Chapter 4
Early the next morning, Lena silently packed away everything that reminded her of Jason.
The photo album filled with hundreds of pictures, the couple's necklace around her neck, even the wedding ring—she discarded them all.
Just as she lifted the large bag to leave, Jason suddenly grabbed her from behind.
His eyes fell on a hand-painted wedding photo he'd given her inside the bag, and his heart skipped an inexplicable beat.
"Lena, what are you doing?"
She turned around, avoiding his gaze, and said softly,
"The house is too cluttered. I'm putting some things in storage."
Jason let out a quiet breath of relief, set the bag aside, and helped her sit on the sofa.
"You're pregnant—let the maids handle this."
"I'll ask Auntie to simmer you some chicken soup later. Are you still feeling nauseous?"
Jason stroked her belly gently and pulled her into his arms.
Feeling his still-warm embrace, Lena couldn't hold back the tears that pricked her eyes.
Since she'd gotten pregnant, he'd whispered these caring words to her almost every day.
Once, they'd filled her heart with sweetness—she'd thought he was being overly attentive, even overly worried.
Now she knew, the only thing he cared about was the baby that would soon belong to Lisa.
"Ah!"
Their tender moment was shattered by Lisa's scream.
Jason immediately pushed Lena away, lifted Lisa—who'd stumbled down the stairs while trying to walk down—and carefully set her on the sofa.
One moment, he'd been holding her close, overflowing with concern.
The next, all his tenderness was directed at Lisa, and she was cast aside like an afterthought.
Watching them act as if no one else was there, Lena's fingers tightened into fists until her knuckles turned white.
She fell silent for a moment, then spoke,
"I'm going out later."
Jason let go of Lisa and frowned at her.
"Going out again? Why do you..."
"Prenatal checkup."
"I'll come with you. I'll take Lisa upstairs first."
Jason's brows relaxed. But just as he was about to lift Lisa, she pulled away.
"Jason, the doctor told me yesterday I need a follow-up. Why don't we all go together today?"
Jason hesitated. If they went as a group, he'd barely be able to keep up with both of them. He was about to refuse—
But Lena agreed immediately. After all, she wasn't going for a checkup. She was going to terminate the pregnancy.
With Lisa there, she could always slip away when Jason wasn't looking.
In the hospital parking lot, Jason had just lifted Lisa into her wheelchair when his secretary called. A major crisis had erupted with a company project, and he needed to handle it immediately.
Jason struggled for a moment, then looked at Lena apologetically.
"Lena, something urgent came up at work. After your checkup, take Lisa home first."
His car roared away.
Lisa pushed herself up from the wheelchair and stood unsteadily. Staring at Lena—who was now elegant and radiant, nothing like the rustic girl she'd once been—jealousy burned in her chest.
"Lena, if I hadn't been in a coma, Jason would never have been with you."
Lisa's face was pale, and her thin body trembled violently. What should have been a pitiful sight was ruined by her terrifying expression.
Lena had no desire to waste time with her. Her appointment was fast approaching. She turned to leave.
But Lisa refused to let her go. Her voice sounded like a ghost crawling out of hell,
"He even said he'll give your baby to me to raise. Do you think you're worthy..."
Lena had taken only a few steps when a sharp pain exploded at the back of her head.
Then, everything went black.
When she woke up again, the harsh lights blurred her vision—but the iconic circular lamp above told her she was still in the hospital.
Her limbs were tied down tightly, her mouth gagged. She struggled frantically, but it was useless.
A soft chuckle caught her attention. Lisa sat in the corner, watching her with a mocking grin.
Meeting Lena's eyes, she said to someone hidden in the shadows,
"Start."
Lena had no idea what she was planning.
But in the next instant, excruciating pain tore through her lower body. She widened her eyes, shaking her head in desperate resistance—but no one paid her any mind.
The heart-wrenching agony lasted for more than ten minutes. The cloth beneath her was soaked with sweat, her muscles trembled uncontrollably, and she bit her tongue until it bleed from the pain.
When the room finally fell silent, Lisa held an iron tray up to her ear.
"Lena, this is your baby."
"Only we know about this. If Jason finds out... who knows if your mother's ashes will suddenly disappear one day..."
Lena's eyes blazed with fury. She whimpered through the gag. Lisa had already killed her mother—now she was committing this unspeakable cruelty.
She let out a heavy breath, and slowly, her body calmed.
When she nodded faintly, Lisa let out a cold laugh.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lena glimpsed the clotted blood in the tray. Her heart twisted with unbearable pain.
This unformed life had been her child.
She'd already decided to end the pregnancy—but when it became a brutal reality, she still...
A single tear slid down Lena's cheek.
She whispered to the empty air, "I'm sorry..."
She closed her eyes.
Only twelve days left.
With her last tie to this place gone, she could finally leave without a single regret.