Chapter 3

3

“Don’t lose hope just because of what the doctor said. Maybe there will still be a chance for you to become a mother one day.”

My senior colleague held my hand, offering gentle comfort.

Garrett’s kick had caused an internal rupture. I barely survived the emergency surgery, but I had permanently lost the ability to carry a child.

Once upon a time, my biggest dream was to have a baby with Garrett.

My parents were national defense scientists who dedicated their entire lives to classified aerospace research. Whenever they were deployed, they would disappear for years without a word.

Garrett was the only constant companion throughout my childhood. Our families were lifelong friends, and his parents loved me like their own.

Yet a child without parents around was an easy target for bullies.

Covered in bruises, I used to lie and say I fell while playing, crying secretly under my blanket at night.

Garrett would pull back my covers and gently apply ointment to my cuts.

“Don’t be scared. I’m right here.”

That single sentence tore down all my defenses, letting weeks of suppressed tears pour out.

I heard that the next day, Garrett, usually a gentle gentleman, brawled for an entire hour at school and smashed a chair over the bully’s head.

From that day on, Garrett transformed from a polite boy into a fierce protector.

I became his untouchable treasure―no one was allowed to speak ill of me, let alone hurt me.

My parents died on my eighteenth birthday.

A researcher was allegedly bribed by foreign intelligence to alter experimental data right before launch, triggering a catastrophic rocket explosion.

Garrett held me through countless sleepless, agonizing nights.

We naturally became a couple. Everyone teased him for being wrapped around my finger, but he wore it like a badge of honor, openly bragging about it at work.

Everything changed when Brooke appeared.

She was the younger sister of Garrett’s closest friend, a soldier who had fallen in the line of duty, leaving behind a helpless girl.

Garrett brought her home.

Remembering my parents’ fate, I subtly hinted that Garrett should run a background check on Brooke’s past.

In return, Garrett gave me a look filled with resentment.

“Clara, just because your parents died doesn’t give you the right to be paranoid and malicious toward an innocent orphan!”

From then on, all of Garrett’s tenderness and smiles belonged solely to her.

I repeatedly told myself that it was fine, that he only felt pity for a girl who had lost her family.

*You lost your parents too, Clara. Don’t be petty.*

Until one day, I came home unexpectedly and caught Garrett sitting on the couch, his fingers intimately intertwined with Brooke’s.

When I confronted him, Brooke immediately faked a heart episode, and Garrett lashed out at me for the very first time.

“I thought you understood the pain of losing family, Clara! I thought you’d have some empathy for her!”

“All I’m doing is giving Brooke a taste of family warmth. Your selfishness genuinely terrifies me!”

I closed my eyes in the hospital bed, letting the silent tears flow down my cheeks.

“All right, stop crying.”

I didn’t even realize Garrett had arrived until he sat down beside my bed and tossed a tissue onto my blanket.

His face was cold, tinged with obvious irritation.

“It was just a light kick. Did you really have to make a huge scene and get hospitalized just to embarrass me?”

The doctor’s surgical diagnosis was sitting right on the bedside table, but he didn’t even glance at it. He was convinced I was putting on an act.

“Fine. You can leave now.”

I said it without any emotion.

Garrett, on the other hand, flared up instantly.

“Clara! What kind of attitude is that? I came all this way out of kindness to look after you!”

I stared at him impassively. Perhaps my pale, hollow complexion stirred a trace of his remaining conscience.

“Clara, I really hate fighting with you. Why do you always have to provoke me on purpose?”

He let out a heavy sigh.

“I know you’re mad about the dress. But it’s just fabric! Your mother left it behind for someone to wear! Is it really worth this drama?”

“Here’s what we’ll do: kneel down and apologize to Brooke in front of everyone at tomorrow’s department town hall. Then our wedding next week goes ahead as scheduled. Fair enough?”

The frozen pool in my heart erupted into a storm of bitter disbelief.

“Garrett, you’re twisting right and wrong just to cater to Brooke. Have you lost all your shame?”

“Apologize to her? In your dreams!”

“Clara!”

Garrett jumped up from the chair, fists clenched tightly. “Don’t push your luck when I’m offering you an olive branch!”

“Apologize to her, and we get married.”

“Otherwise, don’t ever dream of stepping foot into the Sutton family home again!”

I looked calmly at his distorted, furious face.

Perhaps this was for the best.

A faint, bitter smile touched my lips. “Let’s break up, Garrett.”