I hadn’t had my period for three months, so I eagerly rushed to the hospital for an ultrasound. The doctor stared at my results for a long moment, then looked up, utterly shocked. “Miss Stella, you don’t have a uterus!” My first reaction was denial. “How could I not have a uterus? My periods were always normal before; they just suddenly stopped three months ago.” The doctor checked my records on the computer. “Three months ago, you had a hysterectomy.” A hysterectomy? I immediately shook my head. “No, three months ago, I had an appendectomy!” “The surgical record clearly states ‘hysterectomy,’ and your husband’s signature is on the consent form.” Refusing to give up, I pleaded with the doctor to retrieve the consent form from that time. \[Patient: Stella Anderson, Procedure: Hysterectomy] At the bottom, Liam’s signature was bold and sweeping. —It was undeniably his handwriting. I was still reeling from the shock when the doctor suddenly discovered something else on her computer. “Your husband’s name is Liam Anderson, right?” “Yes.” “He just accompanied another woman for a prenatal check-up. Her name is Chloe Miller. Do you know her?” I did know her. A year ago, when Liam was in a car accident, Chloe was the one who saved him.
I don’t know how I left the hospital. Crossing the street, I nearly got hit by a car. Both the driver and I were startled. But my mind was a mess. Liam and I had been together since high school, from awkward teenagers to getting married. Fifteen years, just like that, through countless summers and winters. Everyone around us knew he was absolutely crazy about me. Even in the second before the car crash, Liam had pushed me out of the vehicle, while he and the car plunged off the cliff. And Chloe, she was the girl who saved him at the bottom of the cliff. He lost his memory after the accident and Chloe took him in, caring for him for six months. After six months, he finally regained all his memories and came back to me. He was still so in love with me. The first time he saw me, he rushed forward, pulling me into a desperate embrace, his eyes red. “Stella, I thought I’d never see you again.” I was so grateful to Chloe for taking care of him during that time, I could have fallen to my knees. I decided Liam should transfer half a million dollars to Chloe and buy her family a house in downtown Westwood as a thank you. I had even asked Liam once. “When you lost your memory, you were with Chloe, weren’t you?” Liam just gently held and kissed me. “That was all when I had amnesia. Now that my memory’s back, my heart only beats for you.” I was skeptical at first. Until one day, Liam sent Chloe’s entire family overseas. And he went to a tattoo parlor, getting ‘Stella’s Only’ tattooed over his heart. He’s allergic to tattoo ink, and that night, he ran a high fever. In his feverish daze, he clutched my hand, whispering, “I’m fine. I just want to make you feel secure. If I ever lose my memory again, seeing this tattoo will remind me that I have a wife, and her name is Stella Anderson, and I love her very, very much.” I cried uncontrollably and finally, completely believed him. Whether it was a class reunion or a business dinner, Liam always brought me along. His friends would always tease him, “Liam, you’re so clingy. Can’t be away from your wife for a second. You act like you want to keep her in your pocket!” Liam would just grin, enjoying it. “You guys are just jealous I married such an amazing woman.” Three months ago, we started trying for a baby. But one night, I suddenly had terrible stomach pain. Liam took me to the hospital and told me it was acute appendicitis, requiring surgery to remove my appendix. I didn’t doubt him. I watched Liam sign the consent form, and then I was wheeled into the operating room. But it turned out they didn’t remove my appendix at all. It was my uterus… By the time I got home, night had fallen. As I pushed the door open, I heard Liam on the phone. “…Okay, I’ll be over tonight to be with you and the baby.” “Don’t worry, Stella’s uterus has been removed. She won’t ever get pregnant, so no one can threaten our child’s position.” “I’ve given her my affection and the prestige of being Mrs. Anderson. You have to stay in the shadows, I know it’s unfair to you.” “Once the baby is born, I’ll arrange for a private adoption, so we can bring the baby into our home as our child.” “Don’t worry, Stella is very kind; she’ll take good care of the baby.” “She’ll never know. Never.” I stood frozen outside the door, my body turning cold. He hadn’t forgotten Chloe at all. He wanted to compensate Chloe, so