To repay a debt of gratitude, I married Maddox, the grandson of my benefactor, a man afflicted with aphasia. For three years, I dedicated myself to caring for him, yet he remained stubbornly cold. I always thought Maddox was simply aloof by nature, until my mother fell gravely ill and was admitted to the hospital. “Tessa, it’s been three years. I’ve waited for you for three years. If Grandfather hadn’t disagreed back then, you’d be my wife right now!” “Maddox, let go!” Tessa’s voice was tinged with anger. “What’s the point of saying all this now? You’re already married!” “Married?” Maddox’s sneer pierced my eardrums. “She was forced on me by Grandfather. I never acknowledged her as my wife. I promised you I wouldn’t speak to other women, so I pretended to be mute for three years and ignored her. Don’t you understand my heart?” Jessica’s POV “You joined this hospital, owned by the Miller family, wasn’t it for me?” The hospital fire escape door was ajar. From inside came a man’s clear, low voice, filled with a searing emotion I’d never heard before. Something exploded in my mind. I clapped a hand over my mouth and stumbled back half a step, unable to believe my ears. Maddox… he could speak? He wasn’t suffering from trauma-induced aphasia, had he not spoken a word to me for three years? I thought he had some deep-seated emotional block, so I never dared to ask, only treating him with even greater care. But it turned out he could speak? It turned out, these three years of silence weren’t due to illness. They were born of disgust, a way to remain emotionally reserved for another woman. With every word Maddox spoke, my heart ached a little more. I couldn’t help but remember the thousand-plus days and nights after marrying this man. The nourishing soup I spent hours simmering was always coldly poured down the drain. My SnapChat messages to him always vanished into thin air, until one day I accidentally glimpsed his phone and found my chat window set to “Do Not Disturb.” Even our few intimate moments only happened under Grandfather Miller’s insistence. But even in those intimate times, he never spared me a single glance. In fact, after each routine encounter, he would spend two full hours showering. Normally, he’d rather stay in his room and take care of things himself than touch me, his legal wife. His room was even explicitly forbidden to me, secured with a high-security fingerprint lock. As if I were something dirty. My enthusiasm dwindled bit by bit, but I could never bring myself to give up. Only because Maddox wasn’t just the person I promised Grandfather Miller I’d care for; he was also the man I’d secretly loved for seven years. But now, it seemed there was no need for me to persist. I instinctively raised my hand, gently covering my still-flat belly. There, a tiny life, whose existence I had just confirmed this morning. In between rushing around for my gravely ill mother, this news was like a sliver of light breaking through the gloom, giving me a humble glimmer of hope in my hopeless marriage. I even fantasized that if Maddox knew about the baby, would he treat me a little differently? And at this moment, I was only left with relief. Relief that this last card hadn’t been played. This child was the last shred of my dignity, untouched in this absurd marriage. I backed away step by step, my heels shaky, until I reached the long bench at the end of the hallway. I could no longer stand, and sank onto it. I fumbled for my phone, my fingers trembling so much I could barely hold it, but I managed to call Grandfather Miller, who was recuperating abroad, and briefly explained the situation. “Grandfather,” my voice was hoarse but unusually calm, “The three-year agreement is almost up. I… can’t go on.” The other end of the line was silent for a long time, then a heavy sigh. “Jessica, the Miller family has wronged you. I’ll arrange the divorce. You just need to sign after the thirty-day cooling-off period. I’ll compensate you. As for the child…” “I’ll have the baby. This is my child, it has nothing to do with him.” The call ended, and tears spilled from my eyes without warning. I wiped the wetness from my face with force, taking a deep breath. Thirty more days. Maddox, I’ll give you the freedom you want.
