Chapter 5

That same day, after packing up everything, I booked a flight to the Colorado Rockies.

Then I took a photo and sent it to Vivian. [Matthew and I will be separating soon.]

[Vivian, I only have one request. Please be good to my son.]

More than Matthew's betrayal, what hurt me most was the betrayal of son I had raised.

He had watched his father have an affair with his teacher. Worse, he’d chosen to help Matthew lie to me.

I didn't want either of them anymore. Not Matthew, and not my son.

Vivian replied quickly. [Don't worry. I'll treat him like my own son.]

I paused, and only then realized my words had been a little unnecessary.

On the day I left, I boarded the plane. When I arrived in the Rockies, my altitude sickness hit hard. Luckily, I’d bought a medical oxygen tank and some medication.

I had to rely on the oxygen to ease my symptoms throughout the journey. Otherwise, I might not have made it out of there alive.

The journey was tough, but when I saw Silverpeak Lake, I finally saw how vast the world really was.

I used to travel all over, but after I got married, I put the family first in everything. Matthew didn't want me going anywhere either.

Along the way, I met another traveler. His face was pale, and he seemed to be struggling to breathe.

Fortunately, I had plenty of supplies. I immediately gave him some medicine and lent him my oxygen tank.

Only then did he start to recover. We continued traveling together until someone came looking for him partway through, and we parted ways.

On the fourth day, I booked a flight home.

But on the way, I saw Matthew and my son, along with Vivian who was lying on the ground with a pale face.

In an instant, I understood. The school trip was a lie. They had really come to the Rockies with Vivian..

Perhaps they hadn't done enough research and hadn't brought enough oxygen tanks.

When Matthew saw me, he froze. "Honey, what are you doing here?"

I stayed composed. "I should be asking you that. What are you all doing here?"

A flicker of guilt crossed his face, and he said nothing. But my son suddenly spoke up, "Mom, Ms. Lowell can't hold on much longer! You have an oxygen tank. Hurry, save her!"

Hearing that, Matthew noticed the oxygen tank I was carrying, too, and his eyes lit up instantly.

"Celestia, give me the oxygen tank." His tone was a command.

I took a step back.

"Absolutely not!" I said sharply.

My son spoke through a swell of tears, "Why, Mom? Can't you see her lips are turning purple? If this keeps up, she's really going to die."

I glanced at Vivian. Her eyes were unfocused, and she looked at me through her tears. "Mrs. Sinclair, I'm begging you. Please save me."

Matthew snapped, too. "A life is at stake, Celestia. What are you waiting for?"

As he spoke, he got up and reached for the tank.

A chill settled over me. "This is the only oxygen tank I have left. Matthew, you know how bad my altitude sickness is. If I give it to her, I'm the one who dies."

His expression froze. I took a deep breath and was about to say something when Vivian started foaming at the mouth, her face deathly pale.

Matthew tensed and didn't hesitate any longer. "Give me the oxygen tank. As soon as Vivian recovers, I'll have someone bring you one right away."

But I refused.

Anger flashed across his face. "Celestia, you used to be so kind. This is a human life. I know you don't like her, but there's no need to go this far, right?"

My son sobbed, "Mom, I'm begging you, save Ms. Lowell. Dad and I can't live without her."

I found it absurd. "And what about me? You want me to give her the oxygen tank and let me die?"

Matthew tensed and started to explain, but then my son cried out, "Dad, Ms. Lowell can't hold on much longer!"