Chapter 31

Jayden turned to me. “I don’t have much going on this afternoon, so I’ll go with you to check out the new hospital.”

He knew my condition was only temporarily stable, and that the best chance of extending my life lay in transferring to a better hospital with a more professional medical team.

Looking at his tired face, I said softly, “There’s no need. You should go home and rest. You’ve been working hard these days.”

“Brat, why so polite with me?” He walked over to my bed and placed the breakfast he had been carrying on the bedside table. “I ran into the nurse in the hallway just now. She had to go home for something, so I brought your breakfast instead.”

“Have you eaten yet?” Though I asked, I was already handing him a sandwich from the bag as soon as I picked it up. “You always told me eating on time prevents stomach problems.”

Jayden smiled and accepted the sandwich. When he turned, he met Sophia’s gaze, and his expression grew awkward for a moment. Hesitantly, he asked her, “Have you eaten?”

“Yes,” she replied flatly before turning and walking toward the window to make a call.

I glanced at her back. Thinking about what Edison said this morning when they arrived together, I knew she hadn’t eaten yet. She was distancing herself to give Jayden and me space to talk.

The next moment, he leaned in close and whispered, “Do you think Sophia is really being kind?”

He still felt there was something off about her behavior. She had suddenly transformed into a helpful, considerate person, busying herself with my care. But none of that mattered to me anymore.

I gave a faint smile. “Don’t overthink it. Transferring to a better hospital is only good for my treatment. After all, who wouldn’t want to live a little longer?”

“True enough.” Jayden nodded seriously, though he still couldn’t help but warn me. “Joshua, after the transfer this afternoon, if you notice anything unusual, keep calm and call me immediately.”

“Okay.”

At the time, I had no idea that I would end up calling him just hours later.

In the afternoon, Sophia finished the transfer paperwork and took me to a private hospital. At the entrance, we ran into Edison.

He greeted us with a smile. “Joshua, Sophia, what a coincidence seeing you here. I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, so I came for a checkup.”

I glanced at him but didn’t speak. I clenched my fists, my instincts telling me his presence here was no coincidence.

The next second, his gaze shifted to me. “Sophia, why did you bring Joshua here? Is he being transferred?”

Her response was indifferent, but her expression showed she silently questioned what he was up to. They had clearly agreed that he would avoid appearing in front of me to prevent emotional distress. Yet here he was, suddenly showing up.

Edison looked innocent. “Sophia, you must be overwhelmed handling Joshua’s transfer alone. I come here often and know this hospital well. Let me help you.”

Sophia ignored him. She turned to me. “Joshua,” she began, but I cut her off. “After transferring, will I need to do a new round of tests?”