Emma's eyes widened.
Reflexively, she pushed the man back harshly. The impact caused her to twist her feet and fall down on the ground.
Daniel stared at her with surprise in his eyes.
There was panic written in Emma's eyes as she stared at the man, not caring about the pain.
"I, uh-" She couldn't think of what to say.
"You're truly a handful," Daniel expressed. "I am going to the hospital. Come on, I will bring you along."
Daniel extended his hand. Emma's eyes lingered on it for a couple of seconds in hesitation. Daniel noticed her dilemma.
He moved his hand back, and only then, Emma stood up in a hurry prior to dusting her dress off.
There was suspicion in Daniel's eyes as he observed Emma. A lot has changed about her in barely a few days, and he did not know how to feel about it.
"You should have urgent matters. I shouldn't bother you," Emma politely turned him down.
Daniel's eyes narrowed at her. He didn't mean to be narcissistic, but it was odd for her to reject him so much.
Could it be that she lost her interest in him?
Daniel didn't insist.
He nodded his head before walking off.
Once he departed, she recalled that once again, she forgot to mention to him about the break up.
Recalling how Daniel mentioned he was going to the hospital, creases formed between both of her brows, and she thought for a while before deciding to follow him to the hospital.
The faster the relationship between them was broken, the lower her guilt will be and the earlier Daniel will be able to earn peace.
Emma called a cab to the hospital. Once she arrived at the hospital, she had an idea on where Daniel would be. He was most likely here to find his mother.
Thinking about that, Emma's heart clenched painfully.
Emma recalled the day she pushed Daniel's back against the wall, threatening him to be in a relationship with him.
Her dark eyes stared at him— determined.
"Daniel Yang, you can't reject me. No, I won't let you reject me. The moment you step out the door, I will make sure your mother doesn't receive her treatment and dies in that hospital. You know I can do that, right?
I know you have been struggling to pay the medical bills. What about it? Fall in love with me, and I will solve your problems. You know a little money like that isn't a big deal for me."
Cruel words left her mouth as she chained the man to a years long suffocating relationship.
Emma couldn't recall how she looked back then, but she should have appeared especially vicious, just like a horrible monster out of one's nightmare.
Her memory was also blurry on the gaze Daniel gave her after turning in her direction. All that rang in her mind was the clicks of the photos taken by students, getting ready their new scoop for the weak.
In their story, Daniel was a pitiful yet a funny character they could kick around.
And Emma, she was proud to have everything in her control.
Daniel must have been especially disgusted with her back then.
Emma clenched her hand into a tight fist— her nails left behind marks on her palm.
She sucked in the cold air, finding it hard to breathe.
Her lower lip trembled, and she held back her urge to cry. What right did she have to cry?
She rushed over to the cardiology department. From her memories, she made her way to his mother's ward, and her steps stopped when she spotted Daniel standing outside the room with the doctor, discussing.
"Look, Daniel, I get that you have your struggles, but the hospital has its policy as well. You're already behind payment, and the hospital can't consider more. And your mother wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer," the doctor voiced out.
The man raised his hand to pat on Daniel's back.
Daniel was stubborn and unwilling to lower his head. Even though he was forced into the relationship because of his mother's treatment, he never asked Emma for any kind of money. Emma also didn't care about it much to look up on her own.
Therefore, only a few times did she help his mother with the money.
Seeing Daniel be so dejected, Emma was about to step forward when she realized the man's pride and decided not to.
Before her rebirth, she would have arrogantly believe she was only helping him and he should be grateful to her. But now, she understood he had his own thoughts and considerations as well.
When the doctor walked away, Emma approached him and asked, "Are you free?"
The man looked at her and responded, "Is there anything you need?"
"About Daniel's mother, I am willing to sponsor her treatment, but I wish you would keep my identity a secret," Emma voiced out.
The doctor looked at her in confusion. The girl looked no older than twenty, and he thought she was merely playing around.
"Ms. The cost is no small matter," the doctor stated.
"You don't need to worry about that. Just make proper arrangements for me," Emma coldly ordered.
°°°
When Emma's father returned home from work that day, she called to his study. There was a stern expression on his face.
"I see that you have withdrawn a large amount today," the man started, waiting for his daughter to give him an explanation.
Emma smiled slightly. "I, uh, made a big mistake, and now, I am just trying to do a lot of good to make up for it."
Her father raised one of his eyebrows.
"Dad, I am paying for Daniel's mother's treatment anonymously. I have made a lot of trouble for him, and this is the only way I could think of repaying it," Emma confessed.
Her father stared at her for a couple of seconds before sighing. He knew he spoiled his daughter a little too much and understood how willful she was.
Seeing how her temperament changed a lot lately, becoming more timid and considerate, made him feel more concerned than happy.
"It's good that you are aware of it, but, Emma, are you alright? You know you can say everything to your dad," Her father softly said.
Emma shook her head.
"Dad, I just realized it is about time I grew up. You always protected me, and now, it is my turn to do the same for you," Emma stated.
Her father stared at her silently for a while before laughing.
"Sure, sure, I am waiting for my dear daughter to protect me."