To protect Eryn, Aiden allowed her to be a co-author on a paper that was outside her major. He even played pranks on his colleagues and skipped his own lectures, all to amuse her.
In doing so, he not only trampled on my face and dignity but also completely disregarded the ethics and fundamental rules of our entire profession.
What finally made me explode was Aiden's meticulously planned marriage proposal for Eryn.
That year, Aiden had become instantly famous after discovering a minor planet. He didn't just appear in international journals; his handsome looks also made him a sensation nationwide.
At the peak of his life, he chose to share that glory with Eryn. He named the minor planet "Erynden," which meant "Forever Intertwined." Just like Aiden and Eryn, who vowed never to part.
That same night he received the award, in a romantic planetarium, under Erynden, he held a small wedding ceremony for her.
Watching Eryn in her wedding dress, walking slowly toward Aiden and seeing the two of them exchange vows to stay together until their hair turned white, under that starry sky, I broke down all over again.
Back then, Aiden and I had never had a wedding.
When I begged him repeatedly, he only said, "Nina, you know me. I don't like those showy things. Rather than waste time and effort, I'd rather use my energy on real work. I have many experiments to finish."
Because I loved him, I gave in. Because I loved him, I also lost everything I had.
All the emotions I had bottled up for so long finally erupted.
In front of all the guests, I rushed forward, tore the wedding dress off Eryn and slapped her hard across the face twice.
Aiden splashed a glass of water across my face. His voice was cold as ice when he said, "Nina, you've crossed the line."
Soon after, he filed for divorce and said he would take Eryn away.
Of course, I refused. I couldn't and wouldn't let go.
I cried as I spoke to Aiden. "If you dare leave today, I'll jump off this cliff with the child."
Aiden didn't leave. Instead, he pushed me down. Maybe he only meant to frighten me, but in the end, I truly lost the baby I had been longing for.
I was admitted to the mental hospital again, this time for severe depression.
When I talk about it now, I smile a little and say in a calm, almost indifferent tone, "In my second year at the asylum, Aiden filed for divorce. I fought it until the very end, but I got nothing except this box of junk."
"The year after the divorce, I couldn't accept any of it. I self-harmed and went insane countless times."
"My condition was so bad that I couldn't find suitable work."
"My parents were so worried about me that their hair turned white and their health was getting worse day by day. Afraid of making them worry more, I started helping at the family bakery and surprisingly, my emotions gradually stabilized. "
Soon, I concluded. "Now, I've inherited the shop and I'm actually doing quite well."
My tone was calm, but Sabrina sobbed uncontrollably. "Nina, why are you suffering so much? Aiden is a real jerk. If I see him, I'll definitely beat him up to a pulp to get revenge for you."
As soon as she finished speaking, the door was pushed aside.
There Aiden stood, right in front of us.
The cloudy glasses made his face hard to see, yet suddenly I remembered the words he had said when we parted.
I think he said, "Nina, I … "