he got her pregnant; and to make *me* feel secure, he set up this elaborate scheme to remove my uterus. At first, I fantasized that the doctor made a mistake, or that there were people with the same names, a Liam Anderson and a Chloe Miller. But fantasies are just fantasies; they’re always shattered by reality. Since our past affection was gone, I wasn’t going to play this twisted game of his, where I’m the dutiful wife and she’s his secret obsession. I turned and left, hailing a cab… At the Civil Registry Office, the clerk verified my ID. “Miss Stella Anderson, are you sure you want to change your name to Cora?” I nodded. “Yes.” “Reason for the name change?” “I just don’t like my old name anymore. I felt like changing it.” An adult changing their name doesn’t need anyone’s approval. The clerk quickly processed it. “Your new name will be official in seven business days.” “Thank you.” I’d just left the Registry Office when I ran straight into Liam. He grabbed me, looking frantic. “Stella, where did you go? Your phone was off! I was worried sick!” Behind him, a group of police officers followed. One of them even joked, “Well, your wife’s found. You can relax now, right?” Another officer spoke directly to me. “Your husband was genuinely worried about you. When you disappeared, he looked like he was losing his mind. The entire precinct was out looking for you. Good thing there’s surveillance footage; we saw you at the Registry Office.” Liam asked me, “Stella, what were you doing at the Registry Office?” I said calmly, “Nothing much. Just updating some information.” “The police pulled up surveillance footage earlier and saw you went to the hospital today. Are you feeling unwell?” I looked up at this man who claimed to love me more than his own life. Why was he so worried about me, yet still involved with Chloe? Was it because she saved his life that he felt obligated to commit to her? Or had he genuinely fallen for Chloe during those six months? And now, even with his memory restored, his feelings for her lingered? “Stella, why aren’t you saying anything?” I gently pushed him away, my voice flat. “No, I’m not unwell. I just had my blood type checked.” “Why would you get your blood type checked?” “So I can donate blood easily in the future, if someone needs it.” A huge weight lifted off Liam’s shoulders. “That’s our Stella, always so kind, always thinking about donating blood and saving lives.” Back home, Liam seemed even more clingy. While driving, he’d hold the steering wheel with his left hand, and my hand with his right. It was the same at dinner; he’d rather clumsily use a fork with his left hand than let go of my hand.
I said, “Let go, it’s inconvenient.” But Liam held tighter. “I won’t let go. I’m afraid if I do, I’ll lose you.” I sighed. He was just trying to reassure me, but he probably never imagined – His words would become a chilling prophecy. Seven days later, I would completely shed my identity, officially embrace my new name, and start a brand new life. …And leave him for good. After dinner, Liam sat with me on the couch, watching a reality show. He peeled grapes and placed them all in a crystal dish, handing them to me. Suddenly, his phone rang. He pulled out a few tissues to wipe his hands, then guiltily went out to the balcony to answer the call. When he returned, he lightly kissed my cheek. “Honey, something urgent came up at work. I have to go.” It was Chloe, wasn’t it? Calling him to come be with her and the baby. Even though I was prepared, hearing him lie directly to my face still stung my heart. I nodded. “Go ahead.” Liam hugged me. “Be a good girl and stay home tonight. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.” “Okay.” Liam grabbed his jacket and practically ran out of the house, driving away. And I, on an impulse, opened my tablet and launched an app. This app was linked to Liam’s dashcam, allowing me to see his car’s real-time status. His car was driving normally on the road leaving our house, but his voice on the phone came through clearly: “…I’m on my way. Just a little longer.” Chloe’s voice was playfully coy. “Stella didn’t notice, did she?” “Don’t worry, she won’t.” “Then tonight… shall we do something exciting?” Liam’s breathing noticeably quickened, his voice husky. “You’re still pregnant.” Chloe’s voice was so sweet it could drip honey. “When we went for the prenatal check-up today, didn’t the doctor say the baby’s perfectly fine? And it’s been three months; the baby is stable. Honey, it’s been so long since we’ve been intimate since I got pregnant. I miss you so much…” “My little