I was wheeled into the operating room. The anesthesia kicked in fast and I slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
In the coma, I saw myself back in my university days. Simon and I were the most envied couple at that time. We would watch movies together, stroll in the park, travel around the wood and dream about each other's future.
Then the scene shifted. I was now seated in the backseat of a luxury Maybach. Outside, rain poured down in torrents as Simon knelt on the pavement, his voice hoarse and cracking as he begged me not to leave him. However, I merely cast him a cold smile before driving away, leaving him drenched and heartbroken.
The scene changed again. Simon was wrapping his arm tenderly around Kelly. His gaze looked at me coldly, as if I were nothing more than a stranger to him.
I jolted awake. The doctor told me off in a serious tone, "You were so lucky. You nearly died from severe bleeding. You just had an abortion, then fell into a pool during a fashion show. All that stress and trauma … your body can't take this much. Where are your family members? No one's come to see you."
My voice came out dry and cracked. "I don’t have any family."
The doctor gave me a sympathetic glance. He probably assumed I was a widow. After reminding me to rest and follow post-op care instructions, he stepped out.
A nurse came in not long after. She tried to chat. “You know, another girl was admitted after nearly drowning. Rumor has it she’s the Payton Family heir’s fiancée. People say Simon treats her like a treasure.”
She continued, "I used to think wealthy families were so fickle. So, I never thought the young master of the Payton Family was so romantic. He reserved an entire floor just for her treatment and even sat by her side while she got an IV. Barely left her alone for a second."
My expression did not change as I said, "Really? She must be very lucky then."
Just then the door swung open and Simon walked in. “You’re awake, Honey! Guess what I brought you?”
I looked up. He was holding a box of tea pastries and it was my favorite cakes. The same ones he used to buy whenever he tried to apologize after a fight.
He considerately adjusted my hospital bed so I could sit up, then opened the still-warm box and held a piece near my lips.
I stared at it blankly. The pastries had lost their appeal.
It was clear he held deep grudges against me, but on his face, he could still show deep love.
I felt like a puppet trapped in a cruel performance, my suffering just part of the show. Even if I died, I would just be another prop left on stage until someone decided to kick me aside.
Beneath the covers, my hands clenched into tight fists as the misery almost strangled my breath.
Simon gently touched my face while smiling at me. “You’re not mad about me saving Kelly first, are you? She can’t swim like you can, so I had to go for her. Come on, don’t be mad, okay?”
I just nodded expressionlessly.
Trying to change my mood, he softened his voice even more. “Let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s talk about us. Have you thought about where you want to hold the wedding? What kind of dress you want? What shape of diamond you want for your ring?”
He added, "We have to plan it soon. Once your belly shows, you won’t look good in a wedding gown.”
There would be no wedding. No baby. Not anymore.
“We’ll talk about it later,” I said softly. “I’m tired. I just want to sleep.”
Simon didn’t argue. He tugged the blanket gently around my body, kissed the corner of my mouth and quietly left.
When I looked at his back as he left, my heart was as calm as a puddle of stagnant water.
How long is he planning to keep up this act? I wondered.
He had talked about marriage before, too. However, it was all just talk. I knew he was not going to marry me. Since I knew the truth, I would not stay. We had become two parallel lines that could never meet again.
