Chapter 4

The sharp smell of disinfectant made my stomach turn.

I walked through the hospital in a daze.

Today was the day of my checkup.

It was also my last day in this city.

When I’d called my parents and told them Ethan and I had broken up, they’d been silent for a long time before finally asking:

“Were you pressuring him to get married again?”

“Ethan’s always been so good to you.”

I bit my lip hard to keep from crying.

They were right. Apart from refusing to marry me, Ethan had seemed perfect.

It was almost time for my appointment.

I hurriedly ended the call.

But as I passed a hospital room, I heard a familiar voice.

Holding the hand of the woman beside him, Ethan was speaking to the older woman in the bed.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Chloe.”

“All those rumors you’ve heard are lies spread by my crazy ex-girlfriend.”

Pain shot through my chest. I tried to hurry away.

But I ran straight into Chloe as she stepped out to get water.

Her eyes widened.

“Nora, what are you doing here…?”

She immediately shut the door.

Her eyes reddened as she looked at me.

“You’re still going to tell my mother everything?”

I frowned, not wanting to deal with her.

I turned to leave, but Chloe grabbed my wrist.

“Please, Nora. I’m begging you.”

“Just give me a little more time. Then I’ll give Ethan back.”

Looking at the red marks forming beneath her fingers, I said coldly:

“Let go.”

But she wouldn’t stop.

“Promise you forgive me first!”

My appointment was getting closer.

Panic tightened in my chest, and I shoved her away.

I hadn’t pushed very hard, but Chloe cried out and fell to the floor.

Ethan immediately opened the door and saw us.

His expression hardened. A vein bulged in his neck.

“What the hell are you doing now?”

“I didn’t…”

I never finished.

Ethan rushed over and slapped me across the face.

My head went numb. I stared at him in shock.

It was the first time he’d ever hit me.

My cheek burned.

Anger. Numbness. Agony.

I looked at the man in front of me.

He was still handsome, no different from the man who’d once promised to treat me well.

How could anyone look at him and know what a disgusting person he was?

I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that running into them had been an accident.

“I’m preg—”

Ethan wasn’t listening.

He helped Chloe up, his eyes bloodshot as he declared:

“If we’re broken up, stay the hell away from us.”

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and let out a faint laugh.

“Fine.”

My abdomen hurt terribly. I turned to find a doctor.

But Ethan called after me.

“Apologize to Chloe.”

My heart sank further.

This time, I didn’t try to explain.

I simply apologized.

While Ethan stayed with Chloe in her mother’s hospital room, I began hemorrhaging and was rushed into surgery.

Despite the doctors’ efforts, they couldn’t save my baby.

Tears streamed down my face as I listened quietly to the doctor explain how to care for myself after the miscarriage. I nodded slowly.

She was an older woman.

Seeing someone so young go through this surgery alone, she let out a long sigh.

“Don’t let grief swallow you. You’re young, and life will put you through hard things.”

“But you still have so much life ahead of you.”

Something about her reminded me of my grandmother.

My eyes grew hot again. I sniffed, holding back my tears long enough to thank her sincerely.

“I know.”

“Things are going to get better.”

Because I’d already bought my ticket out of there.