The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

Chapter 287

Suddenly, Mango's heart rate skyrocketed.

Then, Mango hurriedly pressed the emergency button and her hands trembled violently as she repeatedly offered up silent prayers for Rita to be okay.

When the doctors and nurses arrived, Rita was pushed into the operating theater for emergency treatment before Mango even realized what was going on.

The corridors of the hospital were eerily quiet at night, and that caused Mango to feel uneasy.

Right now, she hoped that Nathaniel could be here by her side so she wouldn't be so afraid. Actually, she had no idea what her future would hold or how Rita's condition would turn out. This frightening fear of the unknown unsettled Mango greatly.

Suddenly, someone handed her another glass of warm milk.

Mango turned around slightly and saw Walter standing behind her with a bright smile.

"Since you're wandering the corridors in the middle of the night, I take it that your daughter hasn't recovered?"

Mango shook her head and said, "Her surgery was successful, but she might be showing signs of organ rejection as she has a fever right now."

"Have some milk and calm down, it'll be fine. You have to see it from this perspective, Rita's your daughter, so obviously she's very tough. Right now, she’s battling her illness, so you can't break down because you're her mother."

At that moment, Walter was quite solemn.

Mango nodded at him. Even though she knew that these words were meant to comfort her, they weren't without merit.

She should have confidence in her daughter.

Mango sipped at the milk after she took it from Walter, but it was tasteless.

Her gaze was fixed in the direction of the operating theater and she felt hollow inside. Furthermore, she knew that the emptiness inside of her could only be filled by Nathaniel. Alas, she had no idea how he was doing nor did she have the time to ask about him.

Then, Walter sat down beside Mango.

He looked at the lights in the operating theater and said in a low voice, "Do you know that I' ve experienced what you're going through? I've gone through it plenty of times.”

"Hm?”

Mango replied off-handedly as she didn't hear what he said clearly because she was consumed by her worry for Rita.

Walter didn't seem to mind that Mango hadn’t heard him as he continued, "After my mother went insane, I found myself in this situation quite often. Back then, I was very young and I had my father with me initially, but after a while, I was left alone. In fact, my father gave up on my mother as he thought that an insane woman like her who harmed herself should just die. From then onwards, I constantly sat alone in these hallways and counted sheep as the operating theater’s lights flickered, but my mother never came out. There were times when I felt completely hopeless."

This was the first time that Mango had heard Walter talk about his mother. Although she had heard some rumors about his mother, the Song family treated the topic as taboo and no one really dared to discuss it.

"Your mother..."

"She went insane, and it was so bad that she couldn' t even recognize me. Actually, I was kidnapped when I was younger around the same time my father cheated on my mother, and those two events caused her to have a mental breakdown. Then, the kidnappers decided to kill a hostage and my mother went insane after she thought that I had died. After that, my mother kept self- harming and I always thought that my father was the culprit behind her insanity. In fact, I wanted to help you when you ran into trouble in the United States but I couldn't leave because something had happened to my mother. I' m sorry about that."

Walter's tone was soft as he said that.

Mango had no idea that Walter had experienced that and she didn't know what to say except, "Is she all right now?"

"She's doing much better now. Fortunately, I found her in time after she slit her wrists, if not she would've passed away. My father often likes to say that my mother's life is no better than death, but it’s not like that for me. As long as my mother is alive, I will still have the strength to carry on. If she died, then I won't have anyone else on this planet to care for, and I wouldn't have the will to keep on living."

A bitter smile curved the corners of Walter's lips.

Everyone else only saw Walter's most alluring side, the side of him that tirelessly enjoyed every ounce of fun that the world had to offer. However, the real Walter turned out to be a painfully lonely person.

His loneliness was concealed by the charming exterior he displayed, and he used his playful attitude to shield himself from his isolation.

Right now, Walter seemed to have given up his entire phony facade and he presented himself honestly in front of Mango like a helpless child.

Mango suddenly recalled the memory in her mind, but it slipped past her quickly.

"You said you were kidnapped when you were a child?" Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

"Yeah. How many rich kids haven't been kidnapped before? Even Nathaniel has been kidnapped when he was younger."

Walter’s words stunned Mango.

"How is that possible? Nathaniel's so tough, no way that could have happened to him."

"It’s not like he knew how to defend himself from the moment he was born."

Then, Walter gave Mango a disdainful look.

Walter's words finally prompted a reaction from

Mango.

In her eyes, Nathaniel was too perfect until she forgot that he would have been as powerless as Walter was when he was still a child.

She smiled and said in a low voice, "Speaking of this, I saved a rich kid before when I was younger. Plus, that kid even said he wanted to marry me when I was older."

Walter's gaze brightened instantly.

"Do you still remember what that little boy looked like?''

