He Turned Cold, I Turned to Gold
Chapter 1
“Sir, your wife has been looking forward to this child for several years. Would it break her heart if you killed it with your own hands?”
When I heard the family doctor's voice, my mind went blank and I subconsciously stopped pushing the door.
Herschel Jones was silent for a moment and his usually gentle and doting voice seemed particularly ruthless, “I don't want Carlos to feel inferior after being adopted.
“Besides, if she has her own child, she will be selfish. How can she take care of Carlos wholeheartedly? This child must not be kept!”
I looked at the figure with his back to me in disbelief and suddenly clenched the medical record in my hand.
Just half an hour ago, the doctor told me that the baby's heartbeat had stopped and it had become a dead fetus.
I had doubted the results of the examination and my own body, but I had never doubted my husband.
After five years of marriage, he knew how much I wanted to have a child and how cautious I was after finding out I was pregnant, but he actually destroyed my hopes with his own hands.
Just when I was angry and wanted to rush in to ask why, the conversation inside continued, “But if your wife has a child, she won't pay as much attention to your affair.
“After all, Carlos is your child and they will look alike when they grow up. Besides, your wife's body may make it difficult for her to get pregnant again.
“That day will never come,” Herschel interrupted him coldly. “Sallie loves me so much that she would not doubt such a thing.
“Besides, Liza will be returning to Canada soon. Carlos won't need her to take care of him anymore. It's just a transfer of identity.
“As for her health... Even without the child, nothing will change between us.”
The sun was shining outside, but I felt cold all over and could not stop shivering.
I remembered that a few months ago, Herschel and I discussed adopting a child.
At that time, he held my hand with a look of heartache on his face as he said, “Sallie, I know you have been worried about having a child for five years since we got married.
“I don't want you to suffer the pain of having a child and I don't want you and mom to have a falling out. How about we adopt a child?”
I was angry at my stomach for not being able to grow enough, but I was also touched that he was thinking about me. After hesitating for a long time, I finally nodded and agreed.
It turned out that the child was his illegitimate child.
No wonder when I told him that I was pregnant, he had a complicated expression.
How ridiculous, my husband had a child and I was the last to know.
There was a buzzing sound in my head and I suddenly felt dizzy. I leaned against the door weakly to steady myself.
Hearing the noise, Herschel subconsciously turned around with a vigilant look.
After seeing clearly, he immediately came forward and asked with concern, “Why are you crying? Did you suffer any injustice outside? Tell me what happened, I will avenge you.”
I stared at him for a long time and felt dazed.
From campus to wedding dresses, I had seen this pair of loving eyes countless times. When did they change?
Seeing that I did not say anything, Herschel became anxious and turned to yell at the family doctor, “What are you standing there for? Come over here and check on my wife!”
Seeing the family doctor rushing over, I shook my head and forced a smile as I responded, “Nothing, I just bumped my nose on the way back.”
Herschel was obviously relieved and tapped my head helplessly and amusedly.
“You, how can you make such a mistake when you are so old? Didn't you bring a driver with you when you went out today?” he questioned.
If I had not heard what I just heard, I really would not have doubted the sincerity in front of me.
My nose felt sore and tears instantly blurred my vision, but I still spoke with the last glimmer of hope, “Herschel, I went to the hospital today and the doctor said our child….”
When he heard me mention the child, a complex expression flashed across Herschel's eyes, but he quickly calmed down and hugged me in his arms to comfort me, “Sallie, don't cry. I promise you, we will have another child in the future.”
I swallowed the rest of the words, closed my eyes in despair and finally gave up completely.
After Herschel left, I called home in silence, “Mom, I will attend my younger sister's wedding in a week.”
The other party was obviously stunned for a moment, then happily agreed.
“You’re finally willing to see us. Okay, I will clean your room in advance. Will Herschel come with you?
“You said before that you were pregnant and it was hard to come. Why are you willing to come again?”
Listening to my mother's careful concern, my heart felt sad and I choked with sobs as I answered, “Mom, I want to divorce him and stay with you abroad from now on.”
Chapter 2
That night, I had a dream.
I dreamed that when I graduated from university, Herschel insisted on going to a big city to work hard. I was willing to break up with my family and accompany him to the struggling in City A.
At that time, my parents threatened, “If you dare to follow him, we will pretend that you are not our daughter!"
I knelt down in tears, but still chose to believe in love. From then on, I cut off all ties with my family and could not even attend the funeral of my grandmother who loved me the most.
In the first few years, he was running around outside and I was supporting two people with the lowest internship salary.
We lived in a dark basement and survived only with bread and pickles every day. I suffered a lot but still felt happy.
After we got the marriage certificate, Herschel saved money and bought me a silver ring, but we did not have a wedding.
He made a promise to me with tears in his eyes, “Sallie, I will definitely buy a house of our own in the future, buy you the most expensive diamond ring and give you the grand wedding!”
Because of this sentence, I felt that everything was worth it and nodded while crying.
Herschel did not disappoint me. With the first money he earned, he bought me a diamond ring as big as a pigeon egg and the first house he bought was also transferred to my name.
Because I had suffered physical damage in my early years, it was difficult for me to get pregnant.
He was afraid of causing conflicts between the mother-in-law and me, so he brought me out to live with him, arranged for a chef to prepare nutritious meals every day and also hired a family doctor to take care of me.
Except for the fact that we were too busy with our career and did not have time to hold the wedding ceremony, Herschel fulfilled all his promises and I thought I was happy enough.
The scene changed and Herschel embraced Liza Moses, holding a child in his hands, with a cold look in his eyes as he said, “Liza and I already have a child, we are a family, Sallie, I have never loved you!”
The figures of Herschel’s parents also appeared one after another, looking at me with disgust as they stated, “How can a hen that cannot lay eggs be worthy of being the daughter-in-law of our Jones Family?!”
I was madly trying to chase after her to explain, but Liza pushed me away harshly with a disdainful tone, “Sallie, he is my husband and we already have a son, you are the mistress who destroyed our family!”
“No, that's not it!”
I was awakened by a nightmare, sat up suddenly, grabbed my collar tightly and gasped for breath.
“What's wrong, honey? Did you have a nightmare?”
Herschel woke up immediately and quickly pulled me into his arms, his eyes full of heartache.
Seeing the worry on his face, I was stunned. For a moment, I thought I was back to the past. I eagerly grabbed his wrist with pleading eyes as I muttered, “Our children….”
Hearing this, Herschel looked reluctant, but still burst my fantasy.
“Sallie, your body is slowly recovering and you will have children in the future,” he said, “And we’re going to the orphanage tomorrow. Don't you like Carlos too? We can take him back and treat him like our own child.”
At this moment, I just felt that the person in front of me was too unfamiliar, as if I had never seen him clearly.
My stomach was churning and I felt so nauseous that I wanted to vomit. I turned my head away from his arms, feeling powerless.
“Herschel, let's get a divorce.”
Herschel's face froze, but he quickly smiled and touched my head as he asked, “Did you get scared by a nightmare? Don't make such jokes next time. Have a good sleep and you will be fine tomorrow.”
Seeing him fall asleep alone, my heart ached, but my mind became clearer.
Why was he so sure it was just a joke? Did he think I was reluctant to get divorced, or my feelings have never been important?
When he woke up the next day, Herschel had already changed his clothes and was ready to go out.
When he saw me coming down, he subconsciously came over and kissed my forehead, giving me careful instructions as usual.
“I’ve asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast for you. I have something to do at the company so I'll go there first. See you at the orphanage later.”
Just as he finished speaking, the mobile phone rang suddenly. Herschel took a look, subconsciously turned off the phone and smiled unnaturally.
“The company is urging me to go, so I’ll go first,” he said then left without looking back, not noticing that I was unusually silent that day.
Even though he moved quickly, I could still see the name clearly, ‘My love Liza.’
My heart ached so much that I closed my eyes, grabbed the car keys and followed him.
Chapter 3
When the car drove into the orphanage, I saw Herschel dragging Liza out angrily and questioning her in a cold voice, “Didn't you say you would return in a month? Why are you back now?”
Liza cried out in pain in a delicate voice, then said with tears in her eyes, “I just wanted to give you a surprise, don't you really want to see me?”
“That’s not what I meant.” Herschel felt a little guilty when he saw the red marks on her hands. He rubbed his eyebrows and sighed.
“You've disrupted my plan. Carlos has not made any arrangements yet. Your presence is a variable. Once Carlos's identity is transferred, I will make arrangements for you and your son.”
Liza refused to give in. She covered her ears and shook her head, looking extremely sad.
“I don't want it. You clearly said you would marry me. Why do you want my child to call someone else his mother now?
“I have no status and no position. Do you still want me to lose my only son?”
Herschel's heart softened and he forcibly held the person in his arms to comfort her, “I love you too, but Sallie has been with me for so many years, I cannot let her down.
“I can give you everything except the status. Don't you want to have a wedding? Let's go abroad at the end of the month, okay? Let Carlos be our witness.”
Dissatisfaction flashed across Liza's face, but she quickly concealed it, just cried and gave in in the end, “Herschel, I'm just afraid that you don't want me anymore. The last time you came to see me was a year ago. Do you love me less now that you have a child?”
“How could that be? I just wanted you to rest assured during the confinement period. Didn't I ask your mother to take care of you too? If I go on business trips more often, Sallie will inevitably become suspicious.”
As he spoke, he had already lifted Liza's head and kissed her.
“Not only do I miss you, my body also misses you, do you feel it?”
Watching the two of them kissing with each other and then hiding in a nearby room, I clenched my hands on the steering wheel suddenly and the string of reason in my mind completely broke.
It turned out that every time he went on a business trip, he would find an excuse to see Liza and even her mother knew about it.
Then what was I in the eyes of their family?
Was this a joke?
I looked at the rearview mirror and realized that I had tears streaming down my face without knowing when. I could not help but let out a miserable smile.
It turned out that five years of living together day and night and taking care of the in-laws was not as good as a romantic encounter after knowing each other for a year.
Since they were going to hold their wedding abroad, I would help them make their fake wedding come true!
After contacting my assistant to prepare the divorce agreement, I turned around and drove to the embassy without looking back.
Applying for Australian permanent residence was not difficult, especially for a family like mine.
In the past, I was willing to endure hardships with him for love. That time when I did not love him anymore, I naturally would not put myself in a difficult position anymore.
I got the documents that afternoon and was about to go home when I received a call and rushed to the orphanage.
“This is Carlos's information. He just turned one year old. I don't know which parents are so cruel. The child is obviously fine.
“Fortunately, he is lucky to meet a good person like you. He will only have a good life in the future.”
I looked at the information and my hand unconsciously went up to my stomach, feeling a little dazed.
I remembered when we just got married, we were lying in a small rental house and Herschel caressed my belly with his eyes full of love.
“Sallie, can we name our child Hensley from now on? I hope he will have great ambitions and inherit my career.”
At that time, I smiled and said, “I hope he can pursue the freedom of mountains and rivers and not suffer like us.”
“Okay! Then let’s call him Carlos.”
He knew clearly how much I wanted a child and how much love I had in welcoming him, but he still managed to cut off my hopes with his own hands and even gave the name to that illegitimate child.
I found it ridiculous to think that the child I had been waiting for five years died at the hands of his father.
I blinked back my tears and pushed the photo back as I said, “Sorry, it may take a week to complete the formalities.”
“What in a week?”
The door was pushed open, Herschel and Liza walked in side by side, with traces of joy on their faces.
Chapter 4
Looking at this face again, I just felt sick and turned my head away without answering.
Seeing this, the dean quickly tried to smooth things over, “Adopting a child is not a trivial matter. Many families would consider it again and again. Mrs. Herschel just wants to think about it again.”
Herschel frowned, walked up to me and held my shoulders, somewhat dissatisfied as he asked, “Sallie, didn't we agree on this? Why are you going back on your word?”
I smelled the perfume he used to cover up the smell and pushed him away expressionlessly.
“Where does that perfume come from?” I asked in a cold tone.
Herschel's face froze and he explained in a panic.
“I just ran into Liza, she's volunteering here and I had a conversation with her. I guess I got her perfume smell accidentally.”
Liza smiled and hooked her hair, revealing the kiss mark on her neck, then stretched out her hand towards me, pretending to be envious.
“Long time no see, old classmate. You are married to Herschel now. I guess you are living a happy life. But why do you look old?” she asked with a grin on her face.
I looked at her white and tender fingers doing manicures and then looked at my own hands covered with calluses from overwork and felt dazed.
When I was in school, I loved beauty the most and I would change my manicure every month. But after being with Herschel, I never dressed up properly again.
He had a bad stomach, so I learned how to cook and make soup. He was busy starting his own business, so I took care of all the housework.
How ridiculous!
In just five short years, I had been worn down by the daily necessities of life, but this had become an excuse for him to not love me.
Seeing that my expression was not right, Herschel gave Liza a warning look.
But in the end, he did not say anything and just changed the subject, “Sallie, why do you suddenly not want to adopt Carlos? I have already promised Mom that I would bring him home today.
