C03
I held onto the car door to steady myself, fighting back the pain. But Yzail’s impatience was evident. “Lanaya, forgiveness is divine. Zolenn has already paid the price. Are you trying to drive her to death?”
His voice echoed the same concern he once had for me when I was covered in blood after Zolenn’s attack. Now, that same worry was directed toward her. What had changed? What made him turn against me and defend her?
Summoning the last of my strength, I told him,
“You’re right. Either she severs her own tendons or dies. Otherwise, I will never forgive her!”
The veins in Yzail’s forehead bulged, his frustration visible. Back when he had called Zolenn a vicious woman for hurting me, he had looked the same.
“She can’t play the piano anymore. Do you really need to be this cruel? I don’t want a fiancée who’s seen as heartless. If you keep holding onto grudges like this, no wonder you don’t have any friends!”
His words, filled with venom, pierced through me. The disgust on his face–how could I have missed it all this time?
So, this was what I had become in his eyes: the cold, friendless woman, while Zolenn became the misunderstood victim of a “thoughtless mistake.”
The man who once vowed to protect me with his life no longer stood by my side. He was gone.
Overcome by pain in my abdomen, I collapsed. Yzail caught me just in time and noticed the bloodstains on my dress. His expression softened as realization dawned on him.
“Now I get it. You’re just upset because you’re on your period, aren’t you? Alright, I won’t push you to apologize today, but don’t act so unreasonable next time.”
Barely able to speak, I whispered, “Take me to the hospital…”
Still thinking I was suffering from menstrual pain, he rummaged through the car for painkillers.
Meanwhile, Zolenn knelt before me, putting on a show of guilt.
“I’m sorry, Lanaya. I didn’t mean to make you so angry!” But before she could complete the act, Yzail rushed over to lift her up.
“Why are you kneeling to her?” he scolded her gently.
Then he turned to me, his voice sharp. “Lanaya, haven’t you caused enough trouble today? You don’t want her to curse herself by kneeling to you, do you?”
As Zolenn feigned fainting in Yzail’s arms, I saw him panic the way he once did for me.
But this time, it was for her.
While he sped through red lights to rush Zolenn to the hospital, I lay on the ground, consumed by the pain and silence.
Later, in the emergency room, the doctor informed me that I needed to be admitted to protect the baby.
I reflexively dialed Yzail’s number, only to realize how ingrained that habit was. Luckily, he didn’t pick up.
After ten years of love, we had finally become strangers.
“No need to save it,” I told the doctor. “I want the surgery today.”
When I awoke after the procedure, my uncle had already arranged a plane ticket for me. The flight was on the day of Yzail’s wedding.
Seven days left–just enough time to leave everything behind. Yzail was right about one thing: life moves forward. From this moment on, I would cut myself off from all the happiness and pain of the past.
