Evelyn's POV:
“Evelyn…”
“Evelyn, please don’t pass out…”
At last, on the brink between life and death, I was pulled out of the swimming pool.
It was none other than my best friend, Anne Foster, who saved me.
The bracelet on my wrist was icy cold, just like my heart at that moment.
I had already lost consciousness.
With no other choice, Anne wrapped me in a bath towel and rushed me to the hospital.
That night, I burned with a high fever, my body cold as ice.
Anne held me tightly, sobbing nonstop, pleading for me to recover.
…
The next morning.
I woke up, exhausted. Seeing the familiar surroundings, I knew I had been brought back home.
Anne must have remembered clearly, I hated the sharp smell of hospital disinfectant more than anything.
My body was so cold it trembled uncontrollably.
My lips quivered as I tried to say something.
“Evelyn, Evelyn?”
“Are you okay?”
Anne hurried over, checking on my condition before placing a hand on my forehead.
It was still burning hot.
“Where is my bracelet?”
I looked around hazily, panic flashing in my eyes.
Anne gently took my hand and whispered.
“Don’t worry, darling.”
“I’ve already put it back on your wrist.”
“Something that important, no one will ever be able to take it from you again.”
I looked at the bracelet glimmering on my wrist, and at last, the corners of my lips curved into a faint, relieved smile.
That was good.
“Did James come back at all last night?”
Suddenly, I thought of James. My voice was hoarse and bleak.
The moment Anne heard his name, she frowned, anger flaring up instantly.
“Why are you still asking about that bastard?”
“Are you stupid?”
“That bastard didn’t come back all night. He’s probably sleeping with his mistress again.”
“And yet when you were burning with fever, you were still whispering his name.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Is the world really so short of men for you to love?”
Anne spoke as if venting all her rage.
I endured it in silence, not daring to argue back.
I only spoke hoarsely, exhaustion weighing on every word.
“Anne, don’t be angry.”
“I’ve decided.”
“I’m letting go.”
“I’ve asked Charlie to prepare the divorce papers.”
Hearing that, Anne finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Good. At least you’re thinking clearly.”
“Just consider that you were blind before.”
“Alright then, what do you want to eat? I’ll go buy it for you.”
Her tone softened.
I blinked. Perhaps because my mouth tasted bitter, I only wanted something sweet.
“I want minced pork porridge, and a slice of red velvet from the shop on the next street…”
The moment she heard that, Anne pressed a hand to her forehead.
“You really know how to bully me, making me go that far just to buy cake.”
“It’ll take me at least half an hour to drive there and back.”
Even as she complained, Anne still sighed.
“Fine. Who told me I’m your friend?”
“Wait here. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve bought the food.”
I smiled sweetly, even mustering the strength to wave goodbye to Anne.
The room fell into silence, but not for long.
The door suddenly flew open, catching me off guard.
“Anne, you’re back so soon...”
My words stopped short.
I saw James holding Lena close, his gestures intimate and gentle.
James cleared his throat and looked at me as if issuing an order.
“Lena was traumatized by what happened yesterday, so I’m letting her stay here to recuperate.”
“Move to the guest bedroom.”
“Give this room to Lena.”
Hearing those words, my eyes went completely blank.
Involuntarily, I thought back to the days when I had first moved into this place.
Back then, my heart had been filled with excitement as I said this would be the home that belonged to James and me alone.
A place where no outsiders would ever be allowed to step in.
“Alright, let this be our own sweet little world, okay?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone else come in and disturb you.”
Those were the promises he had made.
He had even indulged me with a gentle kiss, saying that this house was like his heart, one that held only my reflection within it.
And for a time, he truly kept his word.
Once, simply because his female secretary had casually come over to retrieve some documents, and he was afraid I might feel upset, he fired that secretary on the spot.
Yet now, here he was, brazenly bringing Lena back.
And even demanding that I give up the bedroom for her.
I was so exhausted that I no longer had the strength to resist.
Some things, he had already chosen to forget.
No matter how much I reminded him, perhaps he was only pretending not to remember.
I merely looked at him coldly, saying nothing.
“Can you do that?”
My silence seemed to anger James.
He questioned me in a cold voice, looking at me with utter disgust, as if I were nothing more than an extra, a surplus existence.
Thinking of the slap from the other day, and the despair I felt when I was pushed into the swimming pool, I no longer wanted to provoke James.
“Fine.”
“I’ll pack right away", I spoke heavily, my voice hoarse, then slowly sat up in bed.
Only then did James seem satisfied.
He reached out to rub Lena’s hair and said he would go downstairs to make breakfast for her, then quickly disappeared down the hallway.
The pale smile on Lena’s lips instantly twisted into a sneer.
Hearing this, my movements paused for a brief moment.
Make breakfast?
The man who always claimed to hate stepping into the kitchen, who disliked the smell of cooking oil, was now willingly making breakfast for Lena?
Clearly, throughout our entire relationship and five years of marriage, he had never once stepped into the kitchen to cook for me, not even a single bowl of noodles.
Without comparison, there truly would be no pain.
I only let out a bitter smile, then slowly lowered my gaze, forcing myself to steady my emotions.
“So, Evelyn?”
“Does it feel good, being slapped by your husband and shoved into the pool?”
She glanced at her nails, mocking me.
Her voice was piercingly sharp, yet deliberately kept low,
so that James downstairs wouldn’t hear.
“Your cheek is still red.”
“Have you come to your senses yet?”
“Kneel down and beg me to spare you now, and it might still be in time.”
“Oh no, don’t forget, you also have to take the initiative to sign the divorce papers and get out of this house.”
My head throbbed as if it were being split apart.
I frowned at her words.
Get out?
Don’t even think about it.
I calmly gathered the fever medicine from the table, took it with me, and slowly walked out of the room.
“Only someone shameless would take pride in seducing another woman’s husband, Lena.”
“If I were you, I’d be so ashamed I’d want to die.”
My words struck straight at Lena’s sore spot.
They hit her where it hurt the most, leaving her completely unable to retort.
“Bitch, shut up!”
“Who gave you the right to talk about me like that?”
“Die, you bitch!”
And in the very next second,
driven by pure rage, she shoved me hard from behind.
I lost my balance and fell violently down the staircase.
I had no time to react.
With a heavy crash, my body tumbled down, rolling several steps, my abdomen slamming hard against the stairs.
Blood quickly seeped out, spreading across the staircase in a shocking crimson.
I clutched my stomach, bone-deep pain surging through me, leaving me utterly unable to speak.
At the same time, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.
