Nine days left. The love story of Darren and Zaylee spread all over Jaskara.
When Darren spent millions to buy a necklace for Zaylee, Joanna took out the engagement ring he had used to propose to her three years ago. She rubbed it twice, then threw it into the trash without hesitation.
When Darren lavishly lit fireworks by the sea for three days and nights to celebrate Zaylee's birthday, Joanna contacted the most prestigious lawyer in Jaskara to draft a divorce agreement.
When Darren and Zaylee hung wish plaques at a temple, praying for each other and the safety of their unborn child, Joanna scheduled a termination and uterine clearance procedure for the following day.
After being wheeled into the operating room, Joanna lay on the operating table, drenched in sweat from the pain, trembling all over. The feeling of flesh being torn from her body cut deeper than any blade. After a rush of warmth, her once swollen belly deflated in an instant, like a balloon losing air.
Speculums, scissors, forceps… the placenta was separated and removed.
An older female doctor glanced at the bloodied mess in the tray and couldn’t help but sigh.
“What a sin…”
“Don’t look! It’s too broken and can’t even be wrapped in a blanket…”
Joanna’s vision was blurry as she clung to the tiny box, whispering words of repentance again and again, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
Nine hours left on the countdown. For the first time in ages, Darren unexpectedly called.
“Joanna, Mom is holding a birthday party for me and my brother at the banquet hall. You must come!”
Joanna’s voice was soft and distant, echoing through the phone. “Mm, I’ll definitely be there.”
“At that time,” she added, “I’ll give you a birthday surprise you’ll never forget for the rest of your life.”
As the banquet reached its peak, Darren stood amidst the crowd in a tailored suit, laughing heartily among clinking glasses and lively chatter.
Time ticked by, minute after minute. As the event drew near its end, Joanna still hadn’t shown up.
A flicker of unease crept into Darren’s heart. He furrowed his brows and dialed Leon, his assistant. The line was busy.
Meanwhile, on one side of Jaskara’s West Bridge, the rescue team sent for recovery wore grim expressions as they rushed over.
Back elsewhere, Leon took a calm sip of tea, entirely unhurried. “Didn’t I tell you to delay things a bit longer? If she drowned, then let her soak properly. She brought this on herself by offending the wrong people. And besides… how dare you ignore Garcia’s orders?”
One of the recovery workers leaned in and whispered two sentences into Leon’s ear, his expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the riverbank, urgency written all over his face as he demanded details.
For this birthday banquet, Garcia had gone to great lengths, even inviting numerous media reporters. Bored and idle, they loitered around the entrance of the banquet hall, hoping for a story.
Suddenly, someone burst into the hall, panic-stricken.
Leon was utterly flustered now, hesitating over how to break the news.
Darren sneered coldly, his lips curving into a mocking smile. “What is it? Did Joanna catch a cold, or did she drown? Do you want me to go invite her myself? Tell her this. If she doesn’t show up today, she never needs to come again.”
Under the watchful and curious gazes of the crowd, Leon could no longer contain the fear in his heart. He suddenly dropped to his knees.
“Mr. Grive, something terrible has happened! Miss Spencer really drowned! When the rescue team pulled her out, all that was left was a cold, lifeless body!”
The next second, the Grive Family’s housekeeper burst in frantically, holding out a package with trembling hands.
“This was something Miss Spencer left behind before she left. You’d better open it yourself!”
With trembling hands, Darren unwrapped the package.
He felt as though he’d fallen into an icy abyss. That cold smile on his face froze completely.
