Chapter 54: No Divorce

The ward was silent as Orson looked at Lenora, and Lenora looked back in her wheelchair. Just then, someone else entered the room.

It was the doctor. He looked down at his chart before smiling and said, "I am a bit surprised? With your injuries, you should not even be talking, but you are. It’s weird. Are you an Awakened?"

Orson shook his head. "No, doctor. I am not."

"Well, okay. If you still have any issues, you can come back, but for now, everything looks good."

Lenora just sat in her wheelchair, not saying anything. After the doctor checked Orson, he left the room, leaving the two alone.

Lenora wheeled her chair forward. "The house is gone, so for now we will be staying in a hotel. And don’t worry—I have enough money to last us until we get a new house."

Lenora said as she was about to move out of the ward. But just as she reached the door, a bitter, cold laugh rang out from Orson’s mouth.

"How hypocritical can you be?"

Orson stood up from the bed. His body was still in pain, but he fought through it.

"You know, I always used to wonder what could have happened that caused you to be like this. You know I am trying here, Lenora, and you are not helping."

Lenora shot back, "So what did you want me to do? I am in a fucking wheelchair."

"Wow. I am even surprised you realize that. Because last time I checked, you didn’t have to be in a wheelchair to kill someone."

Lenora wheeled her chair back. "What do you mean by that?"

"We both know what I mean, so cut that crap. If you didn’t want to marry me, there were other ways to end it, but you chose to kill me. Why? Just so I would not help that pride of yours, right? It’s weird—I don’t even know why I am angry at you. You are just as rotten as the others. Every single one of you."

Lenora just sighed. "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Orson just laughed. "Oh, let me guess—your pride would be wounded if you said anything, right?"

Lenora looked up at Orson with a cold look in her eyes. Orson just sighed to himself.

"Why do I even bother with you?"

He just sighed. "I hope that pride can protect you."

With that, Orson took the ring where his sword was in and walked out of the ward, leaving Lenora alone.

She smiled to herself. "I did not ask you to help me, so stop with your concerns. It makes me sick."

Orson stopped when he was about to leave as he heard it. He looked back at Lenora with a gaze that felt ancient. Lenora felt like a mortal being examined by a god for a second. She wanted to look down, but her pride would not allow it.

Why should I bow to you? she thought as both of them looked at each other. Neither was willing to back down. The tension in the room grew.

Orson sighed before walking back into the room. He looked at the woman before closing the door.

"If you never want to marry, I will not stop you. I mean, why don’t we get a divorce?"

Lenora laughed after hearing Orson’s words. "You think I would still be here if I wanted to? But we have no choice. We are stuck together forever, just to fulfill the duties our clans gave us."

Lenora smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. "So there is no divorce. Okay?"

Orson let out a frustrated sigh before walking out of the room and closing the door. Lenora just watched him leave, her breathing heavy from the confrontation.

---

Orson got out of the ward and walked around. A family was in the hallway as the doctor told them about their son’s condition. The family was all over the doctor, begging her to save their son. The doctor was also trying to console them.

Orson did not really care and walked away. He reached the roof of the hospital to look down at the beautiful district. He took a long breath, letting in fresh air.

Just then, he smelled a rose-like perfume before looking to the side. It was the same doctor. She had red hair and bright brown eyes as she looked at the city as well.

"So let me guess—here to jump as well?" she said.

Orson looked at her and looked around. They were the only two there. Wait, is she talking to me? He looked at the edge of the building. He was not close to it, so how did he look like he was going to jump?

The doctor pulled out a wrapped piece of gum before asking, "Want one?"

Orson looked at it. He knew what it was and took it. His memory was filled with him eating it, so he knew what he was doing as he peeled the gum and placed it in his mouth. Again, knowing something and feeling it are two different things.

He smiled at the doctor and said, "Thanks."

The doctor just nodded as she chewed her own gum. When Orson placed it in his mouth and chewed, his mouth felt fresh and had a coldness about it. Not that Orson minded, but the feeling was beautiful in a way Orson could not explain. As he chewed the gum, there was a silence before the doctor asked, "So I hope now you’re not jumping?"

Orson sighed. "What made you think that?"

The doctor looked Orson up and down. "Well, you and your wife—I heard you two arguing. And you do not look like an Awakened, so."

"Yeah, so you thought. Why does everyone think they know me better than I know myself?"

The doctor smiled. "No, it’s not like that. It’s more about you, not the first, right? I mean, if people do it a lot of times, even if it is someone new, you will still jump to the wrong conclusion."

Orson let out a sigh. "Well, it’s not my fault you guys don’t trust."

The doctor looked at Orson—really looked—and Orson looked back. She sighed and looked away.

"Let me guess—it’s because of this you two are fighting. I am not trying to guess."

Orson did not say anything.

"Look, I know I have no right to speak whatsoever about you. But what if a doctor can help you understand women better?"

Orson looked at her. "And why would you do that?"

The doctor smiled. "I want an autograph of the Storm Saint."

Orson looked shocked. "Wait, how did you know that?"

The doctor smiled. "Well, how would I not know? My idol. And besides, almost every Awakened knows she is alive, so."

Orson smiled and looked at the city below. "Well, let’s just say I am trying really hard, but I feel like I am the only one trying. I mean, I am trying to understand her, but she is not making it easy for me. And now she did something that got on my nerves."

Well, she tried to kill me, but Orson did not say the last part out loud.

"Just like my family did as well. I mean, I should have expected it. And she was telling me she had no choice."

Orson just sighed. "So, well, any help?"

The doctor smiled. "Well, isn’t that just a double standard?"

"What?" Orson looked at her, and she continued.

"I mean, you said it yourself—she did something you know others will do, and you concluded on the matter. And I am sure you did not ask her why she did it, did you? You just concluded."

Orson did not say anything. He thought she made a good point. Wait, I mean, she tried to kill him, so how did this change to him being wrong?

The doctor, who was talking, just said, "Look, I don’t know you or her, but I was there when you were in the hospital. She never left your room—not even once—except when you woke up. So I don’t know how you two are, but try to know her before concluding that she is bad."

And with that, the doctor removed a paper from her back and added with a soft voice, "Do not forget my autograph."

Orson just smiled. "You do know she is down there, and it will be easy for you to ask her."

Orson, with a new resolve, walked back into the hospital for the ward with a lot on his mind after all the stress.

---

Meanwhile, Lenora had stepped out of the ward for a hot strawberry yogurt. She walked back to the room, waiting for Orson.

A system status appeared in front of her, showing her full status. Flashes of memory filled her mind as she looked at it.

[ STATUS ]

Name: Lenora.

Astral Being: ERROR.

Class: Violet.

Class Rank: ERROR.

Astral Rank: Saint.

Astral Burden: Pride.

Current Requirement: ERROR.

Abilities: ERROR—TETHER HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

She looked at her burden and laughed as tears fell silently down her cold face.