Massive Demolition Fees and a Family Emergency

My name was Julia Streep, and I had been trapped in my dream for what felt like an eternity. I couldn't remember if it had been a day, two days, a month, or even longer.

In this dream, I could neither see nor touch anything. Each day blended into the next, leaving me in a state of constant confusion and near despair.

What drove me mad was the constant murmuring I heard in my ears.

Eventually, one day, I began to hear the sounds of the outside world.

"Poor thing, lying here for six years. I wonder if she'll ever wake up?"

"I haven't seen her boyfriend around lately, have you?"

"I heard Mr. Aniston is getting engaged today. He probably won't be around anymore."

"It's been six years. He's been taking care of her. That's more than enough."

The noise was overwhelming. I wondered who they were talking about. Struggling to open my eyes amidst the din, I finally managed to crack them open.

One of the nurses chatting turned her head and saw me, the comatose patient who had been lying still for six years, suddenly awake. She nearly had a heart attack.

"Quick, call the doctor!"

"And get Mr. Aniston on the phone, too."

As I waited for my family to arrive, I pieced together from the doctors' and nurses' conversations that I had been hit by a car six years ago while trying to save a pregnant woman. I had been in a vegetative state ever since.

They said that waking up and being able to talk was a medical miracle.

Whether it was a miracle or not, I wasn't sure. What I knew for certain was that I was desperate to see two people: my father and Nathan.

My father was, of course, my only close family in this world.

As for Nathan Aniston, he was my boyfriend. If it hadn't been for the accident six years ago, we might have been married by now.

After six years apart, I wondered how much he had changed.

When Nathan finally walked into the room, dressed in a sharp suit and looking as handsome as ever, I couldn't hold back my tears.

I tried to reach out to him, but my arms were weak, and I struggled to lift them.

Nathan stood at the door, staring at me in shock, unable to move.

Through my tearful voice, like a child who had been wronged, I said, "Nathan, I missed you."

Nathan seemed to snap out of his daze and rushed to my bedside, holding my hand.

His eyes were fixed on mine; his voice choked with emotion. "Julia, is this real? Are you really awake?"

I sniffled, saying, "Yeah, I'm awake. I guess heaven saw that I did good deeds and couldn't bear to take me, so now I'm here to trouble you."

Nathan pressed my hand to his face, his voice trembling. "Thank God you're awake."

I couldn't help but blush at the moment.

"Hey, tone it down a bit. There are other people in the room," I said.

Nathan's eyes were moist, and he was almost incoherent. "I can't help it. I'm just so happy you're awake. Julia, thank you for coming back..."

Suddenly, I remembered something and looked around. "Where's my dad? He'd be so happy to know I'm awake. Where is he?"

Nathan's grip on my hand tightened slightly. "He's abroad for a trip. We haven't been able to reach him. I'll contact him as soon as you're stable."

I couldn't help but comment, "That old man, always on trip, and he's forgotten about his daughter, huh?"

Just then, a woman's voice came from behind Nathan. "Julia, it's wonderful to see you awake."

I turned to look, and there stood a woman in a formal dress, her makeup flawless and radiant.

She looked oddly familiar, but I couldn't place her. After a moment, I asked, "Are you... Emma?"

Emma Fox had been my childhood friend, always with thick glasses and a quiet demeanor. The woman before me looked nothing like that.

With tears in her eyes, Emma smiled, "Yes, it's me, Emma."

I stared at her, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity. "You've changed so much; I almost didn't recognize you."

Emma fixed her gaze on me, saying meaningfully, "Six years is a long time. People change."

Confused, I looked at her quizzically.

Nathan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. Addressing Emma, he said, "Why don't you head out for now? Julia and I need to talk."

Emma turned to me. "Julia, get some rest. I'll come by when I have the chance."

Unsure of what to say, I simply smiled, "Okay."

As Emma headed towards the door, she glanced back at Nathan. "Should I wait for you?"

Nathan responded, "No need."

Once Emma was gone, I turned to Nathan. "What's going on with you two? Why did she need to wait for you?"

Nathan gently stroked my head, his gaze tender and affectionate. "She's now my assistant. Julia, you've just woken up. Let's not worry about other people right now, okay?"

I was puzzled and felt a bit slow on the uptake, but I nodded. "Alright."

I spent two weeks in the hospital recovering, with Nathan by my side the entire time.

During the day, I focused on my rehabilitation while he worked on his laptop in the next room. Sometimes, I would sneak over to check on him.

