Perhaps it was a side effect of the Sorrow-Eater.

Kaelen felt a profound exhaustion, both in his heart and in his body.

He didn't want to hear Vera comforting Caden. He turned and left the office.

This time, Vera, who had always revolved around him, didn't even notice he was gone.

When Kaelen got home, he fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

When he opened his eyes again, Vera was sitting by his bed.

She seemed troubled, her dark brows knitted together in a frown that wouldn't smooth out.

Sensing he was awake, Vera looked over, a wave of relief washing over her when she saw he was okay.

She reached out and gently tidied his messy hair. "Honey, are you angry because I said your divination was wrong today?"

She still looked at him with such love, as if she truly cared.

If that was true, then why did she cheat?

But it didn't matter anymore. Soon, he would be gone.

Seeing Kaelen's silence, Vera gripped his hand, her voice filled with panic. "Honey, I'm so sorry. Please, don't ignore me."

The woman who was so decisive and ruthless in the business world was actually afraid.

Kaelen's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "No, I was just thinking…"

Before he could finish, Vera's phone rang.

The screen lit up for a brief moment, but Kaelen still caught the caller ID—My Wolf.

Only Caden could warrant a name like that from her.

Vera quickly answered the call, and just as quickly returned. "Honey, something came up at the office. I have to go."

She grabbed her coat and rushed out the door.

Kaelen watched her leave, hearing the front door open and close.

He forced himself out of bed and walked to the window.

The orange sun was setting. Vera’s graceful figure slipped into her car, and with a roar of the engine, she was gone.

She was rushing to Caden's side with such determination.

Kaelen's eyes were filled with shattered affection. As he was about to turn away, a sharp pain shot through his lower abdomen.

He staggered, barely catching himself on the windowsill to keep from falling.

The dull ache came in waves. Kaelen instinctively tried to divine the cause, but the pain was too intense to focus.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he forced himself to call a cab and go to the hospital.

Night had fallen, and the hospital was quiet.

Kaelen was sent from one department to another for tests. Finally, he sat in a urology office, wiping the cold gel from his stomach, his face pale.

The doctor looked at the scan, his expression grim. "You have a congenital varicocele."

"To put it simply, it's a form of male infertility. It won't affect your overall health, but I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult for you to have children in the future."

Kaelen froze for a moment, subconsciously touching his abdomen, his eyes stinging.

Extremely difficult to have children…

But in a way, it was for the best. He was never fated to have children anyway. He never dared to hope for that kind of bond.

A child does not enter a broken home.

Kaelen let out a quiet sigh, composing himself before walking out of the doctor's office in a daze.

The next second, he saw the elevator doors down the hall slide open. Inside, Vera and Caden were pulling apart, their lips red and swollen.

So, this was the "something at the office"—bringing Caden for a prenatal check-up.

Kaelen's mouth twisted in a humorless smirk. He turned and walked toward the restroom before they could see him.

He splashed cold water on his face again and again, trying to numb the stinging in his chest.

When he looked up, he saw Caden.

Caden leaned against the wall, one hand on his lower back, his expression taunting. "Mr. Shaw, what are you doing at the hospital all by yourself? Didn't Vera come with you?"

He feigned surprise, covering his mouth. "Oh, my bad, I forgot. She's with me. You have no idea how hard she was kissing me in the elevator just now. Said if she wasn't worried about the baby, she would have… God, her body misses me so much!"

"Mr. Shaw, how long has it been since you and Vera have been together? Does hearing all this make you angry?"

Kaelen's fists clenched, his lips a thin, cold line.

When he and Vera had first gotten together, she was insatiable. They could be doing anything, and somehow, they would always end up in bed.

But for the past six months, they'd had almost no physical contact. She was rarely even home.

Kaelen fought to keep the sweet memories at bay, but he found that everything that was once so clear was now shrouded in a fog, hazy and indistinct.

"I don't remember."

Kaelen had no desire to waste his breath on Caden. He threw the words at him and walked away, ignoring the man’s frustrated expression.

But just outside the restroom, he ran into Vera.

Their eyes met. Vera looked surprised. "Kaelen, what are you doing here?"

Before Kaelen could answer, Caden emerged from behind him. "Vera…"

Vera's eyes instantly filled with panic.

A fresh stab of pain hit Kaelen's chest. He looked down, pretending not to see, and walked away.

He didn't want to know what happened next. He didn't have the strength to care.

He had just stepped out of the hospital when Vera caught up to him.

Their eyes met again.

She looked terrified, stumbling over her words. "Kaelen, I went back to the office, but Caden suddenly felt sick, so I had to bring him to the hospital first…"

There was a time when if Kaelen felt the slightest bit unwell, she would have been the first to know.

Now, they met by chance at a hospital, and she never once asked why he was there.

Kaelen didn't speak, just quietly watched her lie.

Vera's gaze was cautious, her voice soft. "Caden has been my most capable assistant for years. I couldn't just ignore him."

"You understand, don't you?"

Nineteen days left.

"Yes, I understand," Kaelen said, gently pulling his hand away. "Go on, I'm heading home."

He was about to turn when Vera's voice stopped him.

"You said Caden's child isn't meant to be born. Can you… can you do something to save it? It's a life, after all."

"You can change fate, can't you? Please, just help him."

Kaelen froze. He had told her he could alter destinies, but he had also said it was entirely up to the heavens.

And regardless of success or failure, the one who defied fate would have to pay with their own life!