“You know, Mom has always wanted to have a grandson. I cannot bear to disappoint her and it can also ease the family atmosphere.
“And Carlos is so young, how pitiful he is in the orphanage. Aren't you the kindest person? How could you bear to see another child suffer?”
“Enough!” I could not stand it anymore, so I slapped his hand away. The emotions I had been suppressing finally burst out and I yelled at him. “Who will feel sorry for my child? He is not even a month old, he did not even have a chance to be born!”
Without waiting for him to respond, I spoke firmly, “You can take Carlos home, but the formalities must be completed at the end of the month! I cannot bear to see another child appear under my name the day after I lost one.”
I would be divorced and leave at the end of the month, so they could make as much noise as they want.
When he heard the deadline of half a month, a trace of panic flashed across Herschel's face. He even suspected that I knew it all, but he quickly convinced himself that I was just too sad.
Thinking of the lost child, Herschel felt a little bit reluctant and agreed quickly, “Okay, we’ll come back at the end of the month to complete the formalities. Sallie, don't be sad anymore and don't worry about your health.”
After saying that, he smiled apologetically at Liza and said, “Sallie is not very emotionally stable, I need to take care of her. Thank you for taking Carlos with you. My mother also wanted to thank you for introducing Carlos to her.”
Liza glanced at me and gave a smug smile before answering, “It doesn't matter. I have not seen my aunt for a long time after all.”
When Herschel drove out, I subconsciously opened the passenger door, but touched Liza's hand.
Liza looked at me in surprise, then said embarrassedly while holding the child, “I feel carsick, could you please sit in the back?”
After saying that, he looked at Herschel with a look of grievance.
I did not move, but just smiled and asked, “Herschel, what do you choose?”
The man was silent for a few seconds and looked apologetic to me as he said, “Sallie, she is not feeling well, please let her go.”
I curled my lower lip in self-mockery, but also felt disappointed that it was just as I expected.
I suddenly remembered that when we bought the car, he enthusiastically labeled the passenger seat of all the cars as a wife-only seat and hugged me as he made the promise, “Sallie, my passenger seat is only open for you.”
At that time, those promises were no longer valid.
I watched Liza proudly sit in the passenger seat. The stickers in the front row were ironic and glaring. I just went to the back seat in silence.
I would not ask for any special seat anymore, since I would not ask for him anymore.
Chapter 5
“Sallie, don't you think Carlos and Herschel are destined to be together? They look so alike, your mother in-law will be very happy to see them, as if they were your biological children.”
When I heard her words, I looked up subconsciously, only to see Herschel frowning slightly with guilt. In the end, he just barked, “What nonsense! All children look alike.”
Liza pouted in dissatisfaction and continued her confrontation, “I’m just talking, Sallie, you won't be angry, right?”
“No,” I answered expressionlessly.
Herschel breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this and changed the subject. “By the way, I just saw you holding a document in your hand. What did you do this afternoon?”
Before I could answer, Liza interrupted, “Ah! The child seems hungry.”
Herschel really diverted his attention and did not ask any more questions until he got out of the car.
Along the way, the two of them talked and laughed from time to time, teased the children and their actions were intimate and familiar, completely different from the perfunctory attitude they showed when they were with me.
I closed my eyes and felt mocking. His love was so cheap.
Before entering the villa, Liza suddenly found an excuse to take a few steps behind and whispered in my ear provocatively, “Sallie, I will take away everything that belongs to you bit by bit!”
I stood outside the door and watched a group of people come up to greet her with smiles, as if they were a family.
My mother in-law, who used to speak ill of me and looked down on me in every way, was that moment teasing Carlos in Liza's arms, with a kind look on her face.
My father in-law, who had not given me a good face for a long time, smiled and took out an envelope, stuffed it into Liza's arms.
I suddenly remembered that a long time ago, when they learned that I had agreed to Herschel’s proposal, they did the same thing.
At that time, Herschel’s mother held my hand and was so excited that she did not know what to say.
“Sallie, you are a good girl. You have been wronged by following us, Herschel. From now on, we will be your parents and will always treat you as our own daughter.”
However, after my parents went abroad in anger and Herschel successfully started his own business, they changed their attitude.
Over the years, I had endured all the quarrels and covert ridicules.
I loved Herschel and did not want him to be caught in the middle, so I tolerated and tried to please them everywhere.
I thought that even if their hearts were like ice, I could warm them up.