temptress,” Liam groaned, a dark promise in his voice. “Just wait! I’ll take good care of you tonight!” Liam’s car drove all the way to his company building. It turned out that sending Chloe overseas was also a lie. Chloe had been living in his company building all along. He’d been seeing me every day at home, and her every day at work. I suddenly laughed. People really do laugh when they’re speechless. Liam had woven a beautiful, dreamy bubble, trapping me inside, making me believe I was the happiest woman in the world. But outside that bubble, he had another family, and soon, he’d have a child. I found it utterly meaningless. The car’s engine shut off, and the dashcam should have turned off with it. But a few minutes later, the app flashed a notification: the dashcam was working again. I reopened the app and witnessed a deplorable scene— Liam and Chloe, right there in the car, passionately intertwined, lost in the moment. Chloe’s belly was already slightly rounded, and he had one hand protectively on her stomach while pulling her close with the other. I saw Chloe’s enraptured expression and Liam’s face twisted with desire, and I turned my head and threw up. I felt disgusted. I didn’t care to know how many rounds they went through. All I did was, in the early hours of the next morning, copy all the dashcam footage from the previous night onto a USB drive. Five hours of content, sufficiently “exciting.” It would make a perfect breakup gift, a spectacular end to our decade-long relationship. At nine in the morning, Liam returned. He was carrying a bag of breakfast. “Stella, why are you up so early? Didn’t get enough sleep?” I was on the balcony watering flowers. These were rare Epiphyllum plants I had meticulously cultivated over the years. I’d nurtured them for seven years, and they’d only just bloomed for the first time this year. But I used scissors to cut off the blossoms and threw them into the trash. Liam looked surprised. “Such rare flowers, why did you cut them off?” I said, “Epiphyllum only bloom for a moment. They bloomed last night; there’s no meaning anymore.” “It seems I missed their most beautiful moment. It’s all my fault; I shouldn’t have gone to the company last night. I should have stayed with you.” I smiled faintly. “It doesn’t matter.” Liam hugged me from behind, nuzzling my ear. “Since you’re already awake, should we… continue trying for a baby?” His implication was obvious. I really wanted to ask, “You spent hours in bed with Chloe last night, are you sure you can go for another round now?” But the words died on my lips. It felt pointless. Anyway, I was already planning to leave. No use arguing. “No, I got my period.” Liam’s expression instantly changed. “How can that be? How could you get your period…” Realizing he’d slipped up, he quickly corrected himself. “No, I mean, isn’t it not time yet?” I said, “Maybe it came early.” Liam said nothing, but his face darkened considerably. “Stella, I need to make a call.” He turned and went back to the bedroom. He called a doctor friend. “Stella’s uterus was removed, wasn’t it? How can she still be having a period? Was the surgery successful?” The friend replied with certainty. “The surgery was definitely successful. I’m very sure about that.” “Then why is she bleeding?” “It could be inflammation, or it could be that your intimate life is too intense, causing tears.” Hearing the latter, Liam’s mood immediately brightened. “In that case, it’s possible. Last time Stella and I… ahem, it was quite intense.”
The doctor friend reassured him. “Keep track of her cycle. Around her period, you make sure to be extra ‘attentive’. If she has a small amount of bleeding each time, she’ll never discover the truth.” Liam chuckled. “Alright, I’ll do as you say.” When he came out of the bedroom, I was still tending to my flowers on the balcony. But unlike before, where I meticulously cared for them, gently nurturing each one. Today, I cut off all the blossoms, and then I ripped out the entire plant by its roots, carelessly piling them up. “Stella, you usually cherish these flowers so much. Why did you pull them all out?” I said, “I don’t like them anymore.” “I feel like your mood has been off these past few days.” “It’s just my period. Mood swings are normal.” Just then, Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, walked by. I called out to her. “Mrs. Davis, please throw out this pile of trash later.” “Ma’am, these uprooted plants?” “Yes, and these flowerpots too. Throw them all away.” The next morning, Liam told me, “Stella, you haven’t been in a good mood lately, so I booked you a trip. Why don’t you go away for a few days?” I calculated the time; my new name would become official in five days. So I asked, “How many days?” “Three days,” Liam said. “It’s just the next town over, very close. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with you going too far alone.” I agreed. “Okay.” That afternoon, Liam’s driver came to pick me up. “Mrs. Anderson, I’ll take you to the airport.” I didn’t say anything, letting the driver take me. At the airport, the driver watched me through security before hurrying away. Outside the departure lounge, the driver called Liam. “Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Anderson is on the plane.” Liam grunted. “Wait there. Chloe’s parents’ flight is about to land. Pick them up and take them home. Be polite.” “Yes.” After the driver left, I found an excuse to leave the boarding gate. I stood in a hidden spot and watched Chloe’s parents emerge from the arrival gate. I saw the driver eagerly rush over to help with their luggage, respectfully ushering them into the car, busily loading their bags into the trunk. I hailed a taxi. “Follow that car.” After I left, Liam went to pick Chloe up and brought her home. When the driver returned with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, Chloe joyfully rushed to them. “Mom, Dad, I finally get to see you!” Liam respectfully opened the car door for Mr. and Mrs. Miller and then poured them tea. His deferential attitude made him look exactly like a devoted son-in-law. Liam apologized. “Uncle, Aunt, because Stella is still here, I had to send you abroad first. I apologize for the inconvenience.” Mr. Miller chuckled. “It’s alright, you arranged for someone to travel the world with us. We had a great time.” “I’m glad to hear that.” Mrs. Miller said, “Chloe is already pregnant. Why are you still calling us ‘Uncle’ and ‘Aunt’?” Liam quickly corrected himself. “Dad, Mom.” “Ah! That’s better!” The whole family laughed happily. Chloe clung intimately to Liam’s arm throughout, radiating a sweet, demure charm. She instructed Mrs. Davis. “Mrs. Davis, please prepare the guest room for my parents.” Mrs. Davis nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Anderson.” I watched silently. Liam’s affair was something I had already known. But Mrs. Davis’s attitude was the final straw. Even the housekeeper knew about Liam and Chloe, calling her “Mrs. Anderson.” She was clearly familiar with Mr. and Mrs. Miller; their arrival didn’t surprise her at all! Mrs. Davis was someone I had hired myself. Because Mrs. Davis had a disabled son, I had even tripled her salary. I treated her like family, inviting her to eat with us, and even bringing her on our family vacations. And now, even Mrs. Davis was keeping secrets from me… I felt a sharp pain in my chest, as if a thousand needles were piercing me. I doubled over, unable to stand steady. The nauseous feeling rose again, and I started gasping for breath, tears blurring my vision. I accidentally bumped into the wind chime by the door. Ding-a-ling— The wind chime tinkled. Liam reacted almost instantly, shouting, “Who’s out there?!” He yanked the door open and rushed out, but it was silent outside. There was no one there. Chloe walked over, asking suspiciously, “What’s wrong, Liam?” Liam shook his head. “I just heard the wind chime by the door, and thought someone was eavesdropping.” Chloe also looked around, then let out a light laugh. “You’re too jumpy, aren’t you? Wind chimes ring whenever there’s a breeze, what’s so strange about that?” Liam frowned. “Maybe.” The driver also said, “Mr. Anderson, don’t worry. I personally watched Mrs. Anderson go through the boarding gate. She should be on the plane by now.” Liam still felt uneasy and called my phone. A robotic female voice announced: “The number you have dialed is switched off.” Hearing this, Liam finally relaxed completely. “It seems I was just too tense.” He put his arm around Chloe and they sat back on the couch, the door automatically closing. Behind the closed door, in the corner of the wall, my hand holding the phone was trembling slightly. I covered my mouth and nose, slowly retreating from the house. I hailed a taxi and gave the address of a hotel. The driver asked me, “Miss, why are you crying? Did you have a fight with your husband?” I wiped the tears from my face and shook my head. “No fight.” Indeed, there was no need to fight anymore. Chloe was pregnant, Liam was already calling her parents ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’, and even Mrs. Davis called Chloe ‘Mrs. Anderson’. They were the family.
