me. I've already apologized and admitted my mistakes, what more do you want from me? Do you really want to drive me to my death before you're satisfied?" However, the only response she received was silence. Duncan didn't care at all what would happen to Valerie. He simply repurchased the things Rosalie had burned before, making up for the loss. Those gifts could be bought again, but the burned photos had no backups and could never be replaced. Chapter 22 Before they were together, because of their discord, there were only a handful of photos of them together. Now, these few remaining photos had become his only comfort in missing her. Duncan cherished each photo as he looked through them one by one. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, but the smile he managed was uglier than crying. "Rosalie, I miss you. Without you by my side, there's no one to bicker with me. Life is really dull." *** "Rosalie, I promised you I would take good care of your parents. I've been doing as I promised, but without you, they can hardly go on living. I might have to break my word." *** "Rosalie, when your parents are gone, can I come join you all? Can you wait for us down there? Let's reunite and be together again in the next life." Title: CEO, Your Wife Is Gone Author: CrushReel Genre: Romance, CEO, Sweet Romance, Modern, Romantic Status: ongoing In "CEO, Your Wife Is Gone," Elise battles cancer while striving to fulfill her role as the perfect wife to George. Trinity, Elise's sister, orchestrates a deceitful scheme against her... Embark on a heartfelt journey in this modern romance novel that explores themes of love and betrayal amidst the challenges of illness. Follow Elise as she navigates the complexities of her relationships and confronts unexpected twists orchestrated by those closest to her. What sets "CEO, Your Wife Is Gone" apart is its poignant portrayal of love tested by adversity and the resilience of the human spirit. Dive into this captivating narrative filled with emotional depth and intricate character dynamics. Discover the unique blend of romance and suspense that defines this captivating story available to read at CrushReel. Experience the emotional rollercoaster of Elise's journey online at CrushReel today.