Chapter 1

After being married for three years, my husband suddenly confessed he did not recognize me a bit. He even admitted his colleague as his real wife, leaving me in desperation with our two years old son.

“Just leave gracefully and stop humiliating yourself, okay?” they said.

I cursed, "Fine, don’t beg me for forgiveness when you get your memory back, cheap man!"

——

After waking up from a coma due to an accident, my husband of three years, Liam Carlisle, suddenly confessed that Evelyn Clarke, his colleague, was his wife.

“You really believe Evelyn is your real wife?” I asked, desperate for some glimmer of rationality.

“Of course, she is,” Liam snapped, his voice filled with emotion. “Evelyn and I got married more than a year ago—right after we broke up, Amelia. Are you still not accepting the facts?”

I stared at him, my breath hitching. His words did not even make sense.

While Evelyn turned her gaze to me, her lips curving into a faint, triumphant smile.

Evelyn, ever the picture of calm manipulation, gently placed her hand on his chest, her voice soothing but insidious.

“Calm down, Liam,” she cooed softly. “She’s just here to visit you. There’s no need to get upset.”

He sighed, his expression softening only slightly under Evelyn’s touch, but his gaze remained fixed on me, filled with annoyance.

Evelyn, wanting to pit us against each other further, turned to me. “Amelia, would you mind looking after Liam for me? I need to let the doctor know he’s awake.”

Without waiting for my answer, she kissed Liam on the cheek and left.

As she walked to me, her eyes briefly meeting mine, the smugness in them unmistakable, her smirk subtle yet cutting. “Good luck,” she whispered in a mocking tone.

I glared at her retreating figure, a storm of anger and confusion brewing inside me.

“What a cheap woman!” I muttered angrily, I had always had a feeling if she would be a problem to us, but Liam repeatedly promised me that their friendship would not affect our relationship.

So, I directly stormed to Liam furiously.

“Liam,” I began, my voice gone shaky, “we’ve been married for three years. I’m your wife. Evelyn… she isn’t part of this.”

But he only shook his head, his cold eyes narrowing. “I don’t have time for your lies, Amelia. Stop embarrassing yourself and leave.”

“Look at this wedding ring,” I said, holding up my left hand. The small band glimmered faintly under the fluorescent light. “Don’t you remember anything? You picked this ring yourself when you proposed to me.”

Liam barely glanced at it before scoffing. “You even went as far as to make a fake ring? I only have one wedding ring, and it’s this one.”

He raised his hand, revealing a matching band to mine. But then he added cruelly, “The ring Evelyn and I exchanged when we got married.”

The weight of his words crushed me, but beneath my devastation, a flicker of determination sparked.

I felt the world tilt beneath my feet. My voice rose in desperation. “Do you have any proof that you got married a year ago? Where’s your certificate, Liam? Your photos? Anything?”

“Amelia!” he snapped, his voice dripping with disdain, “you’re the one making these ridiculous claims. Do you have any proof that you’re not the one lying?”

My head spun as I tried to process what he was saying, but the only conclusion I could reach was that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.

“You’ve lost your mind, Liam!” I shouted, the words tearing from my chest. “That accident must have knocked your brain loose!”

Liam’s face contorted with rage. He slammed his fist against the edge of the bed. “What did you just say to me? Are you cursing at me, saying that I was a crazy man?!”

“Yes!” I wanted to yell more, to let all the fury and hurt spilling over inside me explode. But at that exact moment, the sharp beep of my phone pierced the tense air.

I glanced down at it, the glowing letters of the emergency call center snapping me back to reality. The ER needed me.

Evelyn also had been approaching with a doctor in tow. Her sly smile only deepened the pit of anger festering in my chest.

The doctor greeted me politely. “Morning, Dr. Amelia.”

I inhaled sharply, forcing my expression to remain neutral. “Morning,” I replied curtly before stepping aside to let him check Liam up.

Then, I whispered to Liam before walking to the front door. “We’ll continue this conversation later.”

But when I got there, Evelyn, of course, was not done. She followed me, her smug face hovering too close for comfort.

"Have you done convincing Liam, Amelia?" Evelyn's voice came from behind me, smooth and mocking, like nails dragging against glass.

I turned on my heel, barely able to contain my anger. “If I were you, I would stop messing with other people's households right now. It's not funny at all, Evelyn!”

She tilted her head, her expression laced with that same false sweetness that made my stomach churn.

“If I were you,” she began, dragging out her words for effect, “I'd just give up, Amelia. Liam's memories about you are gone now. He only believes you're an ex—his past.”

Her calculated words made my fists clench. I swallowed hard against the lump forming in my throat, trying to suppress the fire roaring in my chest.

But Evelyn was not done. She leaned in slightly, as though to make sure I caught every word of her next statement.

“So please,” she added with a smirk sharp enough to cut, “behave accordingly. After all, that’s all you’ll ever be from now on.”

I stared at her, the heat rushing to my face.

If we were not at a hospital, and I were not an emergency medical professional who needed to maintain a shred of professionalism, I might have slapped her right then and there. Maybe even strangled her.

But I was not going to let her win.

“You might think you’ve won,” I said, my voice low but steady, every word carefully measured, “but lies like yours have a way of crumbling eventually. Enjoy your victory while it lasts, Evelyn.”

Her smirk faltered for a moment, a flash of uncertainty passing through her eyes. She had not expected me to stand firm, but seeing her crack—even slightly—was enough to give me strength.

I did not wait for her to recover or respond. I turned on my heel and walked away, heading toward the Emergency Room while thinking what I should do next.

Chapter 2

After finishing my tasks in the ER, I headed straight for the office of the doctor who had treated Liam earlier.

I knocked on the door, and the doctor looked up from his paperwork as I entered. “Is there anything you need, Dr. Amelia?” he asked politely, his tone professional yet warm.

“Yes,” I replied, forcing myself to maintain composure. “I wanted to ask about the patient I was listed as the legal guardian for last night.”

“Ah, your cousin,” he said with a nod, clearly referencing the explanation I had given in the chaos of the emergency room.

My relationship with Liam was a hidden marriage, a decision we made together because of his work as a special prosecutor handling dangerous criminal cases.

For his safety—and ours—we had kept our marriage and even our son, Theodore, a secret.

“Yes, my cousin,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “What happened to him? Why does he… not seem to recognize me?”

The doctor hesitated, he shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the chart in his hands as if searching for the right words.

I forced him to explain by asking more, “Was there anything wrong during the surgery? Any complications that might explain this?”

The doctor shook his head, offering a reassuring smile. “No, the surgery went smoothly. There were no complications. Physically, he’s recovering well.”

