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It All Ends the Same
It All Ends the Same
Author: Cookie

Chapter 1

Author: Cookie
The procedure was over quickly, but the pain was far worse than I had anticipated.

I found myself absentmindedly touching my now-flat stomach.

There had been a life once.

The brief bond I shared with this child felt like a nightmare I couldn’t wake from.

For five months, I endured my husband’s cold indifference and impatience and Macy Ericson’s smug provocations. Every night, the tension would haunt my dreams, leaving me drenched in cold sweat.

Now, though, it was over.

That tiny life inside me had saved me.

After three days of recovery at the hospital, I was finally discharged.

Yet, as I stepped out, my husband, Randall Harris, was waiting at the entrance. He held a bouquet of champagne roses, my favorite.

The moment he saw me, he draped a coat over my shoulders. "It’s cold out. Why are you dressed so little?"

He offered the roses to me. “Do you like them?”

I knew what he was doing, offering me a way to smooth things over.

It was our unspoken rule: when one of us upset the other, a favorite gift was meant to act as an apology and compensation.

In the past, I would’ve been easy to appease. A simple gesture from Randall and I’d have come running back like a puppy desperate for affection.

However, the sight of him just disgusted me now.

This man didn’t deserve to be my child’s father.

Two weeks ago, he’d invited me to a company party.

When I arrived, I found a crowd of men and women completely drunk, sprawled across the lounge.

Macy was seated comfortably on Randall’s lap, gazing at him with sultry eyes. Their faces were so close their lips nearly touched. The air between them was electric.

The moment they noticed me, the mood shifted. A few people looked away awkwardly, as if my presence had ruined their fun.

Macy immediately scrambled off Randall, avoiding my gaze like a guilty child.

In a fit of rage, I smashed everything in the lounge.

Randall didn’t hesitate. He slapped me across the face and threw me out.

I stumbled down the busy streets, eventually collapsing on the sidewalk. A kind stranger found me and brought me to the hospital.

When I woke up, the doctor said my baby’s condition wasn’t good.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. How could a child conceived in such a loveless, toxic environment ever thrive?

I tried calling Randall, hoping we could talk things through. I called nine times, but no one answered.

On the tenth try, Macy picked up.

“Ms. Nara, Mr. Harris is busy. He’s asked not to be disturbed by anyone.”

She emphasized the word “anyone”.

What kind of wife had to go through her husband’s assistant just to reach him?

I hung up without a word and made an appointment for the abortion.

Macy’s actions didn’t happen in a vacuum. They were with Randall’s full consent.

Together, they robbed me of my child, stole my chance at motherhood, and expected to sweep it all under the rug like nothing ever happened.

Did they really think my child’s life was so insignificant?

I took the bouquet from Randall and threw it into the nearest trash can without hesitation.

“Randall, I don’t want your disgusting flowers.”
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  • It All Ends the Same   Chapter 10

    “I let you down.”I nodded, not denying it. “Sign the papers. We’re adults. No need to make this uglier than it already is.” Randall slid the divorce agreement across the table. “I’ve made some changes. The house, the car, the shares in the company are all yours. I don’t want anything.” He chuckled bitterly. “When you’re the one who screwed up, you don’t get to make demands.” Without hesitation, I signed my name. I didn’t worry about Randall ending up on the streets. Why waste concern on someone unworthy of it? After all, I’m a tough, no-nonsense woman. “See you in court next Monday at 9 a.m.”…On the way home, I spotted Macy looking worse for wear. Ever since Randall kicked her out of Harrison and blacklisted her in the industry, Macy had struggled to find a foothold. She’d once been Randall’s favorite, parachuted into a senior assistant role. Now, with no skills or education to back her up, life had turned harsh. An older woman was berating Macy. “You’ve been he

  • It All Ends the Same   Chapter 9

    Randall had always thrived under the adoration of fresh, innocent eyes—girls too young to see the cracