To save my husband, I sacrificed the leg I, a dancer, was most proud of, and the child in my womb. Liam worried I hadn’t fully recovered, so he never slept with me again. That was until I was on a FaceTime call with my best friend abroad and caught sight of him, intimate and affectionate, with the dance academy’s former belle. The girl asked, curious: “She’s lost a leg. Would you still sleep with her?” “Is she as soft as me?” He said, “The thought of her missing leg just kills my desire.” “You’re the softest. I only want to be with you.” My heart hammered with a desperate, sorrowful rhythm in my chest. A sharp sting radiated from my eyes, and tears, utterly defiant, streamed down my face, landing on my hand as I scrolled through the video again and again. “You’re the softest. I only want to be with you.” Listening to Liam’s distinctive, honeyed voice, I watched the recorded video over and over. On a Parisian street, Liam and a beautiful girl walked hand-in-hand under the dappled shade, looking every inch a couple deeply in love. Suddenly, Liam’s phone chimed. It was a text from a contact labeled ‘Transient,’ asking if he was there. I glanced at Liam. He was on the balcony, his back to me, smoking. He knew I hated the smell of smoke. So, he always went to the balcony to smoke. Picking up his phone, I opened the chat. The history was meticulously wiped clean. Only one message remained: “Liam, I miss you.” Just those five words, and my heart clenched painfully. I guessed Liam had, most likely, truly cheated. The hand holding the phone suddenly felt weak and numb. I wiped away the tears that had once again fallen onto the screen. I tapped into the girl’s Ins profile and saw it was indeed the woman from the video. Young and beautiful, with long, fair legs, she looked captivating as she danced gracefully. Seeing her face, I finally remembered. She was Brittany Taylor, a few years younger than me from my old dance academy. After losing my right leg three years ago, I occasionally followed my alma mater’s news when I had nothing to do. Brittany had been named the school belle, praised for her exquisite dance moves, and had represented the school in numerous competitions, winning many awards. I checked her Ins post from two days ago. It was a Chanel bag, captioned: “My Prince Charming just *gets* me. So happy!” I didn’t scrutinize it, just took a quick photo with my own phone. Brittany’s Ins feed had a lot of posts. I scrolled through them quickly, finally stopping on one that left my heart aching for a long time. She said, “I only want $11.99 for the transfer, not a cent more.” Below it was a screenshot of her chat with Liam. Labeled: My Knight In the screenshot, she asked Liam, “Can you transfer me $11.99?” Liam transferred $10,000. She declined it, sending it back. “I only want $11.99, not a cent more.” Liam didn’t say anything, just directly transferred $11.99. Brittany sent a cute emoji and said, “$11.99, because ‘1199’ sounds like ‘forever and ever’ in some online circles. It means I want us to be together for a long, long time, endlessly.” Perhaps my heart was numb from the pain, because at that moment, my face was blank. I simply added Brittany as a friend, then took Liam’s phone and checked his Amazon purchases. I found that over the past two years, he had bought dozens of women’s items. From clothes and shoes to luxury cosmetics and handbags, even women’s lingerie – everything was there. The default shipping address was my old dance academy, and the recipient was, naturally, Brittany. They say it takes a lifetime to find your true partner, to share a bed and a soul. But while I lay in his arms, he was wide awake, his eyes fixed on someone else. The sound of the shower stopped. Wiping away my tears, I took photos of every single order. Even as I exited, I remembered to mark her messages as unread. Then I started packing my luggage. As the bathroom door opened, I looked up. My eyes met Liam’s. SECOND CHAPTER “What’s wrong?” Liam asked, wiping his hair, a puzzled look on his face. Then he saw my half-packed suitcase, and his eyes widened. Snapping out of his shock, Liam quickly came to my side, a strange look on his face. “Scarlett, what are you doing?” “Going home.” He knelt down, taking my hand. “Is it because we haven’t gone to see your mom in a while? Are you upset about that?” “I’m sorry, babe. It’s my fault. I’ve been so busy lately, I completely overlooked it.” “I’ll call the office right away, sort out my schedule for the next few days, and then we can go see your mom together. How about that?” From dating to marriage, Liam had always been meticulously attentive to me, and incredibly devoted to my mom. My friends used to say I’d never find another man as good as him. So, hearing him say “your mom”—that familiar, warm term—my heart softened, and my hands instinctively paused from packing. But then I remembered him saying he was “too busy,” and the image of him strolling through Paris with Brittany flashed in my mind. Until today, I truly believed Liam was devoted only to me. Now, it seemed, it was just wishful thinking on my part. He reached for his phone, preparing to make the call. I didn’t expose his lie. I placed my hand over his. “No need. Your work is more important.” The air hung silent for two seconds. Liam suddenly seemed to remember something. He gently stroked my head, smiling. “I almost forgot something really important.” He stood up and pulled a pair of high heels from his suitcase. I paused, surprised. I’d loved those heels for ages, always wanted to buy them, but could never find a way to get my hands on them. Liam helped me sit on the edge of the bed, then knelt before me, placing my foot on his lap, and personally helped me put them on. My other leg was a prosthetic, and he patiently helped me put that shoe on too, without a trace of annoyance. “Do you like them?” He smiled, a satisfied expression on his face. “When I went abroad, the first thing I did was figure out how to buy these heels. Thankfully, persistence paid off; I finally got them.” I didn’t answer. Instead, I stared at him intently and asked, “Liam, do you remember how we lost our baby?” He froze instantly. His gaze slowly dropped, his eyes gradually turning red. When he looked up again, Liam gently embraced me, his voice thick with tears. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry. It was all my fault.” Three years ago, a truck barreled straight towards Liam. In that critical, heart-stopping moment, I, pregnant and terrified, instinctively lunged forward, shoving him out of harm’s way. When I regained consciousness, I gripped his hand, my first words being, “Liam, promise me, you’ll save our baby…” Liam looked at the stark, horrifying red staining the ground beneath my leg. He clutched his pants tightly, his eyes red-rimmed, bowing his head and sobbing uncontrollably. Just like that, my right leg, and the child Liam and I were going to have, were gone. Escaping from the painful memories, I broke free from Liam’s embrace, speaking in a pleading tone. “Liam, can we try for another baby? Please?” Liam gently wiped away the tears welling in my eyes. “Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. Let’s wait a little longer.” Though I had guessed this might be his answer, hearing him say it aloud still sent a fresh pang of pain through my chest. Lying on my side, my back to Liam, I was too heartbroken to close my eyes. My phone vibrated, and in the next second, Liam cut the call. But quickly, it vibrated again. Liam gently called out, “Scarlett, are you asleep?” THIRD CHAPTER I kept my eyes closed, not making a sound. Only then did he tiptoe out of bed, open the door, and leave. I opened my eyes, grabbed my phone, and checked the house’s security footage. Outside the front door, the rain was coming down in sheets. A girl stood in the downpour, drenched to the bone. Her delicate frame shivered violently, stimulated by the cold rain, looking utterly pathetic. It was Brittany Taylor? The front door opened. Brittany excitedly stepped forward, calling out joyfully, “Mr. Dawson!” On the monitor, Liam looked utterly shocked. He glanced behind him, his brow furrowed with a mix of anxiety and furious anger. “Who gave you permission to come to my house? Didn’t I tell you not to come here?” “Get out! Don’t let my wife see you. Go now!” His ruthless dismissal, like a bucket of ice water dumped over Brittany’s head, landed squarely on her face. But Brittany seemed completely unfazed. She lunged into Liam’s arms, desperate. “I… I missed you. I’d go crazy if I spent another moment without you.” Liam forcefully pushed her away. “What are you doing?” He said, instinctively glancing back towards the upstairs, his eyes wide with panic. Seeing that I hadn’t appeared, Liam again tried to drive Brittany away. “My wife could wake up any minute. Get out of here, or don’t blame me for getting rough!” Brittany clung to Liam again, then kissed him again. I clenched my teeth, my fingers digging into the comforter. My heart screamed. Liam! Push her away. Push her away. You have a wife! Liam grabbed Brittany’s arm, as if he wanted to push her away. But Brittany wrapped her arms around Liam’s neck, her legs clamping around his waist. She hung onto him, her movements incredibly skilled. Finally, Liam’s expression softened, losing its resistance. He closed his eyes, melting into her embrace, no longer refusing her. He even cradled Brittany’s face, passionately returning the kiss, actively taking control. He reached out and closed the door, then began to pull at her clothes, lifting her in his arms as they tumbled onto the sofa, entwining themselves shamelessly, like two pieces of sticky candy. My phone slipped from my grasp, falling onto the bed. I clapped my hands over my mouth, sobbing uncontrollably in the room. *Boom!* A low rumble of thunder echoed outside the window. Watching Liam take Brittany again and again, my heart felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed, again and again. A tidal wave of pain washed over me, engulfing my entire being. All his past care and tenderness towards me now transformed into blades of betrayal that meticulously shredded my heart into a thousand pieces, leaving me wishing I were dead. I don’t know how much time passed. Suddenly, Liam’s voice came from the phone, cold and distant. “You should go. Remember, don’t let this happen again. Don’t ever come to my house. Otherwise, everything I’ve given you, I can take it all back.” I picked up my phone and saw Liam getting dressed. Brittany was kneeling on the sofa, hugging Liam from behind, her face resting on his shoulder, her expression tender and affectionate. “I want to stay with you a little longer, can’t I?” Liam pulled her hands away, then turned and slapped her across the face. Brittany fell back onto the sofa, clutching her face, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Liam. He pointed at Brittany, his voice sharp with anger. “I’m warning you, don’t you dare scheme any dirty tricks. Scarlett and I are childhood sweethearts; we’ve shared thick and thin for five years. She’s the woman I love most.” “Three years ago, she even lost her right leg and our child to save me. She’s still my wife, Liam