Nathan had a striking look, especially when he was dressed in a suit for work. Honestly, he was so handsome it took my breath away.

"Nathan, how come you're so goodlooking?" I found myself asking more than once, completely mesmerized.

He'd always respond with mock seriousness, "Julia, you might want to wipe that drool off your chin. Can't have anyone seeing you like this."

"Pfft! What's the harm? You're my boyfriend, and I can look at you however I want. No one else gets a say in that."

"Touché. You've got a point there."

Nathan's company had gone public two years ago, so he was busier than ever. Still, he spent nearly all his time at the hospital with me, and I felt a twinge of guilt about it.

I'd gently nudge him, saying, "You know, you can head to the office. Just swing by in the evenings to see me."

Every time, he'd look at me with such intensity. "Julia, you're the most important thing in my life. Nothing else matters. Just hang in there a little longer. I'll be done with work soon."

When boredom struck, Nathan would keep me entertained with movies or stories about the past six years.

Yet, he never mentioned anything about his own life during that time.

I didn't pry; I simply remarked, "I must've hit the jackpot running into you. If it were anyone else, they'd have ditched me ages ago."

He squeezed my hand, replying, "Julia, I'm the lucky one for having you. You'll always come first in my heart."

Emma hadn't come by since that day, so I asked Nathan, "Emma said she'd visit, but I haven't seen her. What happened?"

He replied casually, "She's out of town on a business trip. Won't be back for a month."

"Oh, she seems to have changed so much. What's up with that?"

"People change, Julia. It's just life."

I quipped, "And you? You're still the same old Nathan."

He looked at me seriously. "In your presence, I'll never change. I'll always be your Nathan."

My cheeks flushed again. "Who says you haven't changed? You used to be so quiet, and now you're a smooth talker."

Nathan pressed my hand to his lips, saying, "I only say these things to you."

With Nathan around, my recovery was anything but dull. In fact, I found this new life to be quite cozy, almost like stepping back in time to six years ago.

Except for one thing: ever since I woke up, I'd been plagued by nightmares every night.

Oddly enough, they were always the same. In my dreams, a dark figure would loom over me, whispering that it wanted to eat me.

I laughed it off and told Nathan about the nightmare, but he insisted it was because I was overthinking things during the day.

"I'm not a worrywart! I'm as carefree as they come. Honestly, I feel like I'm sleeping better than ever. I can sleep through the night and sometimes even snooze half the day away. I'm practically a pig!"

For some reason, when Nathan heard this, his expression darkened. I caught him asking the doctors more than once why I was becoming increasingly drowsy.

The doctors couldn't provide any clear answers. They mentioned that my waking up was already a medical miracle. In fact, they said I was the only case in the world of someone who had slept for years and then returned to normalcy.

To put it bluntly, they warned that with my condition, it was possible I could slip back into a coma at any time.

Previously, Nathan would go to the office occasionally. However, since I had started dozing off more often, Nathan had completely abandoned his work responsibilities. He handed everything over to his assistant and devoted himself to staying by my side 24/7.

One day, I playfully complained, "You really should go back to work, you know? We built this company together, and I don't want you to let it go to waste!"

With that signature, affectionate look in his eyes, Nathan replied, "Julia, don't worry. Even if the company went under, we'd still be just fine financially."

"Ugh, don't say such unlucky things! I want the company to thrive! I want to be a vice president, what do you think?"

"As long as you want it, I'll make you the president if that's what you want."

I chuckled. "I'm just kidding! I really only care about the money. You can keep being the boss while I spend your earnings!"

"Alright, whatever you say goes."

Later that night, I noticed Nathan refusing to sleep in the empty hospital. Instead, he insisted on squeezing into the bed with me. As I nestled against him, I couldn't help but feel the sharpness of his ribs through his shirt, and I frowned.

"Nathan, why are you so skinny? It feels like I'm hugging a skeleton!"

He rested his chin on top of my head, his voice low and soothing. "It's alright. As long as I can make you healthy, that's what matters. If you gain weight, I'll be happy."

I pouted, poking at his sides playfully. "What do you mean you'll be happy if I gain weight? What's that got to do with you? You should put on some weight too!"

Nathan caught my hand and placed it over his heart, his warm breath brushing against my ear as he said in a husky tone. "Julia, don't tease me. You're still recovering. I don't want to push you."

My face flushed crimson, and I quickly withdrew my hand, embarrassed. After a long pause, I finally said, "Nathan, I'm serious. You really need to gain some weight, okay?"