But it turned out that this family had hidden iron under the ice.
Herschel surrounded his family with a look of happiness on his face, but he quickly realized something and looked towards the door anxiously.
Seeing me staring at them blankly, with no light in my eyes, my heart ached suddenly.
Herschel walked up to me and pulled me over, asking cautiously, “What's wrong? Are you unhappy? Mom is just too happy and thinking that she is a classmate, she invited Liza to have dinner with her.”
Without waiting for me to say anything, Herschel’s mother interrupted me with disdain, “What's there to be unhappy about? She cannot give birth to a child and won't let me hold a grandchild?
“Herschel, you really spoil her too much. She eats and lives in our house and yet she dares to throw a tantrum.
“Go out and see which daughter-in-law is not doing anything like her. Liza is here today, so let Sallie cook!”
I subconsciously looked at Herschel, but saw that he was as silent as ever and I could not help but laugh at myself.
If he really loved me, why would he have seen me humble myself so many times? But I never doubted it before.
Not wanting to cause any more trouble, I did not argue and turned to go to the kitchen.
When the meal was served on the table, the family was already seated.
Liza smiled and asked me to sit down, acting like a hostess as she said, “Sallie, sit down and eat too. I remember you loved this the most.”
The next second, a few more shrimps appeared in the bowl.
I was silent for a moment and put the shrimp on the plate.
“I don't eat this.”
Liza's eyes instantly turned red and she looked helpless and aggrieved as she asked, “Do you hate me so much? You don't even want to eat the shrimp I peeled.”
Herschel’s mother could not help but slam her spoon and stood up, her face full of disgust.
“What do you want? Liza means well. Do you really want to ruin our happiness? Get out if you don't want to eat!” she yelled.
Herschel also frowned and looked at me with disapproval, as if I was being unreasonable.
“Sallie, why are you so hostile to Liza? She introduced Carlos to us and has done a great service to our family, but you keep throwing tantrums against her. She is innocent!” he snapped.
I guessed they loved Liza just because she was giving birth to Carlos. So, when I looked at this big family, I just found it ridiculous.
I actually laughed out loud and questioned him despite everyone's surprised looks, “Herschel, do you remember that I am severely allergic to shrimp?”
When he ordered pasta, he would specifically ask the store not to put shrimps in it and he would even avoid eating seafood.
He said that everything about me was a big deal, but then he had forgotten it.
Herschel felt flustered at first, then thought I was making a big deal out of nothing and his face turned ugly as he responded, “It's just a minor allergy, it won't kill anyone, why bother to embarrass Liza on the spot.”
I took a deep breath, put down my spoon and walked away.
But he stopped me with a disappointed tone, “Sallie, how did you become so selfish and cold-blooded now?! I know you feel bad about losing your child, but what does it have to do with them? Eat that shrimp as an apology!”
“Even though I might die?”
Chapter 6
Hearing my tearful question, Herschel became even angrier. He pinched my mouth and stuffed shrimp meat into it.
“Sallie, stop being so petty. How can you die from a simple allergy?”
I struggled desperately and choked to tears, but I still accidentally swallowed a few and my throat felt sore and swollen.
In the last moment before I fell into a coma, I saw Liza’s smug smile and Herschel’s slightly indifferent expression.
When I woke up again, I found myself lying on a hospital bed and my stomach had been washed.
Seeing Liza standing in front of me, I looked out the window with a pale face.
“You’ve already won their hearts, is not that enough?” I asked.
“Of course it's not enough!” Liza no longer concealed her true colors and slapped me hard with her answer.
Seeing me turn my head away in sadness, she felt very happy.
“Sallie, do you know how jealous I am of you? I love Herschel as much as you do, so why cannot he see me before? But now it's different, I'm the only one in his heart.
“Oh yeah, do you know why you can't get pregnant?”
I looked at her in disbelief.
Liza suddenly laughed out loud, as if she felt sorry for me and looked down at me condescendingly.
“How silly! Of course he did something behind your back. The injections your family doctor gave you every day were not nutritional injections at all, but were to prevent pregnancy! I did not expect you to get pregnant in the end, but so what? Your baby is still dead.”
“No, he won't do that!” I covered my ears and shook my head frantically and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.
“Why wouldn't he?” Liza pried my wrists apart with resentment in her tone. “You obviously can't have children, but why is he still unwilling to divorce you and make me his wife? Is it just because of that ridiculous responsibility? Sallie, why don't you just die!