Dawson’s only wife for life. No one will ever replace her!” “Not even you!” Seeing Brittany’s face filled with disbelief, I couldn’t help but let a bitter, mocking smile play on my lips. I looked at our wedding photo on the wall. The more I looked, the more ridiculous it seemed. Liam claimed I was his wife, the woman he loved most, yet he was entangled with Brittany right here in our home. What was I to him? What did our past mean to him? And what was this pathetic attempt to feign remorse after getting what he wanted? I exited the security footage, no longer wanting to watch them. Memories of our past flashed in my mind, keeping me awake all night. Around 4 AM, I finally drifted into a hazy sleep. In my dream, fireworks exploded one after another across the sky, showering it with glittering light. Liam walked towards me, holding a large bouquet of red roses, then knelt on one knee, gazing at me with deep affection. “Scarlett, thank you for being by my side all these years.” “Without your companionship and encouragement, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I swear, not just in this life, but in the next, and the one after that, I will love you endlessly, until death do us part.” “Will you marry me?” I covered my mouth, tears streaming down my face from emotion. Just as I was about to nod. A patch of black suddenly welled up from Liam’s chest. Ink-like liquid spread wildly, quickly staining his entire body black. The sincerity on Liam’s face remained unchanged, but the vibrant red roses in his hand visibly turned black, rapidly shriveling. The petals withered and fell to the ground, emitting a putrid, sickening smell. Liam was no longer the radiant boy he once was. His love for me had festered, turned rotten. From this moment on, I didn’t need it anymore. FOURTH CHAPTER Waking up, I found Liam sitting by my bedside, his face soft and gentle. “Sleepyhead, time to get up. I made you your favorite millet porridge.” He took my hand without a word, leading me downstairs. Helping me into a dining chair, Liam thoughtfully served me a small bowl. He gently blew on a spoonful, then brought it to my lips. I turned my head away. Liam didn’t get angry. He put the spoon down and asked considerately, “Scarlett, you’ve seemed a little down since last night. Can you tell me what happened?” He mused, “Is it because I said we should hold off on having a baby for now? Is that why you’re sad?” Before I could speak. He took my hand in his. “Your body is like this because of me. If I rushed to have a baby before your body was fully recovered, what kind of man would I be?” “Babe, you know I love kids the most. Once you’re fully recovered, and the doctors say it’s okay, we’ll try right away, alright?” Liam hugged me. He gently stroked the back of my head. “I’ll go get the car now. We’ll head to the hospital for your leg check-up in a bit. Wait here for me.” He got up to get the car. I also stood up, noticing that the cloud security footage had been deleted. Then I turned and poured the bowl of porridge into the trash. Liam took me to the hospital for my check-up. While he went to pay the bill, I sat alone on a bench. Suddenly, I saw Brittany Taylor walk past, heading straight for the OB-GYN department. A surge of curiosity washed over me, and I quickly followed. She was arm-in-arm with her friend, chatting about Liam. Her friend looked worried. “I heard Mr. Dawson really loves his wife. Now that you’re pregnant with his baby, are you okay?” Brittany chuckled mockingly. “Mr. Dawson has no love for Scarlett Hayes at all. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he want to touch her? Why wouldn’t he want her to have his child?” “I’m different. Mr. Dawson not only loves me, he comes to see me all the time. If he knew I was carrying his flesh and blood, he’d be thrilled.” Hearing that, I froze on the spot. I couldn’t believe Liam and Brittany already had a child?! Her friend seemed puzzled. “If Mr. Dawson and Scarlett Hayes don’t love each other anymore, why don’t they just get a divorce?” Brittany’s eyes flared with anger, yet also helplessness. “Because Mr. Dawson is still clinging to old memories, burdened by guilt. But those things will fade with time.” “Once the old flame dies and his patience wears thin, do you really think Mr. Dawson will stay with her? Mr. Dawson is so handsome, a multi-millionaire, and the esteemed CEO of a massive corporation. Why would he spend his life with a disabled woman?” She suddenly stopped, smiling as she turned to her friend. “Do you know how many times Liam and I have been together behind Scarlett Hayes’s back? Even on their own bed, Liam and I…” “Ew, you’re so… gross.” Her friend blushed, looking a little disgusted. But Brittany laughed happily. “You don’t understand. Liam loves that. Scarlett Hayes is just a stuffy, disabled old woman who knows nothing. How could she possibly win Liam’s heart?” “So, Liam will definitely abandon her and marry me!” Turning my back on Brittany, I walked away, a self-deprecating smile on my face. Brittany was still lost in her fantasy. How ridiculous. It seemed Liam’s slap hadn’t woken her up yet. I used to believe Liam was a responsible, good man, and I poured my whole heart into him. But what I got in return was ruthless betrayal. Thankfully, my dream was over now. I wouldn’t cling to him for another second. Because, we were done. FIFTH CHAPTER Returning home alone, I started packing my suitcase. The housekeeper, Brenda, saw me dragging my luggage and came over to help, smiling warmly. “Madam, are you going on a trip?”
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