"Okay."

But Nathan didn't keep his promise. Over the next couple of weeks, he only grew thinner, and his complexion seemed to worsen.

I panicked, wrapping my arms around him, tears streaming down my face. "Nathan, please tell me you're not hiding some serious illness from me! You can't lie to me!"

He chuckled softly, patting my head, seemingly unfazed. "Silly Julia, don't overthink it. I'm perfectly healthy."

I retorted, "I'm not overthinking! Just look at how thin you are! If you don't get checked out, I won't recover either! I'll just lie in bed all day!"

Reluctantly, Nathan agreed to go for a checkup after I pushed him enough.

At that moment, Emma walked in, leaning against the doorframe as she watched me carefully navigate my way along the wall.

"Julia, congratulations! You should be walking like a normal person again pretty soon!"

I smiled, "Thanks! The doctor said I'm recovering really quickly."

Emma suddenly added, "You've become a bit distant with me, Julia."

I forced a laugh. "Well, I've been out of it for six years! That's a long time without seeing you, and you've changed so much. Of course, I'm a bit out of the loop."

"But you're not distant with Nathan."

I felt a bit shy, saying, "That's because Nathan hasn't changed. He's still the same person to me."

Emma's smile faded a bit. "Is that so?"

Suddenly, I remembered something, so I asked, "Emma, I heard Nathan mention you're engaged. Why haven't you brought your fiancé by for me to meet?"

Her face hardened, and after a long pause, she replied, "I'll definitely bring him by when I have time."

I looked at her curiously. "Who's your fiancé? Do I know him?"

Emma forced a smile. "No, you don't, Julia. Just focus on resting. I have to go now, but I'll visit you again soon."

Just as Emma left, Nathan returned from his checkup, holding the results in his hand.

I took the report from him and said, "Emma just stopped by, but she left in a hurry."

Nathan handed me the report and gently guided me toward the bed. "What did she say?"

I glanced at the report, and the words "medical examination passed" instantly lifted a weight off my shoulders. I smiled brightly, "Oh, she didn't say much—just rushed out. Seeing that you're healthy makes me so relieved!"

I muttered, "But seriously, why are you so thin?"

Since Emma's last visit, she had been coming almost every day.

Each time Nathan saw her, his expression darkened, and Emma would look at him with redrimmed eyes.

Even I, usually oblivious, couldn't ignore the tension brewing between them.

Unable to hold back any longer, I asked Nathan, "What's going on between you and Emma? Why is it so weird?"

Nathan hesitated, searching for the right words. "Julia, let's just keep our distance from her, okay?"

"What do you mean by that, Nathan? We've been friends for ten years."

He looked increasingly uneasy. "Julia, please, just listen to me. If she comes by again, I want you to send her away."

"Fine," I replied, but I was determined to get to the bottom of this the next time Emma showed up.

However, before I could confront Emma again, Nathan suddenly changed.

He was hardly ever in the hospital room anymore, only stopping by once a day, and when he did, he would just sit there in silence.

I could hardly receive any response from him when I asked.

I felt a knot of fear tightening in my stomach. "Nathan, what's wrong? Please talk to me!" I cried, but he simply wiped away my tears without a word.

In the days that followed, Nathan didn't come at all. I couldn't take it anymore and called him, but Emma answered.

After that, I tried calling again, and again, it was Emma who picked up.

Eventually, I gave up, my heart heavy with despair.

When Emma came by that day, I was practicing walking.

She stood at the door for a long moment before finally speaking up.

"On the day you woke up, Nathan and I were getting engaged. He's been stopping me from coming to see you. He promised me that once you were better, he would tell you the truth."

My nails dug into my palms, but I forced a smile.

"We could have had a life together, but why did you have to wake up? Why did you have to wake up that day? He had already accepted me. I know Nathan regrets it now, the moment you woke up he started regretting it..."

Emma's voice grew more frantic, her emotions getting the best of her as she nearly broke down. "Julia, I've given you everything. Please don't take Nathan away from me, okay?"

I leaned against the wall, making my way slowly back to the bed, feeling numb. I looked at Emma and managed a wry smile. "Can you give my dad back to me?"

Emma was taken aback. "But he... he's been..."

Suddenly, a furious shout came from outside the door.

"Shut up. Why did you even come here?"

I looked out the door.

Nathan stood there, his face a mix of anger and distress, eyes fixed on me.

I clung to a shred of hope. "Nathan, what happened to my dad? Could you let him come see me?"