“In that case, don't blame me for coming to get it myself!”
She suddenly screamed and rushed towards the window without hesitation.
Accompanied by the sound of breaking glass, Herschel hurried in and saw Liza lying in a pool of blood, unconscious.
He looked at me sitting on the bed and coughing awkwardly and for the first time his eyes turned red with anxiety.
“Liza came here because she wanted to apologize to you. Why did you hurt her? Is there something you can't explain clearly?
“Sallie, why are you so vicious now!”
After saying that, he picked up Liza and left without looking back.
I looked at my swollen cheeks reflected in the glass and could not help laughing.
I could not stop laughing at my former blind self.
At this moment, there was no greater sorrow than a dead heart.
In just a moment, the ward next door became lively. I heard the family asking Liza about her health and sending the hospital address to the lawyer, asking her to send the divorce agreement.
In the evening, when Herschel came over with a sullen face, I handed him the signed page with an expressionless face as I stated, “I can apologize to Liza, please sign this.”
Herschel was stunned for a moment. We had been together for so many years, but I had never asked him for anything.
Just as he was about to see what this document was, I heard Herschel’s mother's exclamation from outside, “Liza is awake!”
He did not bother to read it anymore, he signed hastily, pulled me up and said coldly, “Now, go and apologize to Liza!”
I did not care about his attitude. I just put the contract away, smiled with relief and followed him to the next room.
As soon as I arrived at Liza's ward, I saw a nurse running out to ask questions, “Who has type B blood? The patient has injured her aorta and needs blood urgently.”
Herschel was stunned for a moment and subconsciously looked at me. Seeing my pale face, he hesitated for a moment.
But when he thought of Liza, whose life or death was unknown, he said cruelly, “Sallie has it. Please do it, Liza must not get into any trouble!”
Before I even had time to react, he pushed me over to sit down and then someone hurriedly gave me a needle in my wrist.
I was already weak after having my gastric lavage and then someone forcibly drew my blood and my face turned pale instantly.
Seeing this, the nurse could not help but remind him, “Is this person feeling unwell? If we continue to draw her blood, her life may be in danger. Are you sure you want to continue?”
Chapter 7
Herschel glanced at the closed operating room and nodded anxiously.
“Why are you hesitating? Hurry up and save her. I'm her husband. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong!”
Even though I had seen it clearly, I still could not help trembling at this moment. He did not care about my life at all!
As if sensing my gaze, Herschel was silent for a moment, but still comforted me without taking it seriously, “Sallie, it's just a blood draw, nothing will happen. Besides, this incident was caused by you, we can't just ignore it.”
I closed my eyes, feeling more powerless and exhausted than heartache.
As time passed, my face turned paler and paler, as if I was going to faint in the next second. However, Herschel was immersed in worry and did not react at all.
Not long after, Liza was pushed out and Herschel hurriedly followed, without a word of concern from beginning to end.
I was thrown in the corridor. I felt sick watching the family having fun, but in the end, I was just discharged with the contract.
Herschel had to take care of Liza and had not been home for several days.
I cleared out my belongings in the villa bit by bit, selling what could be sold and donating what could not be sold.
Liza would send me provocative messages from time to time, sometimes even including photos.
[Thank you for your blood, but I think it's dirty, so I've thrown it away. Sallie, your life is so worthless. I just bribed the doctor to make a joke and he drained your blood for me.]
[Auntie gave me a bracelet today, saying it was a family heirloom that would only be passed down to her daughter-in-law. How come everyone only likes me, while you, the real owner, are disliked by everyone? How pitiful.]
[The entire hospital was filled with traces of the intimacy between Hershel and I. Can't you satisfy him? He said he would take me to the beach for the wedding next week. He gave me everything you did not have.]
I did not reply, but saved all the information and waited to give them a surprise at their wedding.
A day later, Liza was discharged from the hospital and Herschel also returned to the villa.
He asked with a frown, noticing that it was much emptier inside.
“What happened at home?”
I did not want to waste any more words, so I just dealt with it casually, “Too many things, so I cleaned it up and donated some.”
Herschel was obviously just asking casually and did not care. He just put away his things and looked apologetic as he said, “Sallie, I'm going on a business trip for a few days. I'll be back to be with you before our wedding anniversary.
“I'm sorry for hurting you in a hurry. I've asked the nutritionist to rearrange your meals. Take good care of yourself. I'll hold a wedding for you when I come back, okay?”
