Chapter 5
That baby Ryan didn't know about.
A month later, the news hit his heart like a sledgehammer.
"A baby… our baby?"
Chloe Smith and Ryan Brown had always wanted a child, but her body was too weak, and she always lost them.
Later, Ryan mostly used protection.
He said he didn't want to burden my body further.
But I knew, it was because he had Bree.
That day, Ryan was secretly on the patio, on a FaceTime call with Bree, explaining he couldn't come over because I had a fever.
"I know! Stop being so paranoid. She survived because of me; if I wasn't here, she'd die. It's my fault, I burdened myself. But I promise you, you're the only one who can have my child!"
The patio door wasn't soundproof enough.
【Ryan, the things you said were truly hurtful.】
【But if you don't want my baby, then I don't want them either. After all, my body probably couldn't keep them anyway.】
【Ryan, actually, I really hate you.】
【If you had been honest with me, maybe I could have prepared myself to leave you?】
【Your words and actions are like soft knives, not deadly, but they've almost stabbed through my heart.】
【Ryan, the baby is gone, and I don't want to live anymore.】
【Consider these notes as my belongings, left for you.】
【Oh, and under our bed is the money I left for you. I haven't really touched the money you gave me all these years.】
【Think of it as my wedding gift to you!】
【Ryan, I don't want to be your burden anymore. Goodbye.】
Ryan frantically flipped through the pages. The blankness that followed made his entire being halt.
His hands trembling, he tried to call me again.
But still, no answer.
He rushed into the bedroom, found the card under the bed, and a receipt.
The receipt showed Chloe had bought a bottle of sleeping pills. He looked at the sleeping pills in the bedside drawer.
His suspended heart sank.
"Hello? Can you help me find Chloe?"
The person on the other end seemed half-asleep. After a confused sound, they checked the time. "Are you serious, Ryan?! It's the middle of the night."
"Chloe isn't sleeping next to you at this hour? Where would she go alone? Don't you take her everywhere?"
Ryan was trembling all over. "I, yesterday, yesterday…"
"Yesterday, I left her on the hillside. I thought she'd gone home by now, but I can't reach her."
…
Yesterday was our eight-year anniversary, and also my farewell ceremony.
Ryan and I hadn't eaten alone together in a long time.
I had specifically made reservations two weeks in advance, but halfway there, Bree's phone call rang again.
By then, I had developed a reactive response to that sudden ringtone.
Whenever Ryan answered, he would purposefully lower his voice, always starting with, "What's wrong?"
The voice on the other end was soft, tinged with sniffles.
Ryan immediately panicked, slamming on the brakes.
"Chloe, something's come up. I can't make it."
"You get out here; I'll send someone to pick you up and take you home."
That time, I stared at Ryan for a long, long time.
I felt like I didn't know him anymore.
But in the end, I got out of the car, on a darkening evening, on the hillside.
Why does love disappear?
Ryan.
After a long silence, the person on the other end swore a few times.
"Ryan, I told you your messy business would eventually be found out by Chloe!"
"Didn't I tell you to stop… I…"
Ryan's eyes were red, his voice trembling as he cut off his friend. "I know, I know I messed up."
"Just help me first, please help me find her…"
Ryan's voice was almost pleading, heavy with emotion.
Just then, a call came in.
Ryan's face lit up when he saw the caller ID.
It showed my name.
My Beloved Chloe.
"Chloe's calling me back, I'll take this…"
Ryan hung up and answered my call. "Chloe, where are you?"
"What happened yesterday was my fault, I apologize. Tell me where you are, I'll come pick you up…"
A deep male voice interrupted Ryan's repentance. The voice on the other end said,
"Mr. Brown, this is the South City Police Department. A female body was found near Cloudview Mountain yesterday. It has been identified as Chloe Smith…"