He paused, his expression growing serious. His lips pressed into a thin line before he spoke, “But your cousin has partial amnesia. He… seems to have lost some of his memory.”

The words felt like a punch to the gut, even though I had been bracing myself for something like that.

I tried to keep my voice calm, though the knot in my chest tightened. “Can you explain more specifically?”

The doctor exhaled, his expression sympathetic. “Last night’s accident might have caused significant trauma to his brain. It seems to have affected his memory selectively.

“He’s retained most of his knowledge about himself, his work, and his childhood. But he’s lost some memories from the past few years.”

I folded my arms tightly, as though I could somehow shield myself from the impact of his words.

“But,” the doctor added, “in many cases, patients can regain parts of their memories when exposed to something familiar or emotionally significant from the time period they’ve forgotten.”

A faint glimmer of hope sparked in my mind. And then it hit me—Theodore.

Theodore was the very embodiment of our love, a reminder of the life Liam and I had built together. If anything could jog his memory, it was our son.

I exhaled deeply, the idea giving me a flicker of strength amidst the chaos. “Thank you, doctor,” I said softly, offering him a small, grateful smile.

He nodded, his expression kind. “Take your time, Dr. Amelia. And if there’s anything else I can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

I walked out of the office and hurriedly picked Theodore up from daycare that late afternoon.

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel tighter. My voice was low, but firm with resolve. “I should take back what’s mine.”

Once I arrived back at the hospital with Theodore, I held his tiny hand in mine, walking briskly toward Liam’s room.

But as I reached the door and pushed it open, my steps faltered, and my breath hitched at the sight before me.

Inside, Liam was sitting up in bed with Evelyn that was perched on the edge of his bed, leaning in close, her body language intimate as they talked quietly.

Cradled in her lap was her baby—Lucas. She held him with such care, pressing kisses to his forehead as if to complete the illusion she was trying so hard to craft.

“Lucas, look at Daddy,” Liam said enthusiastically, his face lighting up with a joy that made my stomach churn.

Not only had Evelyn labeled herself as Liam’s wife, but she had also brought her son into that charade, feeding into Liam’s fractured reality.

“What are you two doing, actually?!” I demanded, my voice shaking with fury as I stepped into the room, holding Theodore’s hand tightly.

Evelyn turned her head toward me, her eyes widening briefly before a smug smile curved her lips. She rocked Lucas gently, feigning innocence.

“Amelia,” Liam said, his tone cold again as he frowned. “What are you doing here again?”

I stared at him, my anger bubbling to the surface. “I could ask you the same thing, Liam. What’s going on here? Evelyn, what game are you playing this time?”

Evelyn tilted her head, her expression infuriatingly calm. “I don’t understand why you’re so upset, Amelia. Lucas is Liam’s son, after all.”

Her words hit like a slap. I turned to Liam, searching his face for any sign of recognition, any indication he might see through her lies. But his expression remained firm, as if her claim was not outrageous.

“Liam,” I said, my voice trembling, “she’s lying to you. Lucas isn’t your son. Theodore is your son!”

I stepped closer, gently urging Theodore forward. “Look at him, Liam. This is our son. Don’t you remember him?”

“Shut up, Amelia,” Liam snapped, his voice filled with indignation. “Stop making a fuss. This is a hospital. You should know better, considering you’re a doctor here, right?”

I froze, the sting of his words like a slap across my face.

“Even if Evelyn was kind enough to stay friends with you,” he continued, turning his cold gaze to me, “But don’t expect me to acknowledge you and your son.”

“I told you not to be too nice to her,” Liam said, his voice softening as he turned toward Evelyn. “Or she’ll misunderstand her position.”

That cold indifference, the way he dismissed me as though I were nothing, it was how he treated people he did not care about.

And Evelyn—she knew exactly how to play her part. Clutching her arm like a frightened victim, she looked at him with wide, innocent eyes.

“But Liam,” she said softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound sincere, “she’s bringing Theodore, and he’s still your son. As a woman, I know how it feels to want your son to be close to his father.”

Evelyn’s words were carefully chosen, calculated to seem compassionate. But they were laced with venom, designed to paint me as desperate and unreasonable.

Liam’s face hardened, his jaw tightening. “But he’s just a mistake from when I was still dating Amelia, Evelyn,” he said coldly. “I will never admit it.”

Chapter 3

The words felt like a dagger to my chest, the air rushing out of my lungs as though I had been physically struck.

Theodore shifted slightly in my arms, sensing the tension but too young to understand the weight of what his father had just said.

My grip on Theodore tightened as I demanded, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and disbelief, “What are you talking about?

“How could Theodore be a mistake we made back when we were dating? He is our legitimate son after we married for three years.” My sarcasm was cutting, but I did not care.

Turning to Evelyn, I demanded, “When exactly did you ‘explain’ this to him, Evelyn? What did you tell him when he woke up? Tell me!”

Evelyn’s confident mask faltered, her eyes darting nervously between me and Liam. But before she could respond, Liam wrapped an arm protectively around her.

Liam’s eyes narrowed, his voice turning sharp as a blade. “Of course, he is. I told you then not to keep him. Why were you so stubborn?”

The last thread of restraint within me snapped, and I felt a surge of anger fill every inch of my body.

Back then, I had given him everything. When he suffered from a gunshot wound, I stayed by his side, tending to his injuries with trembling hands.

When he got into that terrible car accident and had to stay in the hospital, I barely left his room.

But none of that mattered to him.

Instead of gratitude, he easily forgot the memories we built together. My sacrifices meant nothing to him.

Evelyn smirked, holding Lucas closer as though shielding him. “It’s time you let go, Amelia,” she said smoothly. “Liam has moved on. You should too.”

The bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. I was done holding back. My grip on Theodore tightened as I approached them, my footsteps echoing in the room.

Without hesitation, I raised my hand and slapped Evelyn across the face. The sharp sound reverberated through the air, startling Lucas into a loud cry and causing Theodore to whimper in my arms.

Evelyn swayed to the side, clutching Lucas protectively as though she were the victim. Her wide eyes darted between me and Liam, her face marked by the red string of my hand.

“How dare you, Amelia!” Liam roared, his voice booming with anger.

The tension exploded into chaos as we argued, our voices overlapping in a cacophony of accusations and denials. Liam’s fury fueled mine, and Evelyn’s faux innocence only made me angrier.

It did not take long for the commotion to draw attention. Nurses and security guards burst into the room, their faces alarmed as they tried to break us apart.

