Later on, Dad made a comeback. Even the powerful Blackwell family in Nautilis extended a marriage proposal, but he never forced me, leaving me with the final decision.
To him, nothing mattered more than my happiness.
Back then, I thought I had everything one could ask for—loving, open-minded elders and the devoted companionship of the Langston brothers.
But reality hit me hard.
I was nothing more than a fleeting amusement in their reckless youth.
Suddenly, the ward’s door opened. Several nurses came in, arranging their syringes, unable to hold back their excitement as they gossiped.
“Did you hear about the Langston family in Nautilis? The two brothers just proposed to the same young woman in public!”
“They were on their knees right by her hospital bed, and the diamonds on those rings were huge!”
“Seriously, how is she that lucky?”
My phone buzzed with a notification.
Queenie had just posted a picture on her social media showing off both of her ring fingers—each adorned with a different diamond ring.
It was captioned, “Don’t talk to me about time proving love. Old hags should just stop being delusional.”
And, of course, she blatantly tagged me.
Pain crept through my chest. The background in her photo was the private ICU room the Langston brothers had once set up specifically for me.
I quietly blocked her.
Still trying to sound calm for Dad on the other end of the line, I said, “Aren’t you happy that I’m marrying earlier? It means you get to have a grandchild sooner too.”
After this narrow brush with death, I was done chasing the kind of love that burns too bright and too fast.
I just wanted to come home at night and see a light on, one that was lit just for me.
Dad was silent for a while before he finally agreed.
“The Blackwell family already looked into your condition. If you’re willing, you can register for marriage in two weeks. But… regarding you still living with the Langstons…”
I knew what he was worried about.
After graduation, I followed in Mom’s footsteps and became a surgeon, working at the hospital owned by Mr. Langston Senior.
But now, it was time to end this awkward situation.