I was just a fool in everyone’s eyes. At the hotel, I slept. Estimating when the plane would be about to land, I finally turned on my phone. Sure enough, a few minutes later, Liam’s call came through. “Baby, did you land safely?” “Yes, I’m at the hotel.” “Good. Have a great time. I’ll pick you up from the airport when you get back.” “…Okay.” After hanging up, I went to a bank. I withdrew all the money from my accounts in cash, then went to a department store and bought a suitcase, along with some change of clothes. Then, I took the suitcase back to the hotel, ready to pick up when I left. After packing the things I needed for my departure, I thought of my cat, who had been boarded at the vet clinic due to ringworm. It was when Liam and I first met, because we found this dying stray kitten together. We took the kitten to the vet for treatment, and it took three months for it to fully recover. When we picked it up, he said, “Stella, from now on, we’re its mom and dad. You give it a name.” At that time, I was only 18, unexpectedly thrust into cat-motherhood. And he’d effectively branded me as ‘the mother of his son’. Later, I learned that Liam had liked me for a long time. He had intentionally placed that stray kitten on my daily route to school, just waiting for me to find it. When I confronted him, Liam complained somewhat helplessly, “I kept trying to ‘accidentally’ run into you, but you treated me like I was invisible. I had to resort to this last-ditch effort. What could I do? I love you so much; I can’t imagine anyone else.” You couldn’t imagine anyone else? That wasn’t true. Besides me, you had Chloe. You loved me, but you loved her too. In your mind, you gave me affection and status, and her the child, seemingly fair. But Liam, I’m not a pushover. If the love you give isn’t pure anymore, I’d rather not have it. You don’t have to be constantly on edge, hiding things from me, and I’ll have my peace and freedom. I went to the vet clinic and saw the little cat. The vet smiled and asked, “How come the cat’s dad isn’t with you? You usually come together.” I said calmly, “He’s busy.” “Oh.” The vet said, “The cat’s ringworm has completely healed. You can take him home today.” But I said, “I don’t plan on taking him. Could you please find a reliable adopter for him?” “Are you planning to have children?” “Why do you ask?” The vet’s smile was a little bitter. “Many cats and dogs here are like that. Their owners plan to start a family, so they decide not to keep pets and leave them here for adoption.” Yes, I was going to have a child soon. But it wasn’t mine. I was actually a little reluctant to let him go. After all, I had raised the kitten for so many years; we had a bond. But if I was leaving, the cat would be difficult to take with me. Plane cargo travel is too long; I was afraid something might happen to him. “Please, help me find an adopter as soon as possible.” “Oh, by the way, a young lady came in today and played with the cat for a while. She seemed to really like him. I’ll contact her and ask.” The vet contacted the person, who immediately expressed great willingness to adopt the cat. She said she’d come pick him up now. I waited at the vet clinic for a while and met the adopter. She was a very sweet and innocent young girl, and she genuinely loved the cat. I agreed and even gave the girl some extra money. She didn’t want to take it. “I’m just adopting him; I can’t take your money. Please take it back.” But I insisted on pressing the money into her hand. “The cat is getting older, and he has a genetic condition. He’ll need medical care in the future, so this money is for his future vet bills.” The girl finally accepted it, thanked me, and left with the cat. My phone chimed with a message. \[Liam: Baby, did you have fun today? I miss you so much.] I sneered. I replied directly: \[Then I’ll fly back to you now. Pick me up at the airport in three hours.] Liam replied quickly: \[No, don’t let me disrupt your trip. Have a good time. I can wait.] I almost scoffed aloud. Men. Your affection is so cheap. You can’t even stand such a small test, yet you pretend to be so deeply in love. \[Liam: Did you take any good pictures? Show me some beautiful photos of my wife.] I searched online for a few pictures of tourist spots, removed the watermarks, and sent them to him. \[Liam: Why is it all scenery, no pictures of my baby?] \[Me: I’m tired. Going to sleep now.] \[Liam: Okay, get some rest. Love you.] I slept at the hotel for three days, resting and planning my next steps. After leaving here, I wanted to visit the Nordic countries to see the Northern Lights, then go to Africa to see the wildlife and savannas. After that, I’d booked a remote island. The island belonged to a small nearby country and couldn’t be bought, so I leased it for a hundred years. That was the home I chose for myself. From now on, I’d live facing the ocean, with the warmth of spring all around me. On the morning of the fifth day, I didn’t check out. Instead, I extended my reservation for two more days. To store my luggage when I left. Then, I took a taxi to the airport. Not long after, the driver arrived. He grinned. “Mrs. Anderson, you’re finally back! Mr. Anderson has been talking about you non-stop these past two days; we were all getting tired of hearing it.” I didn’t say anything, just got into the car. Fake words were enough to hear once; I didn’t want to respond, to avoid hearing more lies. Upon arriving home, everything had returned to normal. It was as if I had never left. Liam gave me a big hug. “Welcome home, honey.” Mrs. Davis also cheerfully said, “Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Anderson instructed me this morning to buy all your favorite ingredients. Today, I’ve cooked all your favorite dishes.” Liam came closer, nuzzling me gently. “They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I guess he felt that way. Your period should be over by now, right? Tonight… should we go to bed early?” I pushed him away. “I’m tired.” “You sleep, I’ll do my thing.” He was about to cling to me again, but the next second, the front door was pushed open. Chloe stood outside, looking a little flustered. “Oh, Stella, you’re back?”