Jessica’s POV I stayed at the hospital for a long time before my mother’s urging made me go home. The living room lights were off, and a strong smell of whiskey hit me. By the moonlight filtering through the window, I saw Maddox’s tall frame slumped in the sofa, already passed out drunk. His brows were tightly furrowed, and a few indistinct syllables unconsciously escaped his thin lips. I took a few steps closer and heard clearly. “Tessa… don’t leave…” The voice was hoarse, painful yet lingering. My heart gave a sharp twist, as if something had violently wrung it. I once thought Maddox was inherently cold, a lofty deity whose emotions wouldn’t be swayed by anyone. It turned out this iceberg wasn’t incapable of melting; it was just that the sun that could melt him was never me. Over the years, taking care of him had almost become second nature. I bent down, laboriously helped him up, gritted my teeth, and, supporting him, shuffled him step by step towards the second floor. After we married, Maddox gave me the spacious, comfortable master bedroom and moved into the guest room. Yet, the distance across the hall felt like a thousand miles. The guest room door was, as usual, tightly closed and locked. I paused in front of it, hesitating. I had never been allowed to set foot in Maddox’s room, but now that the woman he loved was back, he probably wanted to be in the same room with me even less. I finally used his fingerprint to unlock it. A soft “beep,” and the door slowly opened. As the light fell and revealed the scene before me, I froze, my mind blank. The bedroom was covered wall-to-wall with Tessa’s photos and portraits. On the walls, on the cabinets, even on the ceiling… frames of all sizes displayed Tessa’s bright smiles and various moments of her life I’d never seen. But what truly made my scalp crawl was the life-sized custom-made doll of Tessa, dressed in silk pajamas, quietly propped against the headboard of the large bed in the center of the room. Perhaps returning to his familiar private space, Maddox’s consciousness cleared a bit. He abruptly pushed away my supporting hand with such force that I stumbled and crashed into the doorframe. Maddox didn’t even glance at me. He staggered to the bed and, like a devout believer seeking salvation, expertly pulled the doll tightly into his arms. He rubbed his cheek against the doll’s cold hair with yearning, the discomfort of his drunkenness gradually replaced by a mesmerizing sense of satisfaction and deep affection. He murmured, “Tessa… my Tessa…” I clamped my hand over my mouth, desperate to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape. The sight before me was so eerie it sent shivers down my spine. I could almost imagine how, on countless nights when I lay alone in the next room, Maddox was here, with these photos, this doll, channeling the twisted, fervent desires he couldn’t express to the real person. A wave of intense nausea violently surged from my stomach. I couldn’t stay another second. I turned and rushed back to my bedroom. As soon as I locked the door, I collapsed by the sink, retching uncontrollably until my stomach was empty, leaving only bitter bile. It took a while for me to emerge from the bathroom, my gaze unconsciously falling on the wedding photo on the bedside table. That was the only picture Maddox and I had together. Ten years ago, as a scholarship student supported by Grandfather Miller, I first stepped into the Miller home – and that was also my first meeting with Maddox. My nervousness and awkwardness left me flustered, and a sudden period only made things worse. A small, embarrassing red stain appeared on my light-blue pants, strikingly visible, making me want to disappear. It was that dazzling young man, silent as the stars, who took off his designer jacket and, with natural ease, tied it around my waist, covering the mess. He bent slightly, and in a voice only we could hear, gently said, “Don’t be scared, it’s okay. Only I saw it, but I have a bad memory, I’ll forget it soon.” The flutter in my heart at that moment was clear and intense. Later, I accepted the Miller family’s sponsorship, transferred to his private school, and studied desperately, only to be closer to him, just a little closer. I helped him with his studies, took care of his daily needs, like a sunflower, humbly turning towards his light, yet never daring to get too close, afraid of annoying him. Until Grandfather Miller found me again, saying Maddox had developed aphasia due to an accident, his emotions highly unstable, and hoping I could stay by his side as his wife for three years. No matter the outcome, after three years, I could choose whether to stay or leave. I hadn’t intended to agree, but then, Maddox actually sent me a SnapChat message, proposing. That line on the screen, “Let’s get married,” filled me with wild joy, foolishly believing he might reciprocate a tiny bit of my feelings. Now, it seemed it was merely a forced compromise under his grandfather’s immense pressure. I looked at the photo of my younger self, eyes full of light, and quietly said, “Jessica, you were so foolish.”
