Chapter 3

03

I forced myself to stay conscious long enough to call for an ambulance.

When I woke up again, it was already afternoon.

The doctor said I had acute internal bleeding in my stomach. If I had arrived any later, I might not have made it.

Fortunately, the condition was managed quickly.

He cleaned the wound on my forehead and applied a bandage.

The doctor told me I could be discharged that afternoon, as long as I came back for a follow-up.

I stood up to process my discharge papers, but I ran into Xavier in the hallway near the OB-GYN department.

He was pushing Gia in a wheelchair, preparing to leave as well.

When Gia saw me, she theatrically clutched her stomach, looking pitiful.

Xavier frowned the moment he laid eyes on me.

"What are you doing at the hospital? What kind of drama are you trying to start now? I'm telling you, because of you, the doctor says Gia needs bed rest to save the baby!"

After he finished his rant, his eyes drifted to the bandage on my forehead. A flicker of worry crossed his face.

"What happened to your head?"

I looked him in the eye, my voice calm. "Gia's injury had nothing to do with me. And I fell on my own."

Xavier instinctively moved to ask more, but Gia grabbed his sleeve.

"Xavier, I'm feeling a little dizzy. Let's go home."

Xavier swallowed his concern. I turned around and walked away.

I didn't look at him again.

The house was still a mess, exactly how I had left it.

I called a cleaning service.

Then, I went to the master bedroom.

In just one night, Gia had already rearranged everything.

My clothes and makeup had been unceremoniously tossed into the back of the walk-in closet.

She was sleeping in my bed, lying next to my husband.

I fought back the heartache, refusing to let another tear fall.

I had cried far too many tears for Xavier Hunt.

I wasn't going to do it anymore.

I left everything Xavier had ever bought me in the master bedroom.

I only took the things I had brought with me the year I ran away to be with him.

I packed a small suitcase and moved it to the guest room.

Just as I finished, Xavier came home.

He helped Gia settle in before finally sparing a glance for me.

I didn't look at him; I just stared at my phone.

He lit a cigarette. The smoke made me cough uncomfortably.

Xavier quickly put it out.

He sat down in front of me and spoke as if nothing was wrong.

"Gia has seven months until she gives birth. The baby needs a legal status. I can't let my child be born illegitimate. Let's get a divorce for now. Once the baby is born, we'll get married again."

I froze for a long time. Then, I calmly looked up at him. Xavier watched me in silence.

For once, there was a trace of guilt in his eyes.

He explained, "Lyra, I promise, it's just this once. Gia is a young girl, and she's already gone this far for me by being pregnant out of wedlock. I wouldn't be a man if I didn't step up."

He stared at me intensely, as if expecting me to have an emotional breakdown.

To his surprise, I didn't scream or cry.

I simply crinkled my eyes and smiled. "Okay."

Xavier let out a huge sigh of relief, looking overjoyed.

Once upon a time, when I agreed to marry him, he looked exactly like this.

The joy on his young face back then was impossible to hide.

Times change. Now, he was happy because I agreed to leave him.

I lowered my eyes.

"Let's do it now. We should still be able to make it before the office closes."

The paperwork at the clerk's office went quickly. We had our divorce decree that same day.

The sky was already dark. Xavier said he would drive me home.

But after passing a single traffic light, he got a text from Gia.

He pulled over at a bus stop and dropped me off.

"Gia needs something. I have to get to her. Find your own way home!"

He left me alone on the side of the road.

I suddenly remembered the year we were most in love.

My parents tried to force me to go abroad.

At the airport, Xavier had gripped my hand so tightly he wouldn't let go.

His palms were so warm, and his romantic promises were so moving.

I had believed every word.

I didn't care if I had to cut ties with my parents to be with him.

Xavier and I really proved that old saying.

The one who says "I love you" first is the first to stop, and the one who falls later never truly gets over it.

Looking at the red divorce certificate in my hand, I took a soft breath. My tears began to fall uncontrollably.

That summer, where a girl fought the whole world for one man, was finally over.

My ten years with Xavier Hunt were over.

I opened my phone and booked a plane ticket.