Chapter 4

On the afternoon of our anniversary, I rolled my suitcase out of the guest room.

A text came through from Harry, saying he was going to pick Evelyn up from class and would meet me at the restaurant.

I placed a credit card on the coffee table.

It was a secondary card he had insisted on shoving into my hands years ago, after I used my inheritance to bail his company out of debt.

Beneath the card rested my house key.

I took one last look around the house I had lived in for three years. The sharp corners of the tables were still neatly wrapped in soft foam padding.

Those were once proof of his love for me. Now, they looked more like a cruel mockery.

I pulled my suitcase behind me, shut the door, and caught a cab to the hospital.

The check-in process was tedious. The nurse held up a stack of forms, frowning as she asked for signatures.

“Where’s your family? A procedure like this requires a signature from an immediate relative or spouse.”

I picked up the pen and signed my name on the line.

“I don’t have any family.”

“That goes against standard procedure. If severe internal bleeding occurs during surgery—”

“If anything goes wrong, I voluntarily waive resuscitation. I bear full personal responsibility.”

I slid my ID and credit card across the counter.

“I’ve already spoken with Dr. Wayne. He understands my situation.”

The nurse let out a soft sigh and pressed no further, quietly processing my paperwork.

After changing into a hospital gown, I lay on the bed, waiting for pre-op prep.

My phone screen lit up with text messages from Harry.

“Jane, have you left the house yet? Evelyn got spooked by the thunder. Her astraphobia is acting up.

“I gotta take her to a mental health clinic now.

“I’ve kept our reservation at the restaurant. Go ahead with dinner. I’ll swing by later if I can.”

I looked up through the window at the sky, which had suddenly darkened. There wasn’t a single rumble of thunder.

Staring at the words on the screen, I tapped his contact and blocked him.

Once that was done, I powered off the phone and stored it inside the bedside drawer.

The nurse pushed the door open and stepped in.

“Mrs. Parker, are you ready? We’re taking you into the operating room now.”

I gave a gentle nod.

“My last name isn’t Parker. It’s Morris.”

The nurse paused, glancing down at my chart.

“My apologies, Ms. Jane Morris. Let’s head in.”

The heavy doors of the operating room slowly swung shut before me.

As the icy fluid drifted into my veins through the IV line, I let my eyes close.

For the first time in a very long time, I could finally catch a full night’s sleep.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Harry walked out of a shopping mall alongside Evelyn.

She held several designer shopping bags in her hands, her face beaming with delight.

“Harry, thank you for coming with me to pick out clothes! Jane’s waiting at the restaurant all by herself—do you think she’ll get mad?”

Harry checked his phone. Seeing no reply, he knit his brows slightly.

“She won’t be. She’s much more sensible of late.”

He dialed my number.

“The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable...”

Three calls in a row ended with the exact same automated message.

A shadow fell on Harry’s face.

“She’s throwing a fit again.”

He slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“Let’s head home now. She’ll cool off eventually.”

When the two of them arrived back at the house, no lights were on.

Harry flipped the light switch, his eyes instinctively scanning the living room.

There, sitting quietly on the coffee table, lay the credit card and the house key.

Harry’s eyes widened. He strode over in long steps, snatching the key from the table.

Whirling around, he bolted into the guest room.

The closet doors hung half-open, completely hollowed out. Every single old outfit that belonged to me was gone.

The bed was made with pristine perfection, not a wrinkle in the sheets.

Harry froze where he stood, the key slipping from his numb fingers and clattering onto the floor.