Chapter 3

After a long pause, Bryant sighed. "I'm sorry."

After venting everything, I felt wiped out, as if all my energy had vanished.

Leaning against the wall, I slowly slid down and sat on the floor.

I suddenly wanted to ask him something. "Bryant, do you regret it now?"

Future Bryant didn't answer my question.

Then, out of nowhere, he said something random. "Andrea, don't look out the window."

But it was too late.

After he spoke, the night sky outside exploded with dazzling fireworks.

One after another, they lit up the once-dead night like it was broad daylight.

Two young nurses walked by, their faces full of envy.

One of them said, "Mr. Cooper is putting on a fireworks show for his new girlfriend. It's going to last all night."

The other chimed in, "I'm so jealous of his new girlfriend. I heard he had an ex who was with him for five years, but she turned down his proposal because he didn't offer enough bride price. What a gold-digger."

Oh, I almost forgot. Today was Edith's birthday.

Her social media feed was full of photos of her snuggled up in Bryant's arms, looking happy.

Behind her, there were piles of expensive gifts.

She posted: [I want money, love, and everything else, and he smiles and hands it all over to me, even calling me cute.]

I forced a weak smile, liked her post, and then deleted her from my friends list.

The next second, Bryant called me.

He snapped, "Andrea, don't you know it's Edith's birthday today? Why would you unfriend her today, of all days?

"She's been crying her eyes out. You need to apologize to her right now."

I opened my mouth, about to say something.

But then, a stabbing pain hit me in the gut.

Blood began to trickle out slowly.

Everything went dark, and I passed out, falling back.

When I came to, the doctor was standing by my bed, smiling.

He said, "Congratulations, you're two months pregnant.

"But your health is poor, and your emotions have been all over the place. That's why you almost had a miscarriage."

I held the prenatal checkup report, reading every word over and over.

Finally, I called future Bryant.

I asked, "We, we have a baby, don't we?"

He went quiet again, but this time, I could hear him stifling a sob. "I'm sorry, Andrea."

So, in the end, not even having this baby could change anything.

To my surprise, his voice took on a desperate, pleading tone. "End the pregnancy now. Don't keep suffering for him.

"I'm begging you, please?"

After the call ended, I slowly lifted my hand and gently touched my still-flat belly.

Even if he hadn't said a word, I never planned on keeping this baby.

I whispered, "I'm sorry, baby.

"If there's a next life, will you come back to me?

"Don't worry, baby. You won't have to wait long."

If the baby was destined to end up like me, it had already been decided.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't change a thing.

Maybe it was better to end things before they even started.

At least right now, the baby hadn't formed yet, so he wouldn't have to suffer as I did.

Half an hour later, I was lying on the cold operating table.

The icy anesthetic slowly flowed through my veins.

But even though I was numb from the drugs, I could still feel the instruments scraping around inside me.

My hair and back were soaked with cold sweat.

But the pain in my body was nothing compared to the heartbreak.

After the surgery, I dragged myself out, my lower body aching with every step.

I took care of my mom's death certificate all by myself.

After signing the cremation papers, I sat on a bench outside the crematorium.

I stared numbly at the white smoke drifting up from the chimney.

I reached out, but grabbed nothing.

After thinking it over, I decided to keep my mom's ashes at the old house.

As long as I was there with her, she wouldn't be scared.

But as I was carrying my mom's ashes home, I found Bryant and Edith had shown up at my door.

"Where have you been? Didn't you hear me tell you to apologize to Edith on the phone?" Bryant snapped.

I didn't even bat an eyelash.

As I tried to walk past them, Bryant grabbed my arm.

He caught sight of my bloodless face and froze for a second. "Why do you look so pale?"

I frowned, about to pull away.

But before I could react, Edith suddenly reached out and snatched the urn from my arms.

"Andrea, what's this?" she asked.

"Give it back!" I snapped.

I lunged for it like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Everything happened in a flash. Edith shrieked and dove into Bryant's arms.

She let go of the urn on purpose, and it hit the floor with a loud thud.

I watched as the gray-white ashes drifted up into the air.

Without a second thought, I slapped Edith hard across the face.

Suddenly, Bryant shoved me hard to the ground.

"Why are you freaking out over a worthless urn?" he snapped.

Ceramic shards pierced my palm, and blood welled up instantly.

But I felt nothing. I kept gathering my mom's ashes desperately and numbly.

My blood soaked into the pale ashes, and I didn't even realize when Bryant and Edith slipped away.

That night, I hugged the photo of my mom and me.

I swallowed the sleeping pills I'd bought before coming home.

As my eyelids grew heavy, I heard the wind chimes ringing softly.

With the last of my strength, I turned my head and saw my mom standing there.

My phone was still open to my chat with Future Bryant.

Half an hour ago, I'd sent him a message. [Thanks for telling me the truth. It's over now.]