Chapter 45

Soon, he sent another message, filled with a fierce, malicious tone. Did you really think I couldn’t do without you? You better hide well. If you have the guts, hide from me for the rest of your life. If I find you, I promise you’ll wish you were dead! “Esmeralda, I hate you!”

Looking at his last message, I felt uneasy. I didn’t want him to hate me; I just wanted him to forget me. Hating someone torments the hater as well.

During our three years of marriage, I treated him poorly, causing him suffering and oppression.

In the following days, I hoped he would be well, happy, even if not with me. Reynaldo sent no more messages. Because of his few messages, I stayed awake all night.

The next day, I was exhausted. Luckily, it was Saturday, and the office’s administrative department was closed. I slept all day and woke up late in the evening. I was extremely hungry, so I got up, freshened up, and went out to eat.

Although the area wasn’t very nice, it was lively. Downstairs, I saw street food vendors and many stalls. I bought a pancake and a cup of milk. The pancake wasn’t as delicious as Reynaldo’s. Although I’d only eaten his buns twice, they were the best I’d ever had—better than those at a seven-star hotel.

Thinking of Reynaldo, my mood darkened. My phone remained quiet all day. Reynaldo had said that if he hadn’t returned by today, I shouldn’t contact him again. Did that mean he’d stopped bothering me? Although this was what I’d wanted, I felt a little melancholy.

I breathed a sigh of relief and walked back with my food. In the hallway, I ran into Auntie. She was buying vegetables and greeted me with a smile.

Chapter 45

I waved back. She said, “You don’t blame Trevin, do you? He can’t speak. I scolded him yesterday, too.”

“No, it wasn’t his fault. I made you all misunderstand.”

Auntie glanced at me and said, “Oh my, you look like a student! How did you get married and have a child?” She looked at my belly. “How many months along are you? You don’t show yet.”

“I just recently got pregnant,” I said, smiling, and followed her upstairs.

Auntie looked at my buns. “A pregnant woman needs more nutrition than just buns.” It wasn’t safe for you to live alone. I can’t understand how your mother-in-law and husband let you work while pregnant.

I smiled. “It’s alright. I just found out.”

“Oh, I see.” Auntie glanced at my belly again. “But I advise you to have your husband take care of you. There are many factories here; he could easily find work if he’s not lazy.”

I nodded and smiled, but didn’t reply. After all, I didn’t have a mother-in-law, and my so-called husband was my ex-husband. So, I didn’t understand her.

Finally, I reached the sixth floor. I said, “I’ll go back now, Auntie. Goodbye.”

“Ah, goodbye.”

As I turned toward my room, I felt a gaze on my back. I turned around and saw Auntie standing at the corridor entrance, staring at me with a strange expression. As I turned, she smiled and waved. “Go back, go back. Rest well.”