"It’s been so many years, how would I remember? Furthermore, how could I think that a child like that would mean what he said? In fact, I only saved him because I pitied him, as he was quite handsome and it seemed like he was barely breathing. After that, my mom yelled at me for being so reckless. Oh right! I remember that there was a birthmark on the boy’s arm in the shape of a star. Really, it was the first time I’ve ever seen such a beautiful birthmark on someone's body.”

Mango's words caused Walter to subconsciously touch his left arm.

There was indeed a star-shaped birthmark on his arm.

Then, his gaze started to become intense.

"Do you still remember which arm the birthmark was on?"

"I'm not sure, seems like it was on his left arm. Back then, he'd hurt his arm and he used his right hand to cover his left arm. Honestly, I've forgotten what the boy looks like now but the only thing I can remember is his incredibly earnest expression when he told me that he’d marry me when he was older."

Mango smiled quite happily as if she managed to soothe some of her worries by recalling the memory.

Walter's gaze was fixed on Mango as his heart pounded wildly in his chest.

Although he knew long ago that Mango was the one who saved him when he was little, he had never confirmed it with her. Thus, it was only natural for him to get excited when he heard Mango say that.

"Haven't you thought that the boy might have never gotten married? He could be somewhere out there, waiting to marry you."

Walter’s gaze had become blazingly intense, but unfortunately, Mango did not look at him nor did she meet his gaze.

She replied softly, "Quit teasing me, how could I ever take a child' s words seriously? Furthermore, Nathaniel and I are happy together, so even if that man appears, I wouldn’t marry him, right?"

The excited glimmer in Walter's eyes dimmed considerably.

That's right!

Mango was married!

This caused Walter's heart to ache deeply.

Why did he find her so late in his life?

If he'd found Mango earlier and started to pursue her then, would she be his wife now?

Alas, no one could turn back time and go back to the past.

Walter suppressed the surge of bitterness in his heart as he muttered, "As long as you're happy."

"Of course I'm happy, what's going on with you?"

Only then did Mango realize that Walter was acting rather strangely.

Then, Walter quickly continued, 'T m fine, I’m just making a statement. If ever you' re unhappy with Nathaniel, or if he bullies you, you should leave him and come see me. I'll marry you."

"Are you crazy? Why would a good woman fall in love with you when you're so full of nonsense? You' re not young anymore, so you should stop playing around and start looking for a proper girl to date, marry and start a family with. Who knows, maybe your mother will get better for the sake of

your child. In fact, I heard that people who have suffered a mental breakdown might recall some memories if they see a child of similar age to their own when they went insane."

Actually, the intentions behind Mango's words were very sincere.

She really hoped that Walter could be happy.

Walter looked at Mango and he wanted to say that he would never marry anyone else, but he didn't manage to say anything as he looked into her eyes.

"Did you hear what I said?"

Mango hit him with her arm because she thought that he didn't take her seriously.

Walter nodded sullenly as his heart seemed to be muffled by sadness and he felt very upset.

When Walter realized that he liked Mango, she had already been snatched by Nathaniel. Previously, he had wanted to do something to ruin Nathaniel and Mango's relationship so that he could have her for himself, but he became reluctant because his heart ached whenever Mango was upset over Nathaniel.

In fact, Walter felt like he might never be able to find another person to replace the position Mango held in his heart. Unfortunately, he couldn't express this feeling to her in the fear of destroying the friendship between them.

After he thought of this Walter locked away his emotions and feelings into the deepest recesses of his heart. As long as Mango was happy, he would be alright because the only thing he wanted was to see her smile.

Walter leaned his head on Mango's shoulder and whispered, "My mother relapsed again today and I'm dead tired. Since I've bought you a glass of milk, please let me lean on your shoulder in return."

Mango was somewhat astonished and she asked softly, "Today your mother..."

"Yeah, she nearly died again. Thankfully I was there in time."

"Is your mother currently admitted to this hospital?"

Mango was quite surprised.

Then, Walter nodded.

"The environment and the care she received at the hospice was unsatisfactory, so I transferred my mother here. I got into a huge fight with my father over this, and he threatened to cut me off financially if I didn’t send my mother back to the hospice. Why does he have to be so cruel? No matter how you look at it, my mother is his legitimate wife but yet he is so heartless."

Walter became angrier as he brought up the subject of his father.

Then, Mango asked softly, "Do you need money? I can help you out."

"If s fine, I can still afford my mother's medical expenses. I'm just tired and I just need someone to lean on for a moment."

Walter leaned on Mango's shoulder as he inhaled her unique fragrance, and there was a flurry of mixed emotions in his heart. Truthfully, there weren't many opportunities for him to do this with Mango anymore.

Right then, Mango suddenly felt a cold gaze pierce into her back like frozen steel.