Chapter 5

Abigail said over the phone, "Honey, I'll be entertaining clients late tonight. Go to sleep first. Don't wait up for me."

The next second, Noah sent me a photo of Abigail's back as she showered. My heart, which was already deeply wounded, started bleeding all over again.

Holding back my tears, I calmly began packing my luggage. At 7:00 am tomorrow, Mom would be picking me up at the airport.

Looking around the home I'd lived in for ten years, I realized I no longer felt the slightest bit of attachment.

Early the next morning, I left for the airport just before 5:00 am. I wanted to get away from this home as quickly as possible.

While I waited for Mom at the stairwell of the airport, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind me. "Lorne, so you really were pretending to be blind."

My heart skipped a beat as I turned around.

It was Noah.

Dropping his disguise, he kicked my wheelchair and sneered. "Tsk. Don't tell me you're pretending to be crippled too?"

Seeing me gripping the armrests tightly and realizing that I truly couldn't walk, he burst into gleeful laughter.

He said, "They only broke your legs. I really do regret not having the kidnappers kill you!"

My head snapped up. "You hired the kidnappers?"

Noah laughed even more brazenly. "What do you think?"

Narrowing his eyes, he traced the scars on my face with his fingertip.

He mocked mercilessly, "Even the only thing you had going for you, your face, has been ruined. What do you have left to compete with me? I'll just tell you the truth. Once Abby has a child for me, I'll replace you.

"But now you're planning to leave without a word so that Abigail will regret what she did, aren't you? You're trying to play that push-and-pull stunt, huh? Ha! Dream on!"

Suddenly, Noah's eyes turned glacial.

In the instant I let my guard down, he suddenly slashed his own face with a knife. Then, he forcibly dragged me with him and tumbled down three flights of stairs.

His lips curling up into a sinister smile, Noah said to me, "I want Abigail to hate you. I want her to hate you for the rest of her life!"

By the time I came to my senses, Abigail was holding Noah tightly in her arms.

She cried anxiously, "Noey? Noey!"

Blood covering his face, Noah broke down in heart-wrenching sobs.

He sniveled, "Abby, my face is ruined… It's ruined! It was Lorne! Lorne said I stole his position as principal performer, so he wanted to drag us both to our deaths!"

My entire body ached because of the injuries from the fall. A warm stream slowly trickled down from my forehead.

I raised a hand to wipe it away. It was blood.

In the past, even the smallest scratch on me would have left Abigail heartbroken for days. But now, she merely helped Noah to his feet and looked at me lying on the cold floor with hatred in her eyes.

She spoke to me as if I were a complete stranger. "I never imagined your jealousy would drive you to do something so wicked! We've been husband and wife for ten years. I can't believe I misjudged you!

"Noey chased after you because he was worried about your safety, and this is how you repay him—by ruining his face! Did you want him to end up performing from a wheelchair just like you?

"And why did you come to the airport? If you're so determined to leave me, fine. Don't ever come back for the rest of your life!"

Abigail's tone was unrelentingly aggressive. Meanwhile, Noah cried pitifully in her arms.

The people around us looked on coldly. They cursed me for being vicious, calling me an ugly freak and saying that I was insane. It was as if I'd committed some unforgivable crime.

But Abigail had forgotten she was the one who cheated first. She was the one who had my legs broken. On top of that, she was the one who had my face disfigured.

And now, she was blaming me for the wound on Noah's face!

Watching Abigail walk away without looking back, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

I thought, "Don't worry, Abigail. I will never come back in this lifetime."

At 7:00 am, Mom arrived just as she promised. When she saw me lying in a pool of blood, she nearly collapsed. I told her everything that had happened over the past few days. She held me and broke down in tears.

I patted her back gently.

With the last of my strength, I said, "Mom, let's go. I never want to come back again."

Before I boarded the plane, I sent the divorce agreement to Abigail. Just as I was about to turn off my phone, it suddenly began vibrating nonstop.

I ignored it and turned off my phone.