"Dr. Amelia, please step back!" one of the nurses pleaded, her voice firm yet nervous.

I exhaled sharply, realizing I was on the verge of losing control. Theodore’s cries and the guards’ warnings finally brought me back to reality. “Please get out of here before we forcefully pull you out.”

Taking a deep breath, I turned on my heel and walked toward the door, ignoring Liam’s cold glare and Evelyn’s smug silence.

There was no point in wasting more energy on a man who did not recognize me or a woman who thrived on turning my world upside down. Instead, I headed back home with Theodore, back to the one sanctuary we had left.

The next day, however, the true storm began.

The hospital, usually a hub of professionalism, had turned into a web of gossip. Everywhere I walked, I could hear snippets of conversations.

“They said Dr. Amelia was angry in a patient’s room. Is she having an affair?”

“According to the nurse near the room, it’s actually Dr. Amelia who’s in the wrong—she was caught causing a scene!”

“Eh, did you see? Dr. Amelia brought a child yesterday. Does she already have a kid?”

“She said it was her nephew, but what if the child’s hers from some secret affair?”

“Oh my God, and I thought Dr. Amelia was so innocent.”

I gritted my teeth as I walked through the halls, their words cutting like shards of glass. Though their hushed tones feigned secrecy, the weight of their judgment was palpable.

Even in the ER, where everyone prided themselves on professionalism, I could feel their questioning eyes on me.

I did not care. Let them talk. No one truly knew my life. I was the only one who understood what I was fighting for, and I was not about to let their whispers break me.

During my lunch break, I clutched the wedding photo album I had brought from home.

I planned to take it to Liam, to confront his fractured memory with undeniable proof of the life we had shared.

If Evelyn’s lies were taking root in Liam’s mind, I would fight to uproot them.

However, as I walked through the hallway toward Liam’s room, a hand grabbed my arm roughly, pulling me to the side.

Before I could react, I found myself dragged into the women’s restroom.

The door slammed shut, and I turned to see Evelyn, her smug expression even more venomous up close. She crossed her arms, blocking the exit, her demeanor sharp and aggressive.

“You still dare to visit Liam again after the whole hospital is gossiping about you?” she hissed, her voice low but laced with venom. “Come on, Amelia, you should just accept reality and understand his condition.”

Her words stung, but I would not let her see the cracks she was trying to make in my armor. Instead, I straightened my back and met her gaze with a steely glare.

“Are you afraid Liam will remember me if I keep seeing him?” I sneered, clutching the photo album tightly against my chest.

I stepped closer, my voice low but unwavering. “You can manipulate him all you want, Evelyn, but you can’t erase the truth. The life Liam and I shared isn’t something you can overwrite with your lies.”

Chapter 4

Her eyes narrowed, her confident facade faltering for a brief second. “He doesn’t even remember you, Amelia,” she snapped, her tone sharp and biting. “You’re clinging to something that’s gone. It’s pathetic.”

I stepped closer, my voice cold and unwavering, forcing her to retreat into the corner she had tried to trap me in.

“You’re the one who’s pathetic,” I said firmly. “You can play your little games, but deep down, you’re scared. You know that no matter how much you lie, no matter how much you twist his mind, the truth has a way of surfacing.”

Evelyn tilted her head, her expression morphing into one of feigned pity. “Are you really a doctor, Amelia?” she asked mockingly. “You should understand Liam’s current condition, right?”

Her sarcasm burned like acid as she continued. “He has partial amnesia, Amelia. All Liam remembers is me. Why? Because what he remembers is an memory from years ago. He knows me as his college friend and colleague.

“So tell me, Amelia—doesn’t it make more sense for him to believe he married me than someone like you, who he just met a month before the wedding?”

Her words dripped with condescension, each one designed to cut deeper.

“It wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t the first person he saw when he woke up, Evelyn!” I roared, unable to contain my frustration.

Evelyn smirked, her calm demeanor only sharpening my anger further. “But the fact is,” she said, her voice smooth as silk, “you were too busy with your work. So don’t blame me for finding him awake first. Isn’t that the truth, Doctor?”

Her smugness was infuriating, and it pushed me over the edge. “I know you did this on purpose,” I said, my voice trembling with anger. “But don’t worry. I’ll make Liam see the truth with this.”

I raised the photo album in my hand. Evelyn’s eyes flickered to it, and for a brief moment, I saw fear. She recognized it immediately—our wedding photo album.

But her fear did not last. A slow, mocking smile spread across her face as she crossed her arms.

“Go ahead,” she said, her voice dripping with confidence. “Do whatever you want, Amelia. But don’t come crying when Liam pushes you away—again.”

With that, she brushed past me, her head held high as if she had already won.

I stayed behind for a moment, trying to catch my breath and steady the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

Evelyn had managed to rattle me, to chip away at my resolve, but she had not broken it.

Looking down at the album in my hands, I clutched it tightly and stepped out of the restroom, continuing toward Liam’s room.

I believed somewhere beneath the fog of amnesia and manipulation, the man I had married still existed. I just had to find him.

However, I forgot one thing. I missed the fact that as a lawyer, Evelyn had the skills and resources to forge documents, to fabricate ‘proof’ that aligned with her lies. And Liam, in his vulnerable state, had believed her completely.

No matter how desperately I explained each photo, pointing out the details of our wedding day, Liam just barely glanced at the pages, his expression hard.

“These photos mean nothing to me, Amelia. They’re fake,” he said coldly.

I froze, my heart sinking. “What are you talking about? Liam, this is our wedding album. You picked the venue. You chose the flowers, you….”

“They’re fake,” he repeated, his tone firm. “Evelyn already showed me the evidence. She told me you’d pull something like this. Do you really think you can fool me with fabricated photos?”

My chest tightened as his words registered. Evelyn had already poisoned his mind, planting lies so deeply that even the truth looked like a fabrication.

“No, Liam,” I said, my voice trembling. “Evelyn is lying to you. She’s manipulating you.”

“She’s not,” Liam snapped. “Evelyn showed me proof. I trust her, not you.”

My breath caught in my throat. I realized too late how far Evelyn had gone.

Desperately, I kept pressing Liam, refusing to let Evelyn’s lies root deeper and settle in his fractured mind forever.

My voice trembled as I pleaded, “Liam, please listen to me.”

But Liam’s patience finally snapped. His face contorted with frustration as he shouted, “If I wasn’t sick, I would have kicked you out of my room myself. Get out now, or I will call the guards again!”

The force of his words hit me like a physical blow. Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and stinging.

For three years, Liam had never yelled at me—not once. Even when we argued, his voice had always remained steady, measured.

