Chapter 6

Something ruthless flashed in Matthew's eyes. The next second, he lunged for my oxygen tank.

"Celestia, just listen to me. I won't let anything happen to you."

I had been prepared for it, but the strength difference between man and woman was too great. He still managed to wrench my only oxygen tank away.

Without it, I could barely breathe. Before long, my vision began to blur.

Matthew took the tank to Vivian. She brightened at once, and tears kept dripping down her cheeks.

Frightened, she threw herself into Matthew's arms, her voice choked with sobs. "Matthew, I thought I’d never see you again."

He patted her back to soothe her, then lifted her into his arms. "Don't cry. I won't let anything happen to you."

We had been to the Rockies once before. My altitude sickness had been bad then too, and I hadn't packed enough supplies. I had nearly died.

Matthew had carried me on his back, shaking all over with fear, all the way to a nearby rescue station.

Now I had collapsed on the ground with no strength left, and he looked at me with cold gaze, as if I weren't even there.

"Does it hurt? That's how much Vivian was hurting just now."

I was shaking all over, frozen with fear. I didn't care what I said anymore. "Give me back my oxygen tank! Matthew, Matthias, do you want me dead?"

As soon as those words left my mouth, both of them fell silent.

Vivian spoke softly, her voice hoarse, "Give the tank to Mrs. Sinclair."

She gave a bitter, self-mocking smile. "After all, you're her family, and I have nothing."

They both flinched. Matthias's eyes welled up with tears, and he looked at me pleadingly. "Mom, please listen to me. We'll be right back. You're not going to die."

"We never should have come. It's all my fault. If I hadn't brought up the Rockies, Ms. Lowell wouldn't have wanted to come."

It turned out that just because Vivian wanted to come, my husband had set aside his work, and my own son had set aside his studies to come with her.

I tugged at the corners of my mouth, but the irony of it suddenly struck me.

I burst out laughing, my throat feeling as if it were tearing apart. Then I said coldly, "Give me the tank. It was mine to begin with."

Matthew held Vivian tighter. His expression turned cold as he gave me one silent look, his voice low. "Viv's condition is worse than yours. Once I get her settled, I'll come back for you."

With that, they turned and walked away without another word.

I tried to go after them. But after only a few steps, my chest seized up and I fell to the ground.

No…

Was I really going to die here?

Helplessness and despair washed over me. I stared at his retreating figure and screamed with all my strength. "Matthew, if you leave with her, I will hate you for the rest of my life!"

No matter how loudly I screamed, he never looked back. His steps didn't falter for even a second.

In that moment, I finally understood that the one being abandoned had been me all along.

Matthew's cheerful voice still echoed in my head. "Honey, someday I'll take you to the Rockies you love. Don't you love the scenery out there? When you get tired of walking, I'll carry you."

My head went numb, and my body grew colder and colder. Just when I thought I was going to die, someone approached me with an oxygen tank.

It was the man I had saved earlier. He lowered his eyes and watched me with focused concern.

I gasped for air, desperately trying to breath. It took a long while before I finally felt better. I was about to say something when everything went black, and I lost consciousness completely.

When I woke again, Matthew and Matthias were crying beside my hospital bed.

The moment they saw me open my eyes, relief washed over their faces.

"Honey, you're finally awake! Do you have any idea how scared I was?"

Matthew looked utterly worn. He gripped my hand tightly, as if he were afraid of losing me.

But I would always remember how they had ignored my pleas for help and walked away, never once looking back, utterly indifferent.

A coldness settled deep inside me, and my heart turned icy.

We had been together for nearly ten years. Yet when my life was in danger, they’d chosen to save Vivian without hesitation.

I pulled my hand away coldly and said sharply, "Get out. I don't want to see either of you. I want a divorce."

He froze. A trace of guilt showed on his face, but he seemed to think I was only speaking out of anger.

He tried to comfort me. "Honey, I know you're upset. We'll come back once you've calmed down."

As he spoke, he took Matthias by the hand, his gaze tender and focused on me. "Actually, I regretted it not long after I left."

"When I got Vivian settled and went back to find you, I saw you lying on the ground."

"In that moment, I wished I had been the one lying there instead. Do you know how scared I was?"

In the past, hearing these words would have made my heart ache. But now, they stirred nothing in me.

Seeing how coldly I reacted, he lowered his reddened eyes, his voice hoarse. "I'll take Matthias home first and cook something for you. Wait for me to come back."

After he left, I turned on my phone and saw a message from Vivian.

[Mrs. Sinclair, even though I deliberately got rid the oxygen tank along the way, did you see what happened? Your husband and son still love me.]

It turned out they hadn't simply failed to bring enough. Vivian had deliberately gotten rid of the oxygen tank.

I tore the IV needle out of my hand. With calm expression, I forwarded every photo, video, and message she had sent me to Matthew and to the Sinclair family group chat.

That way, even if she married Matthew later, she wouldn't have an easy time of it. I wanted them to know who she really was.

The divorce agreement was included, too. The seven days were up, and the divorce was officially in effect. From now on, Matthew and I were no longer bound to each other in any way.

After that, I blocked Vivian, got out of bed, changed my clothes, and walked straight out of the hospital.

A car was parked at the hospital entrance. I got in and had the driver take me to the airport.

The moment I sat down on the plane, the tension I had been holding finally let go.

“Matthew, from now on, you go your way, and I'll go mine.”

“We will never see each other again.”