Hearts Remember What Minds Try To Forget by Rex Wilder 53

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The ambulance lights crisscrossed and flickered in the night. Rufus gripped Annalise’s hand tightly, his knuckles whitening from the force. Annalise curled up on the stretcher, her pale face filled with panic. 

Mr. Thwaites and Mrs. Thwaites also accompanied her anxiously, constantly monitoring her condition, afraid she might feel even the slightest discomfort. 

“Why aren’t we there yet? How much farther to the hospital?” 

Rufus watched the endless red lights ahead and couldn’t help but grow impatient, urging them on. 

Annalise in his arms suddenly coughed a few times at this moment. 

Rufus immediately comforted her, “Don’t be afraid, we’ll be there soon.” 

He leaned down and half–embraced her in his arms, gently patting her back. 

Annalise, with red–rimmed eyes, looked at the three people beside her and said softly, “Rufus, Mom and Dad…. I thought I’d never see you again… I was so scared…” 

Mrs. Thwaites‘ heart ached terribly upon hearing this, and she stroked Annalise’s trembling back, “How about… letting Rufus and Carice divorce. You two should be together. We support you.” 

“Besides, Carice should come to her senses by now.” 

Mrs. Thwaites sighed as she spoke. 

Before the words even faded, Annalise shook her head violently, “No… Carice will be sad… Even though I like Rufus, I don’t want Carice to be sad either.” 

Rufus’s throat tightened as he watched Annalise, weak but still thinking of others, and a dull ache spread through his chest. 

“Uncle, Aunt, I’ll talk to Carice tomorrow,” he said, gripping Annalise’s hand tightly, “Annalise shouldn’t have to suffer.” 

Mr. Thwaites let out a long sigh but ultimately didn’t object. After all, their adopted daughter had just narrowly escaped death, and making up for this regret was only right. 

Thirty minutes later, as the ambulance barely came to a stop in front of the emergency building, an impatient Rufus immediately carried Annalise and sprinted all the way. 

Until the person was sent into the emergency room for examination, he collapsed onto the bench. 

He thought for a moment and swiped on his phone 

Carice‘ name appeared on the lock screen. 

Rufus tapped the call button. 

“Hello?” His voice was hoarse. 

Rufus stared at the tightly shut operating room doors, his nails digging deep into his palms: “Let’s get a divorce.” 

Dead silence fell on the other end of the line, followed after a long pause by a light laugh:“You must have wanted a divorce for a long time, right? Even if it’s for Annalise. Is this what she wants?” 

“Enough!” Rufus crushed the paper cup in his hand,“Annalise has been considering you all this time, can’t you just treat her like a younger sister?” 

“Besides, Annalise is already in this state, what more are you doubting?” 

As the emergency room doors opened, Rufus abruptly stood up, his phone clattering to the ground. 

Annalise lay on the hospital bed, her face still pale, forcing a smile when she saw him: “Have you talked to sis? Was I too selfish…” 

‘Don’t think about that.” 

Rufus gently held her hand, “Once you’re discharged, let’s get married, pkay?” 

At that moment, his phone suddenly vibrated–a message from Carice in reply, just one brief line:“I agree to the divorce.” 

Rufus stared at the few simple words on the screen, feeling an inexplicable emptiness in his heart. 

How could she agree so quickly? 

Hadn’t she always liked him? 

At this moment, he couldn’t quite figure out what her reaction meant. 

But no matter what, it shouldn’t be this reaction now. 

18.95 

After all, Carice liked him so much that everyone knew it. 

Could it be that she doesn’t like me anymore? 

At the thought of this possibility, Rufus’s face darkened. 

He took out his phone and sent another question mark. 

A second later, the phone dinged. 

It wasn’t her instant reply. 

Instead, it was the notification sound of the sent message being rejected. 

She always replies instantly, could she be injured today? 

Or is she still angry? 

Rufus felt inexplicably uneasy but couldn’t pinpoint why. 

Rufus’s restless heart grew increasingly impatient, forcing him to temporarily stop overthinking. 

The most important thing now should be taking good care of Annalise. 

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