Billionaire's Match (by Tangy Candy) novel Chapter 1077

"Nick, am I not being clear enough?" Khloe cut him off mercilessly, her voice turning even colder and more emotionless. "No one… wants a patient to help them."

Nick's voice finally quieted. After a pause, he suddenly asked, "A patient? In your eyes, I'm already a burden?"

"Nick, I'm tired. Really tired." Her voice grew lower. "Maybe… it would be better if I sorted myself out alone for a while."

His body swayed slightly. One hand pressed against his abdomen, as if the pain there had flared up again.

Khloe tensed instinctively. In the next moment, she saw him stagger and lean against the wine cabinet, gripping the edge for support.

"You mean…" His voice was hoarse to the point of being barely audible. "You want… to leave me?"

Khloe said nothing.

Silence hung between them like a blade.

Nick's breathing grew heavier. His lips pressed tightly together, his face growing increasingly pale.

At last, Khloe couldn't help but glance at him.

The man who had always stood tall and straight had suddenly collapsed inward. His head hung low, and even as she finished speaking and walked past him, he did not reach out to grab her hand again.

Every step she took felt as if her heart were being cut open by knives. But she couldn't stop. Nor could she look back. Because she had already made her decision—no matter what, she would make sure Nick survived.

Even if she could retrieve T7, as long as his feelings for her remained, he would never accept any form of compromise. Especially not a compromise involving someone like Trey. Or divorcing her.

Nick's pride would never allow him to take medication obtained by sacrificing her.

If Nick couldn't do it, then she would be the one to become the villain.

Even if the price was that there would be no future left between them.

"Cough… cough…"

Khloe hadn't gone far when she heard a violent coughing fit behind her. She wanted to ignore it, but after only a few steps, the night-duty servants were already alarmed and rushed over, helping Nick to sit down on the side.

"Sir! Sir!"

Soon after, Nick swallowed the medication. Leaning back against the sofa, his violently heaving chest finally began to settle.

Standing beside him, Khloe felt a sharp ache in her heart, almost to the point of tears.

But when he finally recovered and looked at her again, her expression had already returned to normal.

"Feeling better? Don't be afraid—the doctor will be here soon."

After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and took his cold hand.

Nick exhaled deeply. A faint, almost mocking curve appeared at his lips, his gaze carrying an emotion so complex that Khloe couldn't decipher it at once.

He stared at her for a long while, then slowly raised his hand, as if to touch her face.

Seeing how weak and heavy his movement was, Khloe leaned in slightly to meet him.

His fingers brushed her cheek gently, then tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. He lingered there for only a moment before carefully withdrawing his hand again.