Slowly, as I regained my consciousness in that basement, I could feel my lower abdomen still throbbing with pain. At that moment, Anne’s shrill, sharp laugh stabbed into my ear like a knife.
"Are you finally awake, Nova? I'm sorry for keeping you sleep for so long. Anne's fine now. Just apologize to her and I'll pretend this never happened.” Lucas, seated in the corner, spoke up.
I stared in confusion, then snapped back to reality.
Anne stood before me, looking radiant and refreshed. In her hand, she clutched my phone.
"Wow, you're a very thrifty woman, Nova. You are even interested in one-dollar and fifty-cent items. No wonder Lucas bought your uterus for a dollar and fifty cents."
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was the hospital staff informing me that my father had passed away.
I glared at Anne's frivolous eyes as rage made my voice shake, "Why did my father lose his life while you stand here unscathed! Heaven will never forgive you.”
My expression turned grave as I stared intently at her, but I did not expect that it would provoke her.
She slapped me hard across the face and instantly, I was bruised and swollen. Then she casually ordered her assistant behind her to beat me. I clutched my stomach and wept uncontrollably.
All her innocence's act had gone when she yanked my hair viciously and was ready to strike me again. "Lucas has already bought your womb. Stop pretending to be in pain—his heart belongs only to me.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I watched Lucas, sitting silent in the corner. I prayed he would intervene, but his silence clearly sanctioned her actions.
After a tense standoff, he finally said, "Anne, don't be so impulsive. You'll only hurt your hand.”
His comment made my whole body tremble and my heart twisted in agony as hope left my heart.
Late at night, I sat alone on the basement window sill, unable to sleep. While clutching my stomach, I buried my face and wept.
As I gazed at the bright moonlight, I recalled the moment Lucas and I first met.
We were campus sweethearts. Our first meeting happened before the flower wall on campus. His clean, neatly pressed shirt caught my eye. I was wearing a white dress my mother had made for me and my classmates jokingly said we're wearing a couple's outfit.
Instantly, we both blushed and Lucas couldn't hide his delight the moment he saw me. Gradually, we grew closer.
On the first snowfall after graduation, he knelt before me at my doorstep and confessed his love. "Nova, will you be mine? I want to protect you forever."
The moonlight was bright that night and his eyes were brimming with tenderness. I shyly nodded my head.
The moonlight remained unchanged, yet beneath it, everything had shifted beyond recognition.
I stared at the photo of Lucas and me on my phone screen. It was taken when he promised to marry me. However, the one dollar and fifty cents transfer on the screen stabbed my heart like a blade.
Compared to his wealthy family, mine was nothing. After we started dating, I never bought expensive gifts, knowing every little thing counts. Back then, Lucas never stopped praising my virtue and kindness, yet now he mocked me with his words.
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was my brother.
He was adopted by our parents years ago. After coming of age, he went abroad to build his life and we never saw each other again.
“I know about Father's situation. Nova, rest assured, I will stand by your side. I'll handle Father's funeral arrangements. How have you been lately?”
His concern instantly brought tears to my eyes. Fighting back the sobs, I simply replied, “Don't worry about me.”
It seemed my brother heard the unspoken truth in my voice because he asked, "Nova, like I had said before … whenever you need me, you can always come to me.”
I didn’t answer him, but nodded silently.
