Chapter 11

Maria slowly walked up to Jonathan.

"These past few years, it must have been hard for you to be my son."

Hearing her speak softly, Jonathan almost wanted to laugh, but he forced himself to maintain a stern face.

"I haven't been a good mother. I forced you to do your homework, stopped you from playing video games, and didn't let you eat too much ice cream or junk food. I took away your freedom. Don't worry. From now on, I won't micromanage you anymore. If you like Eleanor so much, go ask her to be your mom. I don't mind at all," Maria said seriously, as if this was her final farewell.

Her days were indeed numbered.

A liar for a husband, a son who resented her. Her life was a complete and utter failure.

Jonathan's face fell, and his brows knitted tightly. "Mom, you're just saying this on purpose because you're angry, right?"

Maria averted her gaze, her voice cold. "No, I mean it. If you go call Eleanor 'Mom' right now, I won't mind at all. Just pretend I never gave birth to you."

With that, she turned around and hurried away.

After she left, Jonathan stood there stunned, a wave of panic rising in his chest. He suddenly wanted to cry. Being left behind by Maria felt like being abandoned by the whole world.

Then, his smartwatch rang.

When he saw Eleanor calling, his face brightened instantly, all his fear forgotten. He answered with a smile, "Eleanor!"

As Maria was about to get in the car, she heard Jonathan's happy greeting. She paused for a moment, then got in without looking back.

At the bar, she made her way through the dim hallway. Just outside the private room, she noticed the door was half open. Inside, Richard was drinking with a group of friends. The room was bustling and booming with laughter.

"Richard's living the good life! His dream girl is back!"

"Yeah, we heard it. Your true love is back again, right?"

"Wife at home, a mistress outside… If it were me, I wouldn't know who to choose, either!"

Richard's back was to the door, and Maria couldn't see his face. Even so, he didn't deny it or stop any of their jokes. She turned away, her face pale.

After all the years married to Richard, it always felt like there was something between them, no matter how hard she tried.

He was good to her, yes. Unlike the cold personality he had when they first met, he was usually quite gentle and warm. And yet, every time she brought up their anniversary, he always dodged the topic. She used to think he just wasn't romantic.

Now, she finally understood what it was.

It was guilt.

Whenever she mentioned celebrating their anniversary, what was really on Richard's mind? Was he thinking about his real anniversary with Eleanor?

Maria's hand tightened around the jewelry box, her knuckles turning white.

"Overheard something, did you?"

She turned to find Trent standing behind her, hands in his pockets. His expression was one of amusement.

Maria pressed her lips together and handed him the jewelry box. "Your girlfriend left this necklace at our place last time. I brought it for you."

"Thanks. This might be the last time I refer to you as Richard's wife," Trent said, half-smiling as he took the box. "Eleanor's back. You know she's the one Richard really loves."

Maria wasn't surprised by his bluntness.

"I used to think maybe they weren't meant to be in the past, so I showed you respect because you have Richard's kid. But you've got to know your place," Trent said.

Looking at Trent's mocking expression, Maria suddenly felt like everything had changed. From the moment she learned about Eleanor, her husband, her son, and everyone around her had started to abandon her.

As if she were just a substitute that didn't matter in the end.

Suddenly, Maria smiled.

Trent was caught off guard and looked her up and down. "What's so funny?"

Her smile turned into a sneer. "You all think I clung to Richard, that I schemed my way into marriage and motherhood, right? And you assume that, even if Eleanor comes back, I'll do anything to stay."

"Isn't that true?" Trent asked.

Maria looked at him, more serious than ever. As if using up the last of her strength, she said, "I'll disappear for good. Soon, Maria Brooks won't be in your world anymore."

With that, Maria turned and left, leaving Trent in shock.

She had spent seven years giving everything, just because she loved Richard. After learning that there was only betrayal and lies in Richard's attitude toward her, she had no problem taking her love back.

Her time was running out. A quarter of her life was wasted on a fake marriage.

Now, Maria just wanted to be free and leave this place soon. Erase the title of Mrs. Shaw, and go back to being the successful and carefree Maria Brooks she used to be.

She was going to treat this as waking up from a seven-year nightmare.

Outside, she took a deep breath of fresh air, glancing at the streetlights across the road. They blurred and faded in her eyes, and when she waved her hand, even her own palm came in and out of focus despite being so close.

She remembered the doctor's words.

Raised pressure in her head, nausea, vomiting, nosebleeds…these were just the early symptoms. Next would be blurred vision, and eventually, paralysis if her motor nerves were compressed.

Was it getting worse already? How long until the day she would suddenly wake up paralyzed?

Thinking of her brother overseas, still in the dark, Maria grew desperate to go home.

With a sigh, she stepped toward the curb to hail a cab.

The streetlight shone on her, but she didn't feel its glow. Her vision just kept getting darker and blurrier, until suddenly, she collapsed…

-

When Maria woke up, the first thing she smelled was the scent of disinfectant, followed by a white ceiling and an IV bag above her head. She traced the tube down to see Richard holding her hand, dozing at her bedside.

It had been so long since she had looked at Richard this quietly and so up close.

Seven years of marriage… He only looked more handsome and steady with time, untouched by the passing of time. She, on the other hand, was gaunt and weak, pale as a dying tree.

Something twisted in her heart, and her fingertips twitched.

Richard immediately woke with a start. Meeting her blank gaze, his heart skipped.

"You're awake," he said, bringing over some food and a box of crab apple cookies. "Eat something, you must be hungry."

Maria stared at the dessert. He must have queued up for it all night to get it this early.

She used to be moved by things like this—but now, nothing. When your marriage was fake, how could you believe his gestures were genuine at all?

Maria turned away. "Take it away, I'm not hungry."

Her voice was icy, her mood obviously bad.

Richard felt pain in his chest. Thinking about how Maria had collapsed outside the bar, his eyes darkened. He hesitated, then squeezed her hand.

"Trent said you brought him something. Why didn't you come into the private room to find me? Or…did you overhear something, and that's why you fainted?"