But those past two days, all I had received from him were yelling, insults, and indifference. The man I loved was gone, replaced by a stranger.

With my heart shattered, I turned on my heel and ran toward the door, unable to stay in that room any longer.

But just as I reached the doorway, I collided with someone entering the room—Evelyn.

“Argh!” Evelyn cried out dramatically, falling backward onto the floor, cradling Lucas protectively in her arms as if I had deliberately attacked her.

The sound of her cry sent Liam into a panic. Ignoring his own condition, he jumped up from the bed, yanking the IV needle from his arm.

Blood dripped freely from the puncture site, staining the white sheets, but he did not seem to notice or care.

“Evelyn!” Liam shouted, rushing to her side. He knelt down, his arms wrapping around her protectively. “Is there anything wrong? Are you hurt? Talk to me!”

Evelyn clung to him, her face contorted into an expression of faux pain.

Liam’s eyes darkened as he turned to me, his voice a thunderous roar. “You’ve gone too far, Amelia! How dare you?!”

“Liam, it was an accident….” I tried to explain, my voice cracking with desperation.

But he did not let me finish. “Don’t you dare come into our lives again, or I swear, I will sue you!”

Without sparing me another glance, Liam helped Evelyn to her feet, his arm securely around her as he guided her into the room.

The door slammed shut behind them, leaving me standing in the hallway, alone and defeated.

Chapter 5

All eyes were on me. Their silent stares burned into my skin, suffocating me with judgment and pity.

Trying to salvage what little dignity I had left, I chose to give in and quietly return to my room.

With a sudden surge of anger and helplessness, I threw the album onto my desk and headed back straight to the ER. Work was the only thing keeping me together at that time.

But as the hours ticked by, the toll of skipped meals and emotional exhaustion began to weigh on me.

By the late afternoon, I found myself gripping the edge of the desk at the nurse’s station, my knuckles white as waves of nausea and dizziness rolled over me.

The nurse at the station glanced up from her paperwork, her brows furrowing in concern. “Is there anything I can help you with, Dr. Amelia?” she asked, her voice soft and worried.

I forced myself to straighten, shaking my head even as my legs felt unsteady. “I’m fine,” I lied, plastering on a smile that felt more like a grimace.

Her expression did not change, her sympathy evident. “You’ve been overworking yourself, doc. Please take a break.”

I brushed off her concern with a weak wave of my hand. “No worries,” I said, my voice thin. “I’ll feel better after some medicine.”

The nurse hesitated, but eventually nodded and returned to her work.

However, before I headed toward the medicine cabinet, determined to grab something for my stomach, the world seemed to tilt and sway, and the next thing I knew, I was falling.

Suddenly, I dreamed of Evelyn. Her image filled my mind. Her perfect smile, the soft-spoken words I had once believed were genuine.

But it turned out, behind that polished mask of kindness was a woman who saw an opportunity and seized it.

Actually, I had always been aware of Evelyn’s presence, even from the first time I met Liam.

It was during one of my late-night shifts as an intern at the hospital three years ago.

The Emergency Room was bustling, as it usually was, when an ambulance arrived with a patient suffering from a critical gunshot wound.

“He’s losing too much blood,” a paramedic yelled.

“Get me a 16-gauge IV and prepare him for surgery!” I barked, adrenaline coursing through me.

As he was scheduled in the operating room, the name of the patient was finally revealed, Liam Carlisle.

I learned that he was a prosecutor, infamous for being cold and unyielding when it came to criminals.

Apparently, his shooter was one of those criminals—a prisoner enraged by the harsh sentence Liam had recommended to the judge.

I remember thinking, ‘This man’s life is dangerous.’ His world seemed shrouded in peril, radiating a kind of intensity that warned others to stay away.

After the surgery, I visited his room for a post-op checkup. His condition was stable, though his piercing blue eyes followed me every time I walked in.

“Dr. Amelia,” he said once, his voice still hoarse from the anesthesia. “Do doctors always look this serious, or am I just lucky to have one who never smiles?”

I raised an eyebrow at his attempt at humor. “If you’re well enough to crack jokes, Mr. Carlisle, you’re well enough to cooperate with your recovery plan.”

He chuckled, wincing slightly from the pain. I did not think much of it at the time, chalking it up to his personality.

It was during one of these visits that I met Evelyn for the first time.

“You must be Dr. Amelia,” she greeted me with a warm smile. “I’m Evelyn, Liam’s...friend.”

Friend. That word had struck me as odd, even then. The way she lingered at his bedside, her fingers lightly brushing against his hand, suggested there was more to their relationship.

As a woman, I could not ignore the way she looked at him. Evelyn liked Liam. That much was clear.

And honestly, the two of them looked like a perfect match. She was a lawyer, and he was a prosecutor. Their worlds aligned seamlessly.

However, the day before Liam was discharged from the hospital, he suddenly sat up in bed, wincing but determined as I did the last check-up.

“Amelia,” he said, his voice steady despite his injuries.

“Yes, Mr. Carlisle?” I replied, not looking up from my notes.

“Stop calling me that,” he said with a smirk. “It’s Liam. And I want to tell you something.”

I glanced at him, startled by the serious look in his eyes.

“I like you,” he said bluntly. “I’ve liked you since the first moment I saw you in the ER. Even when I was in pain, all I could think about was how kind and determined you looked. I want to get to know you, Amelia.”

My jaw nearly dropped. I had not seen that coming. Yes, he had joked around with me during his recovery, but I had dismissed it as banter.

“But Mr. I mean, Liam,” I stammered. “You...you don’t even know me.”

“Then let me get to know you,” he said, his eyes holding mine.

Despite my initial hesitation, his persistence won me over. Over the following weeks, Liam pursued me relentlessly, breaking down the walls I had built around my heart. I fell in love with him and when he proposed to me, I said yes.

Through him, I also grew closer to Evelyn. She had seemed so supportive of our relationship, always smiling and encouraging. I felt foolish for ever thinking she had feelings for Liam.

At least, that was what I thought back then.

However, then I realized my thought, my intuition was not wrong.

“Amelia, wake up!” a voice called out urgently, shaking me from the fog of unconsciousness.

I opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the harsh hospital lights. My professor stood over me, her face etched with worry.

After making sure everything was alright, she was advising me to skip my night shift that day and rest.

I nodded weakly, feeling grateful that there was still someone who cared. “Thank you, Prof. Sorry for bothering you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After being discharged from the observation room, I grabbed my phone from my pocket and checked it.

My heart sank when I saw the screen light up with dozens of missed calls from Theodore’s daycare.