I felt the arms around me stiffen instantly. I smiled faintly. “Chloe, long time no see. Why are you suddenly back in the country? Didn’t you like living abroad?” “I…” Chloe stammered. “I just left my bag at home. I’ll grab it and go.” The moment her words fell, a tremendous crash echoed from overhead. The huge crystal chandelier in the villa had come loose, and with a deafening crash, plummeted. In the blink of an eye, Liam darted towards Chloe, yelling “Watch out—”, but it was *my* body that bore the brunt of the impact. I woke up in the hospital. My entire body was wrapped in white bandages; every inch of my skin was in excruciating pain. The nurse said, “You have three fractures and seventeen hairline cracks. And the metal fragments and shattered crystals left countless small wounds. You’ll need to rest for a while.” I asked the nurse, “What’s the date today?” “The 13th.” Good. Tomorrow was the day my new name would become official. I still had one day and one night. I still had time. When Chloe appeared at the doorway, I wasn’t too surprised. I smiled faintly. “Come to see if I’m dead?” Chloe clutched her waist, deliberately thrusting her belly forward. “Stella, you’re really hard to kill. I had my dad loosen all the screws on that chandelier. I can’t believe something so heavy still didn’t finish you off.” “You were so sure Liam would save you?” “Of course.” Chloe said smugly. “Because I’m carrying his child. If I died, he’d be left without an heir.” “So, you also knew about my hysterectomy?” “Hahahaha, not only did I know, but I was the one who gave Liam that idea. But what can I say? He listens to me now. He does whatever I tell him; he’s such a good husband. Stella, thank you for training him so well. The previous generation plants the trees, the later generation enjoys the shade. Eventually, I’ll be the one enjoying the fruits of your labor.” Hearing her voice now made me sick. I pointed towards the door. “Get out.” “Don’t be in such a hurry to kick me out, Stella. There’s still one more act to play out…” I tensed. “What act?” “Since you didn’t die, I can’t become Mrs. Anderson. So this act is one I specifically added for you, you know~” The moment her words fell, Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand and pressed it against her own belly. “Ah— Help!” She collapsed to the floor, struggling in pain. “Stella, I know I was wrong. You can punish me however you want, just please spare my baby…” With a bang, the hospital room door was forcefully pushed open. Liam saw her on the floor, his eyes blazing. “Chloe! Are you okay?” Chloe was on the verge of tears. “Wuwuwu, Liam, I’m in so much pain!” “Doctor! Doctor!” The doctor and nurses quickly arrived. Liam carried Chloe onto a hospital bed and they wheeled her away. He didn’t spare me a single glance the entire time. Two hours later, Liam came. His face was dark, radiating an ominous aura, his voice low. “Stella, why did you push Chloe?” I said, “Shouldn’t you explain what’s going on with the baby in her belly?” “Yes, I did get her pregnant, but that’s no reason for you to try and harm her! She’s pregnant. If something went wrong, that’s two lives lost!” I closed my eyes. “She told you I pushed her?” “Could she have deliberately fallen herself? She’s pregnant; she wouldn’t be so reckless.” “Did she lose the baby?” “…No, she didn’t, but she was shaken, and she looked absolutely terrified.” I turned my face away, not wanting to look at him. “Go take care of them. Don’t just stand there.” Liam sighed, saying softly, “Stella, I know this has been a huge shock for you. But I can promise you, the title of Mrs. Anderson will always be yours. Even if Chloe gives birth to my child, it can’t replace your place in my heart.” “Then what’s Chloe’s place in your heart?” Liam said in a low voice, “…I admit, I did fall in love with her during the time I lost my memory. But after my memories returned, deep down, I still loved you more. I wanted to live a good life with you, but Chloe… I couldn’t let her go either.” So you listened to her “best of both worlds” plan, and removed my uterus? Calling it fair? “Stella, Chloe won’t compete with you. You’ll always be my favorite, my Mrs. Anderson.” Outside, a nurse’s voice called out, “Is patient 34, Chloe Miller’s husband, here?” Liam immediately asked anxiously, “I’m Chloe Miller’s husband. What happened to her?” “Nothing, don’t worry. She just woke up and didn’t see you, so