After My Death, He Abandoned His First Love and Cried For Me

Everyone knew that Clement Lance was surrounded by an undignified lickspittle, namely me, Katherine Hermosa.

I had waited ten years for him to say, "Katherine, let's get married."

On the day of the premarital check-up, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

But Clement went to pick up the woman he couldn't forget back home.

I hid the critical illness notice behind my back. Clement looked at my pale face and said, "Katherine, you're so stubborn."

After my death, Clement, who was always proud and reserved, never married. He cried hysterically in front of my tombstone.

1.

I'd pestered Clement for ten years, going from a shy girl to a hot pop star.

I was his lover.

In other words, everything I had was from him.

At three in the morning, Clement reeked of alcohol, with a hint of red at the corners of his eyes.

Probably because I had eaten the wrong thing for dinner, I had a burning pain coming from my stomach.

Still bracing myself, I served black coffee and dutifully sat next to him.

My makeup was clean.

It was his favorite look.

"Why are you so late today?"

Clement didn't say a word but pulled me into his arms the next second.

The violent movement inadvertently swept the coffee on the table to the ground.

The black liquid splashed onto the white silk dress like a dark rose in full bloom.

His ragged breathing matched his cool lips in the scented room. I responded to him with the same passion.

I could never say no to Clement.

His voice was low.

"Windsor, I love you."

I suddenly opened my eyes. A sharp pain in my stomach made me fall right down.

Yes, my name was Katherine.

Windsor Quill was the woman Clement couldn't have.

He seemed to sense something as well, his eyes regaining their clarity as he rubbed my hair.

Then, he lit up a cigarette.

Clement cupped my face and locked eyes with me.

He said, "Katherine, marry me.

"Katherine, let's get married."

I was overwhelmed by his sudden words, but he clearly didn't need my answer.

He made a quick determination to have the premarital check-up the day after tomorrow.

Then, he told me, "We'll get a marriage license after the check-up."

The pain I had just felt eased.

I lay on the bed, circled in his arms, feeling his breath.

I finally got the person I had loved for ten years. I should have been happy, but there was always a bitterness in my heart that was hard to ignore.

I didn't sleep a wink.

2.

Clement hadn't come back. The pains in my stomach became frequent. It was probably gastritis, an old one.

On the day of the premarital check-up, I put on the perfect makeup and drove to the hospital early.

The sun was shining, and I thought to myself as I looked at the bright sky, "I'm going to be twice as nice to him when we get married.

I love him. I get to be by his side as a wife for the rest of my life."

The great joy seemed to wash over me.

I didn't want to wait in the lounge, so I stood in the doorway.

I wanted to see him as soon as he arrived.

It was a bit hot. I bought two cold drinks.

An hour had passed since the appointed time.

He was late.

Besides, I couldn't get through to him.

The joy I had just felt was washed away. Anxiety paired with the searing heat. I swallowed half my drink in one gulp.

Suddenly, I had the most excruciating pain in my stomach in such a long time.

The sweat soaked my clothes.

My cell phone rang at the right time. I thought it must be Clement calling.

I forced the pain and answered it, my voice tinged with sobs.

"Clement..."

There was a two-second pause on the other end of the line. Then, a female voice came through.

"Ms. Hermosa, please bring your family to the hospital immediately. We have tentatively diagnosed you with stomach cancer..."

I saw a huge LED display in a mall across the street from the hospital.

Above was a photo of Windsor at the airport, and Clement was standing behind her.

I didn't hear what the caller said afterward. I only felt dizziness.

There was a piercing tinnitus in my ears.

Clement's face slowly zoomed in on the display. My heart raced with it, and then it went black.