Chapter 3

I stood on the street in the dead of winter, my vision going black for a moment.

Edward gave me a diamond ring, a wedding, and treated me like I was the only one in his world. He made me feel cherished in every way.

But when it came to the official paperwork, the spouse slot was reserved for Julia, and only Julia.

Even when he was just playing the part of my husband, he stayed loyal, never letting anyone but Julia touch him.

I laughed, tears streaming down my face.

But still, clinging to that last shred of hope, I called my future self.

"I just want to know. Even if it was just for a second, did he ever love me?" I asked.

"Go check out the VIP ward at Downtown General Hospital. Then you'll realize just how pointless your question really is," my future self replied after a long pause.

I wandered into the hospital like a ghost.

Inside the room, Julia was hunched over, dry heaving. Her stomach problems were acting up again.

And there was Edward, a total neat freak who couldn't stand even the slightest mess, wiping away the vomit from the corner of her mouth with his bare hands.

I stood there, watching through the glass, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

Half a year ago, when I was up all night puking my guts out from the side effects of my meds, how did he react?

He recoiled like he'd been electrocuted, frowning in disgust, called the housekeeper to clean up, and then shut himself in the bathroom, scrubbing himself raw three times over.

He didn't spare me a single glance, not even when I was doubled over, gasping for breath between bouts of vomiting.

So how was it that when it came to Julia, all his neat freak rules just went out the window?

Edward walked out of the room carrying a basin. The moment he saw me, he slammed the door shut behind him, making sure no one could see inside.

When his eyes landed on my bare feet and lips turning purple from the cold, his guard dropped. He took off his coat and wrapped it tightly around me.

"Are you out of your mind? Running around in the middle of the night dressed like this. Do you have any idea how fragile you are?" Edward said.

Even now, he hadn't forgotten his promise to take care of me.

I stared at him, my voice surprisingly calm. "She's in there, isn't she?"

Edward's expression turned grim, and he tightened his grip on my hand.

"There's an important client in there. You're having an episode. Let me take you home," he said.

I shouldered past him, threw open the door, and stormed inside.

"Claire!" Edward shouted, his face going ghostly pale.

The person in bed heard the commotion, screamed, and yanked the blanket over themselves, hiding under it.

I grabbed the edge of the blanket. I knew that if I just pulled it back, I could rip away their mask and see the truth. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't do it.

Even now, I still wanted to hear them admit it themselves.

With Edward staring at me in horror, I pulled a small knife from my pocket.

I aimed the blade at my chest.

"Edward, pull back that blanket and show me who she is," I said, my voice steady.

"Or I'll die right here, right now. It's up to you."

Edward didn't budge, and one could see his patience draining from his eyes.

"Claire, do you really think threatening me with suicide is going to get you what you want?

"Three years now, every time things don't go your way, you threaten to kill yourself. Do you really think this whole crying wolf routine is still amusing?" Edward sneered.

Funny to you?

Turned out, every time I was falling apart and begging for help, he just saw it as some sad little act, just a clumsy performance.

The last spark of hope in my heart was completely snuffed out.

I let out a bitter laugh, then raised the knife and drove it toward myself.

Edward's face went ghostly pale.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" Edward shouted, his voice shaking with rage.

He didn't even see where the knife was aimed. He just lunged at me and kicked me hard, sending me flying across the room.

I crashed to the floor, a sharp pain tearing through my stomach.

But I didn't cry. I just stared in silence, watching Edward scoop the woman from the bed into his arms, his eyes wild and guarded, daring me to come any closer as he shielded her from me.

He thought I was about to hurt her, so he didn't care if he had to hurt me to protect her.

At that moment, I was just so tired.

"Edward, the game's over," I said, my voice steady.

"Let's get a divorce."

Edward's shock lasted only three seconds before he let out a mocking laugh.

"Quit testing me. If you really wanted out, you would've left a long time ago," he sneered.

"This time, I mean it..." I said, my voice steady.

Thud.

The woman in the hospital bed was shaking so badly she tumbled right off, crashing straight into a pile of shattered glass.

A stifled cry of pain came from beneath the covers.

Edward's face went ghostly pale. Without hesitation, he picked her up in his arms and rushed out of the room.

"Don't be scared. Did you get hurt? Let's get you to a doctor," Edward said, his voice full of worry.

I lay sprawled on the icy tiles, watching as a vivid pool of blood spread out beneath me.