Chapter 4

Suddenly, a stabbing pain gripped my heart, and before I knew it, darkness overwhelmed me as I fainted away.

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed.

The doctor told me my body couldn't handle all the heartbreak and the miscarriage. My body was extremely weak.

"Do you have a patient here named Kiara? She had another episode with her heart—is she alright now?" I asked in a low voice.

The doctor couldn't help but curl his lip in disdain.

He said, "That one's always so dramatic, but honestly, there's nothing wrong with her. Her husband is hopeless—she totally has him wrapped around her finger.

"He believes everything she says and constantly runs after her. She just bossed him into going out to buy her some snacks."

I let out a bitter laugh. Turns out I was nothing but a joke to them all along.

Even when I had heart surgery and lost the baby three years ago, Spencer never once stayed by my side.

Instead, he was always with Kiara, fussing over her and never leaving her side.

"Mrs. Marshall, your heart surgery went well, but after the tests we just did, things aren't looking great. You really should stay here for more check-ups and treatment," the doctor said.

I knew my own body better than anyone else.

Pushing myself to get pregnant and then going through the whole miscarriage. All that just wrecked my already weak health even more.

"I've decided to go abroad for treatment," I said.

I had already hired a lawyer to draft the divorce papers. Once my plane was in the air, he would inform Spencer about the terminated pregnancy, all at once.

It only took me a few days to sort everything out.

During that time, Spencer had someone pass a message to me that he wouldn't come to see me unless I apologized to Kiara.

I smiled, even more determined to get a divorce.

As I stepped onto the plane, Spencer had just received a file.

Growing increasingly uneasy, he had contacted the hospital for the security footage from the day I had my argument with Kiara.

The footage showed everything that happened that day—even catching every word between me and Kiara.

After watching it, Spencer was so mad at himself that he landed a hard slap right across his own face.

He said, "I knew Celeste could never hurt anyone, so why did I doubt her?

"Kiara told her the truth—if Celeste can't forgive me now, what the hell am I supposed to do?

"I can't lose her. If she gives me another chance, I'll do whatever it takes—no matter what."

Just then, my lawyer knocked on the door of his office.

"Mr. Marshall, this is the divorce agreement Mrs. Marshall asked me to bring you," the lawyer said.

"She also wanted me to tell you, on the very same day you and Kiara were celebrating your anniversary, she terminated the pregnancy," he added.

Later on, my lawyer told me that Spencer had completely lost it—he grabbed him by the collar, demanding to know where I was.

But the truth was, not even my lawyer knew where I had gone.

An old friend of mine from the orphanage, Virgil Russell, was researching heart disease overseas.

He had invited me several times to come abroad for treatment.

When Virgil picked me up at the airport, he was shocked by my sickly pale face.

He immediately arranged for my admission to the hospital. In a foreign country, knowing no one, I had no choice but to rely on his arrangements.

Spencer, meanwhile, began searching for me desperately.

Under Virgil's arrangements, the hospital kept my admission and treatment totally under wraps—no one had any clue I was even there.

I looked at Virgil and asked, "So, how much longer do I have?"

Virgil smiled softly and gave my head a reassuring pat.

Then he said, "Hey, quit with all that doom and gloom. We've got top-of-the-line tech here—and trust me, this hospital's the real deal when it comes to hearts.

"I'll do whatever it takes. You're gonna turn into a little old lady with silver hair and no teeth, mark my words."

I was momentarily dazed.

Spencer used to paint pictures with me of what our future together would look like when we grew old.

Spencer had once said he'd resign as chairman, move with me to a quiet, beautiful town, and buy us a house with a garden.

He would tend the garden, and I would just need to sit in a chair, chatting with him every day as I soaked up the sun.

Seeing that I was spacing out, Virgil called out to me gently.

"Celeste, you're still so young. Trust me, I'll make sure you get better," he said, determination burning in his voice.

Caught off guard by how serious Virgil looked, I felt a wave of warmth and nodded in response.

My treatment lasted more than half a year, and to my amazement, I actually started to get better bit by bit.

"The surgeon who operated on your heart before was way too reckless—you shouldn't have had to rely on that artificial heart at all," Virgil told me.

He continued, "Once we find a donor heart that's the right fit, I'll arrange for surgery to replace the artificial one."

I nodded, deeply grateful.

But now that my health was almost back on track, it felt like time for me to go back—at least for a while.

"Are you still thinking about Spencer?" Virgil asked quietly, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice.

"The divorce isn't done yet," I answered calmly.

And there was also the debt he and Kiara owed me. I needed to settle accounts with them, one by one.

As soon as I set foot back in Thornwick, Spencer tracked me down right away.

"Honey, where have you been these past six months?" he blurted, eyes desperate and voice ragged.

After not seeing him for a while, Spencer looked haggard.

This was the same Spencer who used to have his hair slicked back perfectly, always carrying himself with that unshakable pride.

Now? There were deep shadows under his eyes, proof he probably hadn't had a decent night's sleep in forever.