Jessica’s POV I didn’t sleep a wink. I made sure to get up early because I didn’t want to run into Maddox; I didn’t know how to face him. As I reached the entryway, the living room light suddenly came on. Maddox stood at the top of the stairs, wearing a bathrobe, his face pale from a hangover, but his eyes were clear as he looked at me. He picked up his phone and typed. 【Was it you who brought me back to my room yesterday?】 I knew Maddox remembered nothing when he was drunk, so I shook my head. “I didn’t see you when I got back. You must have gone back on your own.” Maddox came a little closer, watched me pack my things, and pursed his lips. 【What have you been busy with these past few days? I rarely see you at home.】 I didn’t stop, continuing towards the door, bending down to change my shoes: “My mom’s in the hospital. I have to go take care of her.” His phone chimed again: 【Is it serious? Why didn’t you tell me?】 My hand paused as I tied my shoelaces. I didn’t look up, my voice flat, with a hint of self-mockery, “I thought you wouldn’t care about these things.” I picked up my bag from the entryway cabinet, as if suddenly remembering something: “The doctor said her condition isn’t great. She needs surgery.” I noticed his fingers tighten on his phone as I continued, “The hospital assigned Tessa, Dr. Tessa. She’s quite young, just back from abroad, I heard. Such a major surgery, entrusting it to a rookie, I’m not comfortable. I’m going to ask today if we can get a more experienced specialist.” The moment I finished speaking, Maddox’s face changed. He abruptly lowered his head, his fingers flying across the screen. 【No!】 【How will she face anyone in the hospital if you do that!】 I stood still, quietly watching him. So, my mother’s life was worth less than Tessa’s pride. Maddox seemed to realize his reaction was excessive. He paused, then added, his tone softening a little but still firm: 【Suddenly changing the attending physician isn’t good for Mom either.】 Maddox seemed uncomfortable under my gaze, shifting his eyes away, no longer meeting mine. I said nothing more, reaching for the doorknob, but my wrist was suddenly grabbed by him. He shoved his phone screen in front of me; a new line of text read: 【I’ll go to the hospital with you. For the next few days, I’ll go with you every day.】 A month ago, if he had said that, I probably would have secretly rejoiced for days. But now, I only felt sarcasm. He didn’t want to accompany me; he was just finding a plausible excuse to see the woman he held dear every day. This realization made me sad, and also made me clearer. This attending physician had to be changed. Not only because being stuck between them was unbearable, but more importantly, in the past few days, I’d noticed Tessa’s inexperience and hesitation in managing my mother’s case. I couldn’t risk my mother’s life. I had already discussed this with Grandfather Miller over the phone last night. Grandfather said he would help me, and he already had a candidate in mind – a specialist named Dr. Noah. However, Dr. Noah was currently at a medical conference in another state and wouldn’t be back for a few days. Maddox’s performance was impeccable. He not only accompanied me to the hospital but also had his assistant buy many nourishing gifts. Mom was delighted, rare for her to have such high spirits, and she pulled Maddox into conversation. She didn’t know the true nature of Maddox’s and my relationship, but she could see how much I loved him, so she extended her affection to him. Maddox was surprisingly patient, staying at the bedside for the entire morning. Until Tessa appeared for her rounds. Though Maddox made no outward moves, his gaze was fixed on her, oblivious to everyone else. Tessa briefly questioned Mom, but misstated her condition several times. As she was about to leave, I called out to her.
Jessica’s POV I called her out of the hospital room, and Maddox followed, standing right beside Tessa. It was so natural, as if they were the couple. “Doctor.” I tried to keep my tone level. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you. For my mother’s surgery, our family has arranged for a more experienced specialist, Dr. Noah, to take over. We won’t trouble you with the follow-up.” I phrased it politely. It’s common for patients to request a different doctor if they have doubts about the treatment plan. But Tessa looked as if she had suffered a terrible blow, her eyes reddening almost instantly. She didn’t look at me, her gaze fixed directly on Maddox, her lips trembling slightly, her voice choked with a sob: “Maddox… is this how you’re getting back at me?” Her tears flowed. “Yes, three years ago, I was wrong to abandon you to study abroad. But you don’t have to target me like this… You know this is the first important patient I’ve been responsible for since returning to the country. If I’m replaced, how will I establish myself in this hospital?” She choked, “You know I stayed because of you…” Maddox’s face suddenly changed. He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but his gaze swept over me, standing beside them, and he swallowed the words back, just shaking his head forcefully. Tessa’s tears fell even harder. She took a step back, her eyes filled with disappointment and resentment: “I hate you!” With that, she cried and turned to run away. Almost simultaneously, Maddox rushed after her without thinking, his steps hurried and chaotic. As he passed me, he paused, turned his head, and shot me a venomous glare, full of resentment. Then I received a SnapChat message from Maddox. 【Don’t mess around.】 My heart ached, but I hadn’t done anything wrong. Maddox was gone for two days, and Tessa also took leave. To facilitate communication about her condition, I had added Tessa on SnapChat. So, these past few days, I saw a very different Maddox in her posts. Maddox, with eyes crinkled in tenderness, full of affection. Maddox, personally cooking meals. Maddox, holding Tessa and coaxing her to sleep… Love and lack of love were shockingly obvious. I couldn’t bear to look anymore. These two days, I went for my prenatal check-up alone. The embryo was developing well, which was good news. The doctor, seeing my gloom, advised me to keep my spirits up, so I simply deleted Tessa from my contacts. I didn’t let myself be idle. Using these two days, I contacted an agent and settled on a small house with a yard in a riverside town in the south. Once my mother recovered from surgery, it would be the perfect place for her to recuperate, and I also needed to thoroughly leave this place filled with painful memories. I started packing my things, only to find there wasn’t much I needed to take. My suitcase lay open on the floor. I was folding the last few frequently worn clothes to put inside when the bedroom door was gently pushed open. Maddox stood at the doorway, a hint of tiredness on his face, but his eyes weren’t as cold as usual. He held a beautifully wrapped small gift box and clearly froze when he saw the suitcase in the room. He pulled out his phone and typed: 【Going to the hospital again?】 I zipped up my suitcase, not looking at him, only giving a soft “hmm.” I didn’t want to explain further, nor was there any need. After all, Maddox hadn’t explained his relationship with Tessa to me either. Maddox was silent for a moment, then his fingers tapped on the screen again. 【Tomorrow is our three-year wedding anniversary.】 The words on the screen were clear: 【Shall we… go out for dinner?】 I was completely stunned, looking up at him with some disbelief. I thought he didn’t even remember the date. For the past two years, this day had always passed as silently as any other ordinary day, even more desolate than usual. I instinctively wanted to refuse. Our marriage was just a divorce agreement nearing its expiry; what was there to celebrate? But the words caught in my throat, because I caught a glimpse of a cautious expectation in the man’s eyes. My heart, after all, softened a little. This marriage was about to end. It was better to part on good terms. Consider it a dignified end to these absurd three years, and a complete farewell to the me who had once loved him with all her might. I lowered my eyelashes, hiding the turbulent emotions in my eyes, and replied, “Okay.”