Nathan pointed to the door, his voice cold. "Emma, please leave immediately."

Emma covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran out.

The familiar Nathan seemed to return. He squatted by the bed, gently taking off my shoes and carefully placing my feet on the bed.

I looked at him with quiet obedience. "Nathan, tell me the truth. Where is my dad?"

Nathan lowered his gaze, pulling a blanket over my legs, then sat beside me.

He was silent for about a minute before saying, "Your father had a heart attack six years ago. He's gone."

My spirits plummeted with each word. "I knew it. Even though he loved to travel, he also loved his daughter. He would have come to check me when I woke up."

Deep down, I had a bad feeling, but Nathan hadn't mentioned it, so I hadn't dared to ask.

I could fool myself into believing my father was just away on a trip.

But now the tears fell uncontrollably. Nathan reached out to wipe them away.

I quickly turned my head, saying, "I can do it myself."

Nathan's hand froze, then fell back to his side, awkwardly still.

I leaned back on the bed, taking a while to say, "I want to see my dad."

"Julia, once you're a bit more recovered, I'll take you."

After a pause, I said, "I already know about you and Emma. Nathan, don't come back here."

Nathan was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Okay."

He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a few cards, handing them to me.

"These cards have quite a bit of money on them. The PINs are the same as before."

I took the cards, wanting to throw them back in his face out of pride, but I restrained myself. After all, I needed the money right now.

Turning my head away, I said coldly, "I need to rest."

Nathan murmured, "Julia, take care of yourself. I'm leaving."

I couldn't hold it in anymore and asked through my tears, "Nathan, why have you changed too?"

Nathan didn't turn around. He stood still for a few minutes before striding out the door.

Lately, I'd found myself reminiscing more about the past. Maybe it was the growing sense of melancholy that came with age.

I remembered when I was a freshman in high school, trying to be trendy by dating a guy. One night, he called me, saying he had a fever and needed me to come keep him company while he got an IV. It was already past ten at night, and I wasn't keen on going. I refused, so he threatened to break up with me.

Honestly, I wasn't very into him. I just thought dating was cool, and he was handsome and persistent, so I agreed. I regretted it almost immediately.

That night, I decided to break up facetoface. But when I arrived, I found out he wasn't even sick—he had just made a bet to see if he could get me out.

I wasn't furious; it gave me a good excuse to end things. I immediately broke up with him, but he felt humiliated and started hurling insults at me.

We argued, and he tried to hit me. That was when Nathan, who had just finished his evening study session, showed up.

What followed was Nathan taking on three of them singlehandedly, and both sides ended up battered.

Nathan was usually so easygoing, but that night, seeing him so fiercely angry and covered in blood scared me to death. I thought he might die.

Afterward, instead of blaming me, Nathan comforted me, showing such concern that I promised him through my tears to stay away from relationships and focus on studying with him.

Nathan never came back after that day.

Instead, I found myself frequently seeing Nathan and Emma together on TV and my phone, making appearances at various events.

They looked so perfect together—handsome and beautiful, almost too good to be true.

I learned that Nathan had become a billionaire business tycoon, with his every move closely followed and celebrated by the media.

His relationship status was especially newsworthy; his engagement with Emma even trended on social media for days.

The media painted Emma as the perfect supportive partner, highlighting their six years together as a testament to their love. They had weathered numerous storms and emerged victorious, eventually sealing their commitment.

I realized how naive I had been, thinking that Nathan would remain loyal to a comatose patient like me for six long years.

In my absence, Emma had stepped into my place, sharing those years with him.

The realization made me weep uncontrollably. I even thought to myself, "If only I had never woken up.

Why did you lie to me, Nathan?"

That night, I was haunted by nightmares, slipping back into a void of nothingness.

The dark figure was back again.

Fortunately, the ringtone of my phone jolted me awake.

I answered the call, but there was only silence on the other end.

After a couple of minutes, tears streaming down my face, I asked, "Nathan, is that you?"

No one answered.

The next day, I sneaked out of the hospital. I needed to see for myself if Nathan had truly changed his heart.

At the company's entrance, Nathan and Emma stepped out of the same car. Emma had twisted her ankle, and Nathan looked extremely worried. He quickly checked her injury and then scooped her up in his arms, hurrying inside.

From the taxi, I watched the whole scene unfold clearly. It was like a punch to the gut.

My spirits plummeted, and I knew it was time to give up. I returned to the hospital, defeated.