Chapter 6

“He didn’t have a marriage certificate, so he must be a fraud,” she declared.

The doctor examined the medical record. He hesitated, then said, “But he donated a significant amount of blood for your surgery. The hospital’s blood bank was depleted, and they nearly took half his blood.”

“He deserved it. I fell down the stairs because of him.”

I closed my eyes, exhaustion etched on my face. I didn't want to discuss it further. The doctor, wary of hindering my recovery, left as soon as I awoke. He seemed to have spoken with Josiah. I saw Josiah, his face etched with anxiety; he defended himself at length before departing.

The image of him pushing me on the stairs remained vivid, causing nausea whenever I saw him. Our inexplicable beginning mirrored our inexplicable end. We vanished from each other's lives, as if by mutual consent. I had even purchased a plane ticket to find my parents abroad. But then he appeared at the hospital, clutching our old, worn wedding photograph. After much explanation, the doctor reluctantly accepted his account.

“Bring him to me,” I instructed. He looked at me sympathetically and left. I closed my eyes, ignoring the approaching footsteps.

Josiah stared at me, finally speaking. “Sorry… I was anxious. I didn’t expect this. Aurora has always been frail, and I feared you’d be too rough with her. I wouldn’t be able to explain it to my colleagues.”

“I swear, I didn’t see you when I rushed past; otherwise, I wouldn’t have collided with you. Our child is my own flesh and blood—I could never harm them!”

Chapter 6

The surgical incision throbbed intensely. Yet, he had exerted himself greatly, and his first act upon seeing me was to apologize. No one asked about my pain, my condition, or the child’s whereabouts.

I looked at his serious, nervous face and laughed, tears silently tracing a path down my cheeks to my icy-cold heart.

Chapter 7

“Hazel, darling? What’s wrong? Don’t scare me; are you unwell?”

“I’ll call the doctor immediately.”

“Wait,” I interrupted, startling him. “No need. We’re breaking up, Josiah. I’m tired. I can’t blame you or her, but please, never appear before me again—in this life or the next.”

I hadn’t realized I could be so decisive. Our eyes met; he froze. It took him a long time to recover.

The ringing of a cellphone jolted me awake. He glanced at the caller ID, his expression instantly uneasy. I laughed sarcastically, refusing to look at him.

“Go. I don’t care who you’re with.”

Six years of love and marriage, ending without even a farewell. Our hasty union contrasted sharply with our miserable separation. He expected to leave immediately upon receiving Aurora’s call, but he hung up.

“I wronged you, but I promise this is the last time. I can explain everything to Aurora; I only see her as a sister. Sometimes, seeing her is like seeing a younger you, and I want to protect her.”

My disdainful laughter met his words. “Josiah, I was alive; there was no need to remember me, a complete stranger.”

“Don’t use me to excuse your infidelity; it’s disgusting.” His anxiety grew at my firm stance.

Chapter 7

“How could you think that, Hazel? I’m not that kind of person! We were together for six years; I never betrayed you!”

“Your stinginess caused this. It could have been resolved if you'd simply apologized, but you escalated it. I didn’t want it to end like this.”

Exhaustion overwhelmed me. I didn’t bother to refute his accusations. “Believe what you will. If you think a mother wouldn’t retaliate against such insults, if you think I would harm her, then fine—I did it. Let’s go our separate ways.”

His phone rang again. He left without another word, disappointment etched on his face.

Immediately, I messaged my parents abroad, telling them I would join them in two weeks. This time, I wouldn’t return. My mother, knowing me well, instantly sensed my distress. Her call brought tears, but I didn't answer, fearing she'd hear my distress. After repeated calls, she finally gave up. I pretended to have just checked my phone.

“I was eating; sorry I didn’t see your message,” I texted. “Nothing much, just missed you. Family is most important. Maybe you were right about Josiah and me all along.”

Confirming our travel plans, they offered to pick me up at the airport. Long-lost warmth filled my heart, banishing the ward’s desolation.

The nurse, changing my medication, curiously asked, “Ms. Torres, what was your relationship with Mr. Gilbert? He was holding your wedding photo and attending to another woman in another ward.”

“Oh, those photos were from a modeling job; it was just a colleague relationship,” I lied, clinging to a shred of self-respect, unwilling to be seen as a joke. The lie froze me the moment it left my lips.