she asked us to help find you.” Liam nodded, looking guilty. “Stella, I’ll go check on her first.” “Yes, go ahead.” “Get some rest. Chloe can’t be without me right now. I’ll have to stay with her tonight so she can sleep. I’ll come back to accompany you tomorrow morning.” “Okay.” Watching Liam’s retreating back, I let out a bitter laugh. There would be no tomorrow. Liam, we’ll never see each other again, not in this life. After Liam left, I called my best friend, Riley. When Riley arrived and saw me, her eyes immediately reddened. “How could the crystal chandelier at home suddenly fall? The workers must have been so careless!” I was calm. I wiped my tears and said, “Riley, I need your help.” “What kind of help? Tell me.” “Tomorrow morning, help me leave.” I told Riley everything that had happened recently. Riley immediately jumped up. “You wait here! I’m going to go call Liam and make him explain himself!” I stopped her. “A man whose heart has changed is just garbage. I don’t want him anymore.” I said, “At seven in the morning, during the nurses’ shift change, there’s a gap in security. Take me out then.” Riley stayed with me in the hospital all night.
At seven in the morning, I changed into the clothes Riley brought, sat in a wheelchair, and Riley pushed me out of the hospital. The moment I got into the car, I felt a sense of lightness I’d never experienced before. I asked Riley to go to the hotel first to pick up the luggage I’d prepared for myself. On the way, following my pre-planned itinerary, I used my new, official name, Cora, to purchase all the plane tickets to the Nordic countries, Africa, and the island. At nine in the morning, the Civil Registry Office opened for the day. I was the first to pick up my new ID card and passport. Then, straight to the airport. I was still recovering, so Riley contacted the airport staff, who escorted me all the way onto the plane. Riley asked me, “Why did you change your name to Cora?” Cora. My new name. In my native tongue, it sounded like ‘heart dead’ – a bitter farewell to my past, and a silent promise to myself that the old ‘me’ was gone forever. Just before boarding, Riley said, “Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word. Cora, fly high. Go pursue a better life.” As I was going through customs, I received a call from Liam. He was still as anxious as ever. “Stella, where did you go? You’re still injured; how can you just wander off? I’m worried sick!” I just said, “The morning air was nice, so I asked the nurse to push me downstairs for some fresh air.” Liam sighed. “Stella, the chandelier falling yesterday was an accident. I rushed towards Chloe because she was pregnant; my first instinct was to protect the baby. I just…” “Enough. No need to explain. I don’t want to hear it.” Liam said, “What do you want for breakfast? I’ll buy it and bring it to you.” I said, “Could you go home and get something for me?” “Okay, what is it?” “In the living room drawer, there’s an envelope with a USB drive inside. That’s my gift to you.” Liam was delighted. “You prepared a gift for me? Is it a souvenir from your trip?” “You’ll know when you go back and see it.” “Okay, I’ll go back and see it now.” Liam said, “Stella, I’ll definitely treat you doubly well from now on. I’m so happy you prepared a gift for me…” “Liam.” “Hmm, I’m here.” “Never again.” My voice was ethereal, as if from a distant place. Liam didn’t hear clearly. “Stella, what did you say? Hello?” But only the hum of the plane’s engine filled the phone. And a gentle female voice: “Madam, our plane is about to take off. Please turn off your phone. Thank you for your cooperation.” *Beep*— The call was disconnected. I took out the SIM card, snapped it in half, and handed it along with my phone to the flight attendant. “Please dispose of these for me. Thank you.” “Of course.” On the other side, Liam was in a state of immense shock. He hadn’t misheard; that voice on the other end was a flight attendant’s! I boarded a plane? Impossible. I had even prepared a gift for him, which meant I still had feelings for him. Why would I suddenly fly away? The gift… Liam immediately turned and sprinted home. Following my instructions, he finally found the USB drive… Ten hours later, a plane smoothly landed at Oslo International Airport in Norway. The airport had arranged a pick-up, and I was immediately taken to a local hospital.
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