Take My Breath Away

Ivan shook his head and smiled at Kasie. "No, I've had enough rest. I'm not sleepy yet. Could you please hand me a book from there?"

He pointed at the tiny bookshelf in the corner of the ward.

Kasie turned around, following his finger and then nodded, "Sure. Which book would you like to read?"

"Just pick one. I'm fine with anything."

She picked up a novel at random, and handed it to him before she sat down on the chair next to his bed. "I hope you have fun reading. I'll keep an eye on the infusion bottle."

Ivan nodded and politely said, "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Kasie tilted her head and smiled.

Ivan sprawled across the bed, flipping through the pages of the book.

Silence filled the air again. Kasie exchanged text messages with Debbie for a while to pass the time. Later on, she started to feel a little sleepy as drowsiness got the better of her. She cast a short glance at Ivan, who was immersed in the book, and leaned over to the edge of the bed. Finding it difficult to keep her head up, she buried her face in her arms and drifted off to dreamland.

A few minutes later, when Ivan took his eyes away from the book, he found Kasie in a motionless state. He could hear her breathing steadily and he called out her name softly, but she didn't respond.

'Is she sleeping?' He lifted the quilt and got out of the bed to check up on her. Indeed, she had fallen asleep.

Clenching his teeth in pain, he slowly walked to the hanger and took his coat. He carefully draped it over her shoulders.

Kasie moved a little, as if she had felt the weight of coat on her shoulders. But she didn't open her eyes.

Staring at her blissful face, Ivan recalled the first time he had met this girl, even though admittedly, he had only met her a couple of times. The first time was at Debbie's concert and then the second time was, oddly enough, at his wedding with Debbie.

Ivan knew little to nothing about Kasie—Debbie's closest friend. The only thing he knew was that she made investments in some businesses and opened a shop of her own after graduation. As strange as it sounded, it was Debbie who inadvertently mentioned her to him.

However, the first time he began to notice this girl in a different light, was on the day of his wedding. She secretly approached him without Debbie's knowledge. With tearful eyes, she warned him, "I don't care whether you love Debbie or not. Since you've decided to marry her, you must treat my best friend like a queen. Or else, I will make you wish you hadn't met me!"

Ivan was amused by her vigor. Like the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together." Debbie was short-tempered, and so was Kasie.

Faced with her threat and finding no choice but to surrender himself, Ivan obediently nodded his head in agreem

She decided not to throw a birthday party for herself. After all, her daughter was already three years old.

She took Piggy back to Y City and left her under Curtis' care as usual, because she had to take care of some work at Star Empire.

By the time she got back to Champs Bay Apartments, it was already half past nine at night.

She parked her car in the underground parking lot and then entered the elevator. When the elevator reached the ground floor, the doors slid open, revealing a man standing outside with his eyes to the screen of his phone.

He was dressed in a dark blue designer suit, with a tie to match, and a pair of dark brown leather shoes.

Debbie's heart began pounding inside her chest when she recognized who it was. It was the same man she had successfully avoided thinking about for the past few months.

Immediately, she lowered her head, nervously touching the mask and sunglasses with her hand as she pulled her cap down to cover her face. She quietly took a few steps backwards to hide herself in the corner hoping not to attract his attention. She wasn't ready to face him yet. It had only been a few months since they separated and she wasn't interested in making awkward small talk with him.

The man strode into the elevator and casually pressed the number six, as if he didn't notice her presence.

'Did he recognize me? Maybe not. Otherwise, why wouldn't he at least greet me? Perhaps he just doesn't want to talk to me anymore?' she wondered.

A faint smell of alcohol permeated her nose. 'Has he been drinking again?'

Debbie pursed her lips. 'Isn't he still taking his pills? Why is he so stubborn? Huh! He can't even take care of himself now!' she thought angrily.

Soon enough, the elevator reached the sixth floor. Once the doors opened, the man walked out of the elevator without saying anything.