Chapter 6

My hands trembled as I called back, dread gnawing at me with every ring.

The voice on the other end answered quickly, filled with urgency. “Mrs. Hawthorne, we’re so sorry to disturb you, but Theodore has developed a high fever.”

My heart dropped. “A high fever?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“We’ve been trying to reach you all afternoon,” the attendant explained. “When we couldn’t get through, we called Theodore’s father—the number listed as secondary on the registration form.”

“And?” I asked, already knowing the answer would hurt.

The attendant hesitated before continuing, her voice tinged with discomfort. “He just answered coldly and said, ‘Take him to the doctor. Don’t bother me with that problem again.’”

Tears welled in my eyes as anger and heartbreak washed over me. Even when our son was sick, Liam refused to care. He was too busy playing the doting partner to Evelyn and her child.

“I’m coming right now,” I said quickly, grabbing my bag.

“Actually,” the attendant continued. “We’ve already brought Theodore to the hospital where you work. He’s being examined by a pediatrician right now.”

I rushed to the pediatric section, my heart racing with worry. When I arrived, I spotted the daycare attendant waiting near the entrance. She looked relieved to see me and immediately came over.

“Thank you so much,” I said, gratitude pouring out of me. “I’m sorry for the trouble, and I’ll reimburse you for the travel expenses.”

She waved her hand dismissively, smiling kindly. “It’s no trouble, Mrs. Hawthorne. We just wanted to make sure Theodore got the care he needed.”

Just then, I heard a familiar voice. “Amelia,” someone called gently.

I turned and saw Dr. Nathaniel Reed approaching, a warm yet concerned expression on his face.

He was a pediatrician and an old friend from university. His calm presence was a sharp contrast to my spiraling thoughts.

“Nathan,” I breathed. “How’s Theo? How’s my son?”

Nathaniel placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and gestured for me to follow him into the examination room.

“Amelia, it’s going to be alright,” he assured me. “His fever isn’t too high, and it seems like a simple viral infection. I’ll run some tests just to be sure, but there’s no need to panic. He’s in good hands.”

I let out a shaky breath, feeling some of the tension ease from my chest. “Thank you, Nathan,” I whispered, my voice breaking slightly as I tried to keep my emotions in check.

He offered me a small smile. “You know I’d do anything to help you and Theo. Just take a deep breath, okay?”

I tried to steady my breathing as I watched him work.

Despite the situation, his calmness was reassuring, a quiet pillar of strength I had not realized I needed.

Nathaniel had always been like that.

Back in university, we often ended up in the same classes, working on projects together or staying late in the library to study. He was the kind of person everyone liked—kind, dependable, and always willing to lend a helping hand.

Some of our mutual friends used to tease me about dating Nathaniel. “You two would make the perfect couple,” they would say, nudging me playfully.

But I had always laughed it off, dismissing the idea.

To me, Nathaniel was my safe space, a friend who never judged or pressured me. I valued his presence too much to risk losing it over something as fragile as romance.

Perhaps that was selfish of me, but Nathaniel never seemed to mind. He was also one of the few people that knew about my marriage with Liam.

So, I could not help but feel a deep gratitude for his presence in my life.

Nathaniel turned to me again, holding Theodore gently as he spoke. “He’ll need some rest, so let him be under my supervision for three days. I promise you he will be okay after that.”

Those words brought a small, shaky smile to my face.

“Thank you, Nathan,” I said again, meaning it more than ever.

After moving Theodore to the ward and watching him finally sleep peacefully, I let out a sigh of relief.

The sight of his small chest rising and falling rhythmically eased the weight on my heart, if only slightly.

Quietly, I stepped out of the pediatric room. My chest burned with anger and frustration as I walked through the hospital halls toward Liam’s room.

Earlier, I had sent him a scathing message, cursing him for ignoring the daycare attendant’s call and letting Theodore suffer.

But unsurprisingly, there was no reply—just silence. I had no choice but to confront him in person.

It did not matter whether Liam considered Theodore his legitimate son or dismissed him as a mistake. The fact remained, Theodore was his son, and he deserved his father’s care.

It was not just for show that I had listed Liam’s number as the emergency contact at the daycare.

As I reached the door and pushed it open, I yelled, “Liam, Theodore is two years old. He’s sick right now with a high fever, and you didn’t even care to answer the daycare’s call! What kind of father are you?”

He glared at me, his patience clearly waning. “I’m not his father,” he said, “Stop bringing him into my life. I won’t entertain this anymore.”

The world around me seemed to stop. His words echoed in my ears, each one a dagger stabbing into my chest.

I took a step forward, my hands trembling. “Liam,” I said, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and desperation, “How can you say that?”

Chapter 7

“What kind of bullshit are you talking about now?” I snapped, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief.

I could handle Liam not recognizing me as his wife. I could endure his coldness, his rejection.

But this? Denying Theodore, the child who was the very embodiment of our love? That was a line I could not accept.

Liam’s face twisted with rage as he reached for a paper on the bedside table and flung it at me. The page fluttered through the air before landing at my feet.

“Evelyn found this evidence on my study desk at home,” Liam spat, his voice filled with venom. “Apparently, I had investigated you both before—but I forgot about it thanks to the accident. She helped me piece it together.”

I bent down and picked up the paper. As my eyes scanned the document, I saw it was a DNA test—one that claimed Liam and Theodore shared no genetic relationship.

Before I could even begin to process the absurdity of the claim, Liam’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.

“Did you the one who made me get into an accident so I’d forget about this?” he accused, his tone sharp and cold.

“Liam,” I said, my voice trembling with restrained anger, “I would never cheat on you, let alone betray you for this kind of bullshit.

“Open your eyes! Theodore has your blue eyes and your ginger hair. Isn’t that enough to prove that he’s your son?”

My hands shook as I clenched the paper tightly, crumpling it in my fists.

But Liam did not waver. His expression remained hard, unyielding. “Amelia, I trust that DNA test more than your lies. So, stop disturbing me.”

He turned his head away, as if he could not even stand the sight of me.

My anger boiled over, and I stepped forward, throwing the crumpled paper back at him. It hit his chest and fell to the bed, but he did not flinch.

“Wake up, Liam!” I yelled, my voice raw with emotion. “What else do I have to do to make you realize Evelyn’s lies?”

The sound of my raised voice must have reached Evelyn because the door swung open, and she sauntered in, her face the picture of mock concern.

“Amelia,” she said sweetly, her voice laced with false sincerity, “all this time, I thought you approached us because of Theodore. But apparently, you had other ideas. I should have listened to Liam and stayed away from you.