Jessica’s POV On our anniversary, Maddox, uncharacteristically, arranged for a stylist to come to the house. When I appeared before him, dressed up, I had a fleeting illusion that I caught a trace of fleeting amazement in his eyes. We went to the restaurant together. After we were seated, I was surprised to find that the dishes Maddox had ordered in advance were all my preferred flavors, a few of which I had only mentioned casually. Then, he took out the small gift box, opened it, and inside was a bracelet I had seen in a store and really liked. It was a couple’s item, but Maddox wouldn’t wear one with me, so I had only taken a photo and posted it on Ins. I hadn’t expected him to specifically buy it for me. 【It’s been hard on you these past few years. I actually noticed it all.】 Another line appeared on the screen. His gaze was on my face, with a gentle warmth I’d never seen before. At that moment, my heart uncontrollably stirred slightly. My nose pricked, and I quickly lowered my head, afraid the tears would fall. Even though I had resolved to leave, the softest spot in my heart was still deeply touched. Amidst the dramatic emotional fluctuations, the symptoms of early pregnancy unseasonably surged, and I couldn’t help but turn aside, covering my mouth and dry heaving twice. Maddox frowned slightly, typing to ask: 【Feeling unwell? What’s wrong?】 I hesitated repeatedly. The warmth of the whole day gave me some courage. I wanted to try one more time. “Actually, I’m pregna—” My phone rang, cutting off my words. Maddox glanced at the caller ID; his face subtly changed. It was Tessa. He immediately answered. From the other end of the line, Tessa’s frantic sobs could be vaguely heard, even by me: “Maddox, come to the hospital quickly…” The voice on the other end ceased abruptly as Maddox’s phone automatically shut off. He urgently rose, not even bothering to tell me where he was going, and hurriedly drove away. Looking at the almost untouched food on the table and the empty seat opposite, I gave a bitter laugh. My husband had abandoned me here because of a phone call from another woman. I had lost my appetite and planned to get up to pay the bill, when several menacing-looking waiters suddenly surrounded me. Without a word, they forcibly dragged me to the back kitchen, using brute force to make me kneel. “What do you want? What you’re doing is illegal!” I shouted in panic, but they were unmoved. One of them slapped me across the face. “Who told you to upset Miss Tessa? Mr. Miller booked the entire place today, no one else will come, so you can just take your punishment here.” “Maddox conspired with you? That’s impossible!” The other person sneered. “What’s impossible? Miss Tessa is Mr. Miller’s true love.” My face stung terribly, but it was nothing compared to the heartache. But I didn’t even have a chance to cry out in pain. Slap after slap rained down. At first, I had the strength to resist, but gradually my vision blurred, and my ears buzzed until I heard nothing. I don’t know how many times I was slapped. My entire face was numb before these people finally stopped. “It’s your honor, you and your mother’s cheap lives paving the way for Miss Tessa. Next time, remember to be smarter.” They tossed me out the door like a dead dog. My head spun, and I lay on the ground, unable to move for a while. After a long time, the sky began to rain. Cold raindrops struck my swollen face, finally clearing my head a little. I took out my phone to call the police, only to find over a dozen missed calls on the screen. As soon as I unlocked it, the phone rang again. “Is this Ms. Jessica? Your mother suffered a sudden massive hemorrhage during surgery and is currently in critical condition. Please come to the hospital as soon as possible.” I couldn’t hear anything clearly, but the sudden surge of dread made me rush to the hospital without regard for anything else. The rain was too heavy. I couldn’t get a cab. Dragging my injured body, I walked for an unknown distance before finally losing consciousness.
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