Chapter 3

I went straight to Dylan, practically on my knees, begging him not to let Andrew dump me.

Dylan tried to force him to break things off with his lover, but Andrew didn't budge.

"Grandpa, I don't love her. I got it wrong. I can't hurt the one I truly love. Even if I marry her, I'd still end up divorcing her, Grandpa," Andrew said.

Dylan was so furious, he ended up getting sick. When Andrew walked past me, he didn't even spare me a glance.

"Lily, I never thought you could be so shameless," Andrew said.

Looking at Dylan lying in that hospital bed, his face exhausted and frail, I realized it was time to let go.

The last time I saw Andrew was five years ago, at Carter Tower.

Vanessa was clinging to his arm, the two of them looking like a perfect couple. She leaned into him, and he turned his head to look at her, his gaze soft and full of affection.

But when he looked up and saw me, all that warmth disappeared in a flash, and his brows furrowed.

Guess I really annoyed him now.

"Lily, you still haven't given up?" he said.

He drew Vanessa behind him, keeping her out of my sight.

"I'm not letting you anywhere near her. I don't want her getting hurt, or being blamed as some homewrecker who stole someone else's boyfriend," Andrew said.

So that was what it all came down to, huh?

I just let him walk away, holding Vanessa close, and didn't stop him.

Guess this was the end,

I stumbled out of Carter Tower, barely aware of my surroundings, when Vanessa came strutting after me.

"Bet you don't even remember me, do you, Lily?" Vanessa taunted.

She gave me a smug little smirk.

"You took him from me for years, and he sent me away overseas. So what? Look who's got him now," she sneered. "Mine is mine, no matter what."

Her?

I stared at the familiar face in front of me. So it was her, the little girl I'd once punched.

Vanessa was the only daughter in the Summer family

I'd seen the news about her high-profile return to the country.

They said she was elegant, sophisticated, and breathtakingly beautiful. The night she came back, she had all the rich heirs in Harbor City completely smitten.

Within days, she'd been swept off her feet by one of the city's elite heirs, and they were secretly dating.

I never thought it had anything to do with me, and I never imagined that the dinner party I missed would make Andrew fall head over heels for her.

Love didn't make sense.

I finally let go.

The past kept drifting in and out of my mind.

Andrew went along with my wishes.

"Alright, I'll take you to Regency Gardens first. Once you and Julian get your marriage certificate, you can move back," he said.

Julian posted about our divorce on his social media.

Someone commented under his post.

[Lily really is unlucky. She's been drifting through life, always alone. She couldn't make it work with either you or your brother.]

I quietly liked the comment.

Not long after, Julian deleted the comment.

I didn't bother looking anymore. My home at Regency Gardens hadn't been cleaned in ages.

I didn't have the energy to tidy up, so I just managed to clear a spot in the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.

It was strange. Before the results came out, I didn't feel anything. But once they did, it was like all my strength just drained away.

I fell apart inside.

I couldn't help but retch.

In the bathroom mirror, I saw a face streaked with tears and snot.

This baby really came at the worst possible time.

I rummaged through the drawers and found the red candles we'd kept as spares from my wedding to Julian.

I clasped my hands together, but I didn't make a wish.

This was my last birthday in this world.

The only thing keeping me company was the little life I'd chosen not to keep, still inside me.

*****

Three days later, I was lying on the hospital bed when Julian called.

He sounded impatient. "When are you moving your stuff out?"

I gritted my teeth through the pain. "Julian, can you wait a bit longer? I..."

"Move out today, Lily. Don't tell me you still can't let go. Remember, we're divorced.

"She doesn't want your stuff in the house. She's been making a fuss about it."

"Alright, I'll go over in a bit."

Julian said in a low, warning voice, "If you don't show up today, I'm tossing everything out."

After the call ended, the nurse gave me a sympathetic look.

I'd been to this hospital more times than I could count, always with Julian by my side, hovering over me, spoiling me, making the nurses laugh at how much he doted on me.

Even just a simple blood test would have Julian turning white as a sheet from nerves.

But now, hearing that cold voice on the other end of the phone, I couldn't help but sigh; people really did change.

Blood trickled down my thigh.

This little one and I just weren't meant to be. I let out a low, bitter laugh. "Good baby, it won't be long now. Mommy will be with you soon."

As I was about to leave the hospital, my doctor caught up with me. "Miss Lane, there's no real cure, but there's a new imported medication. If you have the means, you could give it a shot.

"At least, it could give you another month, and ease the pain a bit in your final days."

I was scared of pain, scared of dying, and I wasn't too proud to accept help. Julian always made sure I had enough money.

I ordered a batch.

After resting at the hospital for the afternoon, I finally made it back to my old place, but by then it was already night.

I didn't even get a chance to open the door; my stuff was thrown all over the place outside.

All the clothes and shoes I hadn't managed to grab, the flower arrangement Julian once gave me, and the little bamboo cage he made himself.

Things I used to hide away like precious keepsakes, now tossed out in the hallway like trash.

He really couldn't wait at all.

I slumped against the wall, my stomach felt like it was being stabbed with needles after the abortion. Cold sweat trickled down my cheeks, and my hair was plastered to my ears.

As I looked at all my old things, I suddenly remembered the jewelry box where I kept the memento my mom left me.

A pair of nine-pronged silver earrings.

My grandma gave them to my mom, and my mom gave them to me.

I rummaged through the jewelry box, but they were nowhere to be found. I was certain I'd left them in the necklace box Julian gave me when we got married, so why weren't they there?

Julian couldn't even wait for me to come in and grab my stuff; he clearly wanted nothing to do with me.

I had no intention of seeing him either.

But those earrings were gone.

I banged on the door and waited a long time.

Someone finally opened the door from inside.

Julian looked awkward. "She's inside. It's not convenient for you to come in right now."

I fought through the pain and reached out my hand. "Give me the earrings."

Julian pointed at the jewelry box by the door, sounding impatient. "What earrings? Isn't all your stuff right there?

"Who'd want your junk? She doesn't want it either."

I took a shaky breath, tears stinging my eyes. "Julian, the night we got married, I showed you my mom's earrings. They're all I have left of her. Please, just give them back."

Julian's expression shifted, and he was about to speak when a woman's voice interrupted him, "Julian, is Lily here?"

She was toweling off her hair, wearing an expensive beige silk nightgown.

I stared at her, my throat tightening. I could barely breathe. "It was you that night."