“What do you want actually? Is that all for money? Or are you intentionally asking Liam to take responsibility for your illegitimate child?”

Her words were like gasoline on the fire, igniting my fury even further.

I turned to her, my eyes blazing. “You’re unbelievable, Evelyn. You’ve manipulated Liam, forged evidence, and now you stand here acting like you’re the victim? Do you have any shame at all?”

Evelyn took a step closer, her expression shifting to one of wounded indignation. “I don’t need to manipulate anyone, Amelia. Liam trusts me because I’ve always been honest with him. You, on the other hand, seem to thrive on deception.”

I laughed bitterly, the sound devoid of humor. “Honest? Is that what you call this? Twisting a man’s mind while he’s vulnerable, erasing his memories of the life Liam and I built together? That’s not honesty, Evelyn—it’s cruelty.”

Evelyn, as always, played her part perfectly. Instead of guilt or explanations, she let her crocodile tears flow, masking her venomous actions under the guise of innocence.

“Amelia,” she said softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing, “why would I ever do such a thing? Your accusation is going too far, Amelia.”

Her words were calculated, slicing through me with precision. But what stung the most was Liam’s reaction.

His cold, indifferent gaze settled on me as he said, “Amelia, this is your workplace. How far are you planning to take this insanity? Until the entire hospital knows about it?”

Their accusations hit me like a thousand daggers, piercing every part of my being.

Before I could respond, Evelyn walked to the door, opening it wide enough for the curious passersby outside to catch a glimpse of the confrontation. She was ensuring I had no place to hide.

“Amelia,” she said with a soft tone like an angel, “just leave gracefully and stop humiliating yourself, okay?”

I stood frozen in place, the weight of their combined cruelty making it hard to move.

I turned my gaze toward Liam, hoping for some flicker of the man who had once fought for me, who had always stood by my side.

But he remained silent, his back to me, staring out the window as if I no longer existed.

Tears spilled freely down my face as I finally found my voice. “Don’t beg me for forgiveness when you get your memory back, Liam,” I said, my tone laced with raw emotion. “You’re the one throwing everything away with your stupidity, not me.”

Liam’s voice broke through our heated exchange. “That’s enough, Amelia. Get out.”

“Fine,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You can keep living in your fantasy, Liam. But one day, the truth will come out. And when it does, I hope you realize just how much you’ve lost.”

I turned and left without looking back, my chest heaving with the effort to hold back the sobs threatening to escape.

Evelyn’s victorious smirk was the last thing I saw as she gently shut the door behind me.

I rushed to the nearest restroom, locking myself inside one of the stalls as the tears came uncontrollably.

For a moment, I considered her words, that I should give up.

But then Theodore’s face flashed in my mind, so I directly returned to the pediatric section.

That night, as I was sinking into one of the chairs in the corridor, a familiar voice broke through my thoughts. “Is the ER really that exhausting, or is it something else?”

Chapter 8

I looked up to see Nathaniel standing in front of me. In his hands were two cups of tea, one of which he extended toward me.

I forced a small smile as I took the cup. “Something like that,” I replied softly, my voice hoarse.

Nathaniel sat beside me, his calm presence grounding me. “You’ve had a tough day, haven’t you?” he asked, his tone light yet understanding.

I could not help but smile faintly at Nathaniel’s question. It brought back memories of our college days when the chaos of the ER had been a running joke among our classmates.

While so many had avoided it, choosing less unpredictable specialties, I had embraced it fully, finding a strange comfort in its intensity.

“Not exactly,” I replied, forcing a small laugh as I sipped the warm tea. “It’s just… there’s something else that’s been bothering me lately.”

Nathaniel leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp with curiosity. “What is it?”

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to keep it all to myself, to avoid unloading my messy life onto him. But another part of me urged me to speak.

“It’s…” I began, fumbling for the right words. I took a deep breath, bracing myself, and decided to let it out. “I don’t know if you’ve heard or not, but Liam got into a terrible accident days ago… and now he has partial amnesia.”

Nathaniel’s expression darkened with concern. “Amnesia?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice cracking despite my effort to stay composed. “He… he doesn’t remember me or Theodore. What he remembers are events from the past, before we were married. He….” My words faltered, the weight of it all pressing down on me.

Nathaniel stayed quiet, his gaze steady and reassuring, silently urging me to continue. So, with another deep breath, I did.

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened as I explained everything. “That’s… insane,” he said, his voice low but firm.

At that time, my tears had spilled over despite my best efforts to hold them back.

He then gave me his handkerchief and asked me once I calmed down. “So, what will you do now?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. “I don’t think I can stay here anymore. I want to leave if I can.”

I was too exhausted to keep presenting evidence to Liam, who did not believe me no matter what I said.

While Evelyn’s manipulation had succeeded in ways I could not have imagined, and I was left overwhelmed, defeated.

Nathaniel leaned forward slightly, his voice calm and steady. “If that’s what you want, I think I can help you.”

I blinked, looking up at him. “How?”

“This.” Nathaniel pulled out his phone and showed me a poster image on the screen.

I recognized it instantly—it had been shared in our group chat for hospital staff weeks ago. I had seen it before but dismissed it at the time, thinking I would never consider such a drastic change.

But at that time, as Nathaniel showed it to me, it felt like the best option I had to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the hospital and the endless humiliation Evelyn had created.

“Maybe… I’ll think about it,” I said, hesitating.

“Of course,” Nathaniel said with a nod, his tone understanding. “Tell me if you want to know more. No pressure.”

Just then, something important crossed my mind.

“Oh, right,” I said suddenly. “Nathan, I need to go home and grab Theodore’s supplies. He’ll be staying here for a few days, and I didn’t bring enough for him.”

Nathaniel tilted his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. “No problem. I have a night shift today, so I can help you watch Theo while you’re gone.”

“Would you? That would really help,” I said, relief flooding through me at his offer.

“Of course,” Nathaniel said with a warm smile.

“Thank you so much, Nathan,” I said sincerely, standing to leave. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

The drive home was heavy with thought. As much as I loved my job, the toxic atmosphere at the hospital had become unbearable.

Everywhere I went, I could hear whispers about me, Liam, and Evelyn. The rumors spread like wildfire, their flames fueled by Evelyn’s manipulations.

Nathaniel’s offer of a fresh start seemed like a lifeline, but leaving was not an easy decision. Could I really uproot my life and Theodore’s for a chance to escape?

As my car pulled up to the front of the house, my train of thought screeched to a halt. My heart sank at the sight that greeted me.

Evelyn stood in the driveway, surrounded by my belongings. Suitcases and boxes were scattered across the pavement like discarded memories.

