The surgery dragged on for hours . When the doctor finally emerged , he announced that the operation had been successful - but Graham was still in a fragile state . They wheeled him into the ICU for observation . His face was ghostly pale , tubes running across his body , his consciousness lost to a deep coma . Evelyn watched from a distance , her heart heavy , but she didn't follow . She found the cheapest motel near the hospital and checked in . Every day , she visited the hospital at the same time , peering through the ICU glass for a brief glimpse of him , asking the doctors for updates , and quietly settling his medical bills at the front desk . The money came from two years of careful saving , along with a sum from an anonymous donation she had once tried to send back to her hometown for rebuilding efforts - unexpectedly returned . She had redirected it in Graham's name to hurricane - hit communities . Now , it was just enough to cover his hospital expenses . A week later , Graham was stable enough to be moved to a regular ward . Still weak , he drifted in and out of sleep , his body frail . The day before he woke , Evelyn visited his room . He was asleep , brow furrowed as if wrestling unseen pain . His face was pale , stubble scattered across his jaw , his usual commanding presence softened by illness . She stood by his bedside , watching silently for a long time . Then she tore a page from the notebook she carried and wrote a few lines carefully , folding the paper and placing it gently beside his pillow . The note read : [ Graham , thank you for saving my life . The medical bills are paid . We're even . Please don't look for me after you're healed . Goodbye . Evelyn . ] She gave him one last look , then turned and walked away without hesitation . Graham woke fully the next day at noon . Chapter 21 91.30 % Pain shot through his back , and a heavy tightness gripped his chest , making each breath a struggle . His eyes snapped open , and his first thought was to find her . " Evelyn ... Where's Evelyn ?! " His aide , Frank , who had been keeping watch , rushed to steady him . " General ! Don't move - you'll tear your wounds ! Evelyn ... she's fine . She's healed . She ... she's gone . " " Gone ? " Graham froze , a wave of emptiness crashing over him . Urgency flared again . " Was she hurt ? Where is she staying ? Is she safe ? " Frank hesitated , eyes darting away . Graham's instincts flared - something was wrong . His gaze swept the bedside table and landed on a folded piece of paper . With trembling hands , he reached for it and unfolded it . Her handwriting was delicate but cold , each word slicing into his battered heart . [ Thank you for saving my life . ] [ Bills paid . ] [ We're even . ] [ Don't look for me . ] No greeting . No warmth . Just a stark , icy line drawn between them . Even after he had nearly died for her , she would not soften - not even for the hospital bills . Despair hit him like a frigid flood , drowning him worse than any fracture or internal injury . He clutched the note until his fingers whitened , then let it fall . Tears spilled from his sunken eyes , burning against the crisp white pillow . He had lost . He had lost everything . Graham stayed in the hospital for another month . His physical wounds healed slowly , but the hole in his heart only widened , a cold draft cutting through him relentlessly . He grew unnervingly quiet . Chapter 21 91.30 % Outside treatments and meals , he spent hours staring out the window . Often , his gaze would drift back to that worn , crumpled note , its edges frayed from constant handling . Chapter 21 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!