I sneered in my heart, ‘Is it because you and Liza are holding your wedding abroad this time and will have some experience now so you can come back and deal with me?’
I did not know why Herschel suddenly felt a little flustered, as if he could no longer see love in my eyes.
Thinking of what happened before, he suppressed his uneasiness and felt sorry.
This time he was the one who let me down. After settling Liza and Carlos, he would come back and live a good life with her.
It was not until Herschel left that I looked up at the photo of the two of us hanging in the living room. I took it down and lit it with a lighter until it completely disappeared without a trace.
I once thought that love was indestructible, but it turned out to be just like this.
In the afternoon, I got my divorce certificate and booked a flight abroad.
I had collected the information sent by Liza and sent them to the hacker. Then I packed my suitcase and took a taxi away.
At the airport, Herschel’s parents were holding Carlos and chatting in front, while Herschel was walking behind with his arm around Liza, his face full of happiness.
The next second, he suddenly saw a figure resembling me disappearing in the crowd and he felt uneasy.
‘Isn't she at the villa? Why is she at the airport?’ he wondered.
When he wanted to look for me again, I was gone.
Herschel frowned and was about to chase after me when Liza grabbed his sleeve and said, “Herschel, what's wrong? It's time for us to board the plane.”
He took one last look over there, but did not see me. He just shook his head, thinking it was an illusion and led Liza over.
“You said you wanted to wear that custom-made wedding dress. I've already sent someone to deliver it. Can you please go over there and try it on for me later?”
Liza gave him a shy look.
“So, you want to watch me try it on? Okay, I can wear it for you tomorrow night.”
I stood in the corner, watched the two of them leave affectionately, then turned and went to another boarding gate, going in the opposite direction.
This time, I want to leave completely and never come back, and from now on I will pursue the most beautiful and best self!
Chapter 8
Herschel was not aware of my movements and was completely immersed in the land of pleasure.
In the next few days, like all newlyweds, he and Liza prepared for the wedding with great anticipation.
Since she loved beauty, he spent a lot of money to have someone customize a hand-sewn wedding dress for her.
Since she liked diamond rings, he took her to an auction and risked everything to win the eternal heart.
Since she liked to be high-profile, he sent invitations to relatives and friends, inviting them to attend under the name of re-holding the wedding for his wife.
Until the day before the wedding, friends from Canada arrived one after another and when they saw this scene, they could not help but remind, “Herschel, you’re making such a big fuss, aren't you afraid that Sallie will find out?”
Herschel was stunned for a moment, then he realized that I had not sent him a single message during all the days he was abroad.
He picked up his phone and took a look. The chat interface was still stuck on the text message he had sent.
[Sallie, I got off the plane.]
Herschel suddenly felt a little uneasy. I usually greeted him good morning and good night and cared about how he ate when he was out and whether he was dressed warmly.
Thinking of my abnormal behavior in the past few days, he was silent for a moment, suppressing the panic in his heart.
“No, Sallie is in Canada preparing for our wedding anniversary and won't notice what's going on abroad.”
His friend's eyes had a complicated look, as if he wanted to say something, but when he saw his confident expression, he changed his words, “Liza is not the kind of person who is content with what she has. If this matter is exposed, can you accept Sallie leaving you?”
Herschel felt confused for no reason; he had never thought of this possibility.
He was my first love. I spent almost my entire youth on him. I even broke up with my family just to be with him.
I was alone and helpless in the country. Where could I go?
But my friend's words were like a sharp blade, cutting through the seemingly peaceful surface.
If I really left, would he be able to accept it?
Accept that I was no longer full of love, no longer around him and no one would light a light for him when he returned to the villa.
A huge panic swept over him and before Herschel could think about it, Liza's delicate cry suddenly came from a distance, “Herschel! What are you doing? Come over here and help me zip up my dress!”
Herschel agreed subconsciously, clenched his fists to suppress the inexplicable panic, then turned his head and looked at his friend coldly as he said, “Don't you dare to say bad things about Liza anymore. She's just too happy to have her wedding.
“Also, Sallie has been with me for so many years, she won't be willing to leave me, I will give her everything she deserves.”
Watching his back as he left, his friend could not help frowning. “Since he loves Liza, why is he reluctant to divorce Sallie? What does he think of her?
“He just determined that Sallie would not find out, but... what if she knew?”
He sighed heavily, hoping that Herschel would not regret it in the future.
His friend's words left a mark in his heart after all. On the wedding day, seeing that Herschel was a little absent-minded, Liza's eyes flashed with a hint of dissatisfaction and she asked with concern.
“Herschel, are you feeling unwell? The ceremony is about to begin.”
Then she looked at him shyly, “I'm so happy to wear a wedding dress for you. I don't care even if there is no status, as long as we can be together forever.”
Herschel came back to his senses and his heart softened when he heard her words.
“Liza, I'm sorry for putting you in such a difficult position. I will do my best to satisfy whatever you want, except for the status.”
After saying that, he touched her head again with a doting tone.
“Let's go, it's time.”
Liza smiled and shook his hand, then opened the door and walked onto the stage.
“Excuse me, Mr. Herschel, are you willing to marry Miss Liza?”
As the host asked questions, the big screen at the back lit up.
The next second, the guests seemed to have seen something and suddenly burst into a noise.
“Is not this Mrs. Jones? Did not Mr. Jones invite us to attend the wedding for his wife? How can she be his mistress?”
“No wonder he never let his wife show up. It turns out he's keeping a mistress outside and even has a child with her. Mrs. Jones is so miserable.”
“How shameless! She was a legal wife when he started my business, but now that things are better, he dumped her.”
“This family is full of ruthless people.”
The discussion became louder and louder. Herschel seemed to realize something. He turned his head to look at the big screen and his face turned pale instantly.
The screen was filled with photos of him and Liza making out, even Liza's one-sided provocations all along.
After seeing those conversations clearly, Herschel's blood rushed to his head and he felt dizzy.
Seeing that he did not respond, Liza screamed and rushed forward, trying to cover her body and cursed at the staff, “What are you standing there for? Turn it off!”
The staff member explained with a bitter face, “The computer was hacked and we cannot turn it off.”
“Then unplug it!”
The guests in the audience had already reacted and started to take pictures with their phones raised.
Liza was like a madman, cursing and throwing their phones away, “No filming! Get out! No filming! Herschel, say something!”
But Herschel just stood there in a daze, feeling panic in his heart. ‘So, Sallie knows? When does she know?’
Chapter 9
There was a buzzing sound in his head and the string called reason completely broke. Without caring about this farce, he hurriedly booked the fastest flight back home and left the entire wedding behind.
Some scenes from the past kept flashing through Herschel's mind.
In winter, we huddled together for warmth in the rental house; when we started our business, I found ways to make soup for him every day to supplement his nutrition; before going to work every day, we would exchange a good morning kiss.
I was a teetotaler, but I could drink until my stomach bled in order to get him business. I did not like socializing, but I would take the initiative to make friends with those rich ladies to maintain relationships.
All of these scenes that he was once accustomed to suddenly came to his mind, making Herschel feel nervous.
As soon as the car arrived at the villa, he rushed in impatiently, but what greeted him was a cold and lonely air.
The living room was empty. The group photo on the wall was gone, my part of the clothes hanger was gone and even the slippers placed at the door were left with only one pair.
The feeling of uneasiness in his heart grew stronger and stronger. Herschel, standing on the second floor, suddenly became too timid to step forward.
He pushed open the bedroom door and his pupils shrank suddenly after seeing the scene inside.
The wardrobe was wide open and there was nothing inside.
The bottles and jars that once filled her dresser were all gone.
My usual suitcase placed in the corner also disappeared.
The whole room was so clean that there was no trace of my presence.
He could no longer deceive himself, so he grabbed the butler who had rushed over and questioned him angrily, “Where is she? I'm asking where my wife is?!”
The butler lowered his head cautiously, his voice nervous as he explained, “Madam has been missing for several days. I thought she came to see you, so I did not ask about it. It was only when I came up to tidy up the room just now that I found out that she had run away from home.
“I tried to contact Madam, but she seemed to have changed all her contact information. I also found this wedding ring on the table….”
“No, that's impossible!” Herschel interrupted him forcefully, his face pale but he forced a smile. “Are you kidding? Asking Sallie to come out to see me, is this a surprise she prepared for our wedding anniversary? It's not funny at all!”
The butler felt a little reluctant, but still burst into his fantasy. “Sir, your wife has really left.”
Herschel took a few steps back in disbelief, covering his head in pain.
“No, Sallie loves me so much, how could she abandon me and leave?! Fake, all this is fake!”
Herschel took out his mobile phone with trembling hands and dialed my number, but only heard a cold mechanical voice.
“Sorry, the number you dialed is turned off！”