She was holding one of my picture frames, a triumphant smirk on her face as if she had been waiting for that moment.

“What are you doing now, Evelyn?!” I shouted as I got out of the car, my voice trembling with anger and disbelief.

Evelyn turned to face me, her smirk deepening. “Oh, Amelia,” she said mockingly. “I thought it was about time you moved out. Liam doesn’t want you anymore, so I thought I’d help speed things along.”

“This is my home!” I snapped, my voice shaking. “How dare you throw my things out like this?”

Evelyn shrugged nonchalantly, tossing the picture frame onto a pile of my clothes. “Because Liam will be home tomorrow, so it’s just natural for us to not have your belongings in this house, right?

“After all, Liam considers me his wife now. Why don’t you just accept it and move on?”

My fists clenched at my sides, the injustice of it all burning in my chest.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “Then at least let me pack properly,” I said, moving toward the door.

But Evelyn stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “Oh, no, no,” she said with exaggerated sweetness. “I’ll take whatever you want for you. Just tell me, and I’ll bring it out.”

Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, and I could feel my patience wearing thin.

“Theo’s….” I started, but Evelyn cut me off with a laugh.

“Oh, you can take whatever you want,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “Except anything that belongs to Theo. Because that’s Lucas’s now.”

She smirked triumphantly as she added, “Now, get out!”

Before I could respond, Evelyn slammed the door in my face, leaving me standing there on the driveway surrounded by my discarded possessions.

Chapter 9

I felt my chest tighten with the weight of her words, but I refused to let her see me break.

Since I knew what Evelyn wanted. She wanted a reaction, wanted me to grovel and beg.

Without another word, I began gathering my belongings.

As I threw the last box into the trunk of my car, I turned to the front door one final time since I knew Evelyn was still standing there.

“One day, Liam will remember the truth,” I said firmly. “And when that day comes, he’ll see you for what you really are, Evelyn.”

Then, I got back into my car and drove away.

My thoughts turned to Theodore. “I hope Theo doesn’t mind his rabbit doll,” I muttered to myself. “He’s always slept with it since he was a baby.”

The thought of him going without his favorite toy made my heart ache, but there was no way I could fight Evelyn for it.

I stopped at a baby store on the way back to the hospital, picking up new clothes, toys, and essentials for Theodore.

It was exhausting, buying so much at once, but I refused to let Evelyn’s cruelty ruin Theodore’s comfort.

By the time I returned to Theodore’s ward, my body felt heavy with fatigue. I set the bags down in the corner and collapsed onto the sofa, too drained to do much else.

The next morning, as I finished getting ready for my ER shift, I glanced over and saw Nathaniel playing with Theodore. To my surprise, there was a pair of little bunny ears perched atop Nathaniel’s head.

I could not help but burst out laughing. “Nathan, did you even look in the mirror this morning?”

Nathaniel glanced at me, completely unfazed. “What do you know? Kids love this stuff. Isn’t that right, Theo?”

Theo babbled enthusiastically in agreement, making both of us smile.

It was then I noticed that Nathaniel and Theodore were wearing matching socks with bunny patterns. The sight sent a warm, comforting current through my heart, filling me with gratitude for Nathaniel’s genuine care.

He truly had a gift for connecting with children, as if they were his own. It was not hard to see why he had chosen pediatrics—it was as if he was made for it.

Seeing Nathaniel still focused on Theodore, gently chatting with him to keep him calm, I took the opportunity to ask, “Nathan, could you tell me more about the program you mentioned earlier? I think I’m interested in it.”

Nathaniel turned to me, his expression lighting up with cautious optimism. “It’s an offer to work at our branch hospital in the countryside,” he began, his tone both measured and encouraging.

“It’s a new hospital—just recently built—but they’re struggling to find applicants. They still have vacancies in the ER.”

I tilted my head, intrigued. “Why’s that? Are people hesitant because of the location?”

He nodded. “Exactly. ER positions are already hard to fill, even in big city hospitals, because of how demanding they are. Now imagine a small hospital in a remote area.

“The equipment might not be as advanced, the resources might be limited, but the trauma cases will be just as frequent, if not more so. It’s not an easy sell for most people.”

“What about you?” I asked, genuinely curious. “You’re not afraid of the challenge?”

Nathaniel’s expression softened, and his quiet passion shone through. “I’ve already applied for a position as a pediatrician there. From what I’ve researched, the area has a high number of malnourished children.

“They don’t have access to proper medical care, Amelia. I want to help them. They deserve the same level of care as anyone else.”

His words struck a chord with me, his sincerity stirring something deep within.

Nathaniel leaned forward slightly, his voice gentle but encouraging. “If you’re interested, I can help you apply. We could go together.

“And since it’s a branch hospital, it’s part of a doctor exchange program. If you decide it’s not for you after some time, you can always return to the main hospital.”

I mulled over his words, the possibilities swirling in my mind. That was my only opportunity to step away from the chaos and the suffocating toxicity of Liam and Evelyn.

“But…” I hesitated, glancing at him. “What about Theodore? Can you tell me more about the location? I’d need to bring him with me, and I want to make sure he’ll be okay there.”

Nathaniel’s expression softened further, as though he had anticipated my concern. “There’s a daycare near the hospital,” he said, his voice reassuring.

“It’s small, but it’s well-staffed and reliable. You wouldn’t have to worry about him. And from what I’ve heard, the area’s quiet and safe—perfect for raising a kid.”

Relief washed over me, and I felt my shoulders relax for the first time in hours. “Thank God,” I breathed, my voice laced with gratitude. “That sounds… perfect.”

Nathaniel chuckled, his familiar warmth bringing a smile to my face. “It does, doesn’t it? But first, you’ll need to talk to your professor. She’s one of your biggest supporters. I doubt she’ll be thrilled about you leaving, but she’ll understand if it’s what you need.”

I laughed softly, the sound foreign after such a difficult day.

“You’re probably right. I’ll stop by her office before heading back to the ER,” I said, leaning down to kiss Theodore’s forehead gently. “Be good for Dr. Nathaniel and the nurse, okay?”

“Yes!” Theo chirped happily, flashing me a wide grin.

Nathaniel, ever the playful teaser, grinned at me. “What, no kiss for me?”

Instead of indulging him, I playfully poked his forehead with my finger.

“Ouch!” Nathaniel exclaimed dramatically, pretending to be in pain.

The exaggerated act had Theodore giggling uncontrollably, his laughter filling the room and lifting my spirits.

