When I came to, I was lying in a hospital bed. The doctor stood beside me, his tone earnest and concerned.
“Miss Henson, you're pregnant. The fainting episode was caused by extreme emotional distress. You need to be more careful going forward.”
“We tried reaching your husband, but the call wouldn't go through. He really should be more attentive.”
I forced a smile and said softly, “He's busy with work.”
The door was pulled shut. I rested my hand against my stomach, whispering.
“Baby, your timing couldn't be worse. But Mommy's taking you with her.”
I picked up the billing slip from the bedside table and headed to the front desk to pay.
On the way, I caught a snippet of conversation between two nurses and stopped in my tracks.
“Did you see that just now? Otto Sanchez, Harbor City's top lawyer, came rushing in carrying his wife.”
“Of course I saw. Hard to miss with all that commotion. He even had every senior doctor on call come examine her. Now that's true love!”
“Right? I heard they've been sweethearts since childhood. Grew up together, fell in love young. Must be nice.”
I gripped the billing slip until it crumpled in my fist, bitterness pooling in my chest.
When I was eighteen and burning with a fever that wouldn't break, Otto had been the same way. He'd carried me through a downpour on his back all the way to the hospital.
But later, when I was so sick I could barely stay conscious, all I got was a single line：“If you're sick, see a doctor. I'm busy with work too.”
I used to think he had changed. He hadn't. His love had simply moved on.
A few steps ahead, I ran straight into the two of them.
Maria looked me up and down, then sneered.
“Ann, did you come all the way to the hospital to check if I was dead yet? Sorry to disappoint.”
I couldn't be bothered.
“Move.”
Before Maria could even open her mouth, Otto was already stepping in front of her.
“Ann, she has a heart condition. She can't handle being provoked. Stop antagonizing her. There's a limit to how spoiled and unreasonable you can be.”
I stared into his cold eyes and wanted so badly to ask: what exactly had I done to provoke her?
If I were truly as spoiled and unreasonable as he claimed, I would have torn Maria apart a hundred times over for every single provocation she'd thrown my way.
“Otto, you love her that much? Fine. I'll step aside so you two can be together.”
I let out a cold laugh.
His expression darkened, brows knotting tight.
“Ann, what nonsense are you talking? I only look after her like a sister. I've never crossed a line.”
Right. Never crossed a line.
Forgot our anniversary to take her to Iceland to see the Northern Lights.
Ignored my birthday to take her to Japan for the first snow.
Did everything a lover would do, then told me he'd never crossed a line, while I only ever got a “Too much hassle. Maybe next time.”
Maria slipped her arm through his, casual as anything.
“Seriously, you're so petty. Otto and I grew up practically joined at the hip. Do you really have to make a fuss over every little thing?”
My phone rang. The firm. I had no time left for either of them.
“Attorney Henson, get back here now. The boss is about to lose it!”
I turned to leave without another thought, but Otto grabbed my wrist.
“Where are you going?”
“To die. That work for you?”
He let go, sheepish, and said nothing.
Back at the firm, the paparazzi had the entrance surrounded so tightly I could barely push through.
“Attorney Henson, as Harbor City's second-ranked lawyer, you've turned down countless clients. Now you're defending an accused murderer. How do you justify that?”
“Was the leak of case files your doing? Or is this a publicity stunt? Care to answer directly?”
The crowd pressed in until I couldn't breathe.
A figure stepped in front of me, voice sharp and cutting.
“Unless you have evidence, I suggest you stop fabricating stories. Otherwise I will personally sue every last one of you for defamation.”
I looked up and met his gaze. Otto.
For one fleeting second, something stirred in a heart I thought had gone quiet. It died just as fast.
He leaned close to my ear and murmured：“Don't say anything negative about Maria. These reporters are ruthless. She can't handle them.”
That's how it always was with someone who didn't love you. They hurt you without even trying.
Ding.
A message flashed across my phone screen, and my heart seized.
From an angle Otto couldn't see, I opened the text message.
“Ms. Henson, your Paris visa was denied. Your marital status was filled in incorrectly.”
“We verified on your behalf. You have always been unmarried. There is no marriage on record. As for Mr. Sanchez, his legal wife is Ms. Maria Henson.”
Grief crashed over me like a tidal wave, dragging me under. I couldn't breathe.
This man, standing right beside me, shielding her again and again. Now I knew why. They were the married ones all along.
In the end, I was the fool. The complete, utter fool.
The wedding never happened. The marriage certificate was fake. What between us had ever been real?
I swallowed the grief, turned away from him, and typed a single line.
“Start the process over. Immigration to London. As fast as possible.”
