# Chapter 17: A Bowl of Dumplings in the Dark
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 17 of "The Untouchable Ex-Wife." This chapter takes us deeper into the tangled web of emotions, regrets, and quiet acts of love that no one dares to acknowledge aloud. So grab your favorite drink, settle in comfortably, and let me guide you through one of the most touching moments in this story—a moment where a simple bowl of dumplings carries the weight of an unspeakable love.
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The hospital corridors stretched endlessly before Renee, cold and sterile, with the faint scent of antiseptic lingering in the air. She had slipped away to the stairway for a quiet smoke, hoping to clear her mind, but the universe had other plans. Through the haze of cigarette smoke, she heard her name called with surprising warmth.
"Oh, yeah, it's you, Joan! I can finally see properly. Hey old friend!"
Renee blinked, recognizing the familiar faces. These nurses—they were practically old friends by now. Nearly everyone in the hospital knew who she was, thanks to all those times she had accompanied Jovan for his treatments and checkups. She had spent so many hours in these corridors that the medical staff had become familiar faces, sharing small talk and knowing glances.
The woman—one of the nurses—continued chatting with Renee, completely unaware of the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior. But as the conversation flowed naturally, Renee's sharp mind quietly cataloged every piece of information being shared. By the time the exchange was over, she discovered two critical things: Seraphina's surgery was currently underway, and the couple was staying at a particular hotel in town.
"I'm going to check up on Van now. Bye, guys!" Renee nodded softly at the nurses and left the stairway once she was done smoking.
But here's the thing about old habits and deeper feelings—they have a way of steering you where you don't intend to go. Renee told herself she was heading back to Jovan's ward, but her feet carried her in a completely different direction. Her body walked toward the operating rooms unconsciously, as if pulled by an invisible thread she couldn't resist.
She moved quietly, hiding around the corner and peeking out from behind the wall with careful deliberation. And then she saw him.
Stefan.
He was still wearing that white dress shirt she had seen him in earlier that morning. But now it was soaked in blood—splotches of crimson marring the pristine fabric. His hands were stained too, evidence of the chaos that had brought him here. It was painfully obvious that he hadn't spared a single moment to clean himself up or change. He had been standing guard at those operating room doors the entire time.
Renee's chest tightened as a complicated swirl of emotions washed over her. She could see the tension radiating from his shoulders, the way he paced back and forth relentlessly, his expression etched with deep concern. She counted the hours in her mind. Six hours—maybe more—since he had brought Seraphina to this hospital. Six hours without rest. Six hours without food. Six hours without a single moment of reprieve.
"This guy! He only recovered six months ago, and now he's endangering his health again! Damn it, I'm worried for him!"
The thought struck her with unexpected force. Here she was, worrying about the man she had once loved, the man who was now waiting anxiously for news about another woman—his fiancée, his chosen bride. It should have felt bitter. It should have felt wrong. But all Renee could feel was that familiar ache of concern that refused to fade, no matter how much time had passed.
She pondered for a moment, biting down on her lip, wrestling with herself. Part of her wanted to walk away, to leave him to his fate. But the other part—the part that had never quite stopped caring—already knew what she was going to do. Renee headed downstairs to a nearby restaurant she frequented, her steps purposeful. After a brief moment of consideration, she decided to buy a serving of seafood dumplings.
From what she remembered, despite his general distaste for Aeos cuisine—the food of their birthplace—Stefan was rather fond of dumplings. Especially seafood ones. She knew with certainty that once the fragrant aroma hit his senses, his appetite would stir. It was a small gesture, perhaps even a foolish one, but she couldn't just stand by and watch him starve.
Meanwhile, Stefan remained frozen in his panic in front of the operating rooms. Time crawled by with agonizing slowness. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. Ghosts of footsteps shuffled along the corridor. And still, until midnight, there was no news about Seraphina's condition.
"Damn it! This is all my fault! This is my fault!"
The guilty words echoed in his mind, a torturous refrain. If he hadn't bought that mug for Seraphina—if he had chosen a different gift, or perhaps no gift at all—she never would have been in that car, never would have ended up in a horrific crash. This was supposed to be a lovely honeymoon. They had carefully chosen one of the most romantic cities in the world for their grand wedding. But fate had dealt them a cruel hand, and their first stop had ended in catastrophe.
He couldn't possibly imagine what he would do if something bad were to happen to Seraphina. How would he face her parents? What words could he possibly offer to anyone? The burden of guilt pressed down on him like a physical weight.
'Seraphina had been through so many hard times with me. I can't lose her!'
Just when the weight of his despair seemed unbearable, a gentle touch broke through his spiraling thoughts. A nurse came over and softly patted him on the shoulder. "Mr. Hunt, the surgery is going to take a while. I noticed you have been waiting a long time, and you must be hungry. Here are some dumplings."
Stefan turned around and stared at the bowl of dumplings. Something unexpected flickered in his chest—a warmth that spread slowly through his tired body. Receiving traditional food in a foreign country during such a dark and lonely time... it was surprisingly meaningful. It felt like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man.
"Thank you. Did you make this?" Despite Stefan's naturally cold and reserved demeanor, he couldn't maintain his hostility when faced with such genuine kindness. His voice softened, vulnerability slipping through the cracks of his carefully constructed walls.
"Uhm..." The nurse looked rather uneasy, a strange expression crossing her face. "Our hospital provides these for... our Aeos patients, and it's our hope that you can taste something from home and relax a little."
"Thanks." Stefan took the dumplings and opened the lid without hesitation. The fragrant steam rose to meet his face, and suddenly, the hunger he had been suppressing all day came flooding back with vengeance. He quickly scarfed them down, each savory bite grounding him back to reality.
"It tastes great." The man nodded, a lump forming in his throat.
This bowl of dumplings had truly hit him right where he was weak. As he savored the taste, a memory surfaced unbidden. He had never told anyone that the only Aeos dish he genuinely liked were dumplings—specifically seafood dumplings. It was a small, personal detail he had guarded closely, something he never shared with colleagues or acquaintances.
Yet here, in this foreign hospital, the staff had somehow provided him with his absolute favorite.
'I guess... This world is very kind.'
Little did Stefan know, the kindness he was marveling at was not a coincidence of hospital policy. It was the quiet, selfless act of a woman who still knew him better than almost anyone else in this world—a woman named Renee, who lingered somewhere in the shadows, ensuring that even when everything was falling apart, the man she once loved would not be forgotten or left alone.
In that hospital corridor, bathed in cold artificial light, warm food and hidden care became the bridge between two hearts that had long since drifted apart—and yet, somehow, had never truly let go.
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**Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:**
Oh, my heart! This chapter was an emotional rollercoaster that left me both aching and warm at the same time. There's something beautifully tragic about Renee's silent devotion. Here she is, worrying about a man who belongs to another woman now, and yet she refuses to let him suffer alone. Her love for Stefan is so deeply rooted that it has become instinct—she simply cannot bear to see him hurt, even when she has every reason to walk away. And Stefan, with his guilt and vulnerability, is reminded that kindness exists even in the darkest moments. The irony that the dumplings came from Renee, the one person he least expects, adds a bittersweet layer to an already poignant scene. This chapter showcases the quiet sacrifices that love quietly demands, and I found myself tearing up more than once. The writing beautifully captures the tension between moving on and never truly forgetting, leaving us all wondering: What happens next?
I give this chapter a well-deserved **⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.9 / 5 Stars**.
**Next Chapter Prediction:**
Based on the dramatic cliffhanger, I predict that Seraphina's surgery will eventually come to an end, and while she survives, her recovery may be complicated—perhaps with injuries that create unforeseen obstacles for the couple's honeymoon and relationship. Meanwhile, Renee's act of kindness may remain hidden for now, but Jovan or another observant character might discover what she did. More importantly, Stefan may begin to suspect that his "hospital-provided meal" wasn't so simple after all, setting the stage for a confrontation, a revelation, or perhaps a long-buried spark to reignite. With Renee still in the same hospital, fate is bound to bring these two face-to-face sooner or later—and when that happens, the emotional explosion will surely be unforgettable!
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