After treating several patients in the ER, I finally found time to visit my professor’s office. She looked up from her desk, expecting a discussion about research, but her expression shifted when I told her my request.

“You want a transfer?” she asked, her tone a mix of surprise and disappointment.

Chapter 10

“Yes, Professor,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the lump in my throat.

She sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair. “Fine,” she said after a pause. “I can’t hold you back. I’ll give you three years to work there, but after that, I expect you to return. Consider it an opportunity to gain experience, alright?”

A wave of relief washed over me, and I bowed slightly in gratitude. “Thank you, Professor.”

By the time I left her office, it felt like a weight had been lifted. I was the last doctor to join the staff at the new hospital, and with our departure scheduled for the next day, I had to wrap up my work at Future Hospital quickly.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly that day, and Theodore made a full recovery.

So, to celebrate our last day in City A, I decided to take him to have dinner at his favorite buffet restaurant—a cozy spot with a playground that was perfect for families.

The evening started perfectly. Theodore laughed as he ran toward the playground after finishing his meal, his smile so infectious that I could not help but smile along with him.

For a moment, everything felt normal, almost like the life I used to have.

But just as I finished my plate and got up to pick up Theodore, a voice dripped with mock sweetness stopped me in my tracks.

“Amelia?”

I froze, recognizing that voice instantly. Turning slowly, I found myself face-to-face with Evelyn, her perfectly polished demeanor glowing under the warm restaurant lights.

Liam was right beside her, his posture rigid and his expression cold. He regarded me with disdain, his sneer almost palpable as he muttered under his breath, “Huft, you again.”

His icy gaze, the way he looked at me as though I were nothing more than an inconvenience, an unwelcome shadow in his new life, made it hard to breathe.

Evelyn’s lips curved into a saccharine smile, her tone sharp despite the facade of politeness.

“You’re not following us again, are you?” she asked mockingly, her voice carrying just enough volume to draw the attention of nearby diners.

I smirked, refusing to let her get the better of me. “Are you a fool?” I said, my tone flat but laced with irritation. “Can’t you see I’ve already finished eating? Which means I’ve been here since earlier.”

Her perfect smile faltered slightly, the crack in her composure giving me the smallest sense of satisfaction.

Without sparing them another glance, I turned on my heel and headed toward the restroom, too fed up to entertain their nonsense.

As I walked away, I could feel Evelyn’s gaze on my back. Clearly taken aback by my complete disinterest in her mocking, she leaned closer to Liam and said, “Honey, why don’t you take a seat first? I need to freshen up a bit.”

Liam nodded, his tone calm but dismissive. “Okay.”

Inside the bathroom, I leaned over the sink, splashing cold water on my face as I tried to steady my breath. My reflection stared back at me, a mixture of exhaustion and anger etched into my features.

Then, that familiar, smug voice broke through my thoughts.

“Why are you still pretty, even though I’ve already kicked you out?”

I turned around sharply, my hands tightening into fists. There she was, Evelyn, standing in the doorway with a mocking smirk on her face.

Without thinking, I lashed out, aiming to slap her across the face. But Evelyn was quick—she caught my hand before it could connect.

“You’re predictable,” she sneered, her grip tightening around my wrist.

I did not let her victory last long. With my free hand, I reached for her hair, determined to pull her down from her pedestal. Evelyn stepped back to avoid me, but her heels betrayed her.

“Ah!” Evelyn shrieked as she lost her balance and fell to the floor.

As luck—or misfortune—would have it, another woman entered the bathroom just in time to see Evelyn sprawled on the floor and me standing over her.

It was the perfect scene for Evelyn to play the victim.

Commotion erupted as the woman called for help, and before I knew it, Liam stormed into the bathroom.

His eyes locked on me, and they were filled with the kind of fury I had once hoped he would reserve for those who wronged me—not for me.

“What are you doing, Amelia?” he demanded, his voice sharp and cold.

Then he came to Evelyn, with her perfect plan, Evelyn started to play victim on me.

“I just came to freshen up, but she suddenly attacked me,” she said as her crocodile tears flowed from her eyes.

Liam was directly mad at me, “You planned this, didn’t you? You knew there wouldn’t be any cameras in the bathroom, so you thought you’d get away with it.”

I stared at him, stunned by how easily he believed Evelyn’s story.

“You’re stupid, Liam,” I said, my voice shaking with restrained fury. “Stupid and blind. You believe this cheap woman more than the woman who was your wife for three years? Why haven't you even tried to find out the truth at all?!”

He took a step closer, his final words slicing through me like a dagger. “I don’t care,” he said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. “Just disappear from my life forever.”

Those words echoed in my mind. That was the moment I realized Liam had made his choice, a choice that did not include Theodore or me.

I was glad I had chosen to give up on him, leaving him alone with his stupidity.

I turned on my heel, picked up Theodore from the playground, and carried him to the car.

As I drove away from the restaurant, tears flowed freely down my face, blurring my vision.

Theodore’s soft snores from the back seat were the only comfort I had, a reminder of the one person who still needed me, who still loved me unconditionally.

But as I drove, a new thought began to take root in my mind. Leaving Liam quietly would not be enough.

He had discarded us, treated us like nothing. If he could be so heartless, then he deserved to feel the weight of his actions.

I took a detour, driving to a cliff well-known as a site where many had come to end their lives.

My hands trembled as I removed one of Theodore’s tiny shoes. Then, I took off my wedding ring, and placed both items on a large rock at the edge of the cliff.

With shaky hands, I snapped a photo of the shoe and the ring, the jagged rocks and rushing river below serving as a grim backdrop.

I attached the image to a text message addressed to Liam. [You forced me to do this, Liam.]

But it was not Liam who saw the message first—it was Evelyn. She sat beside him in the car as they drove home.

“Is she really…?” Evelyn asked, her voice laced with fake disbelief but underlined by a flicker of unease.

Liam frowned and pulled the car over, taking the phone from her hands to see the attached photo.

But then he turned to Evelyn, who had already started trembling—her performance flawless as always.

Liam, oblivious to her deceit, wrapped his arms around her protectively. “It’s okay,” he murmured, his voice low and detached. “It’s her choice. It’s not our fault.”

Evelyn’s lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile as she buried her face in Liam’s chest, hiding her satisfaction.

Her scheme had worked, and she knew it. But she played her part perfectly, pretending to be shaken by my supposed “suicide.”

Meanwhile, I sat in my car, watching the message go from delivered to read. Liam did not respond, confirming what I already knew—he was as heartless as ever.

Without hesitation, I threw my sim card and deleted every trace of him from my phone.

I left the cliff behind, driving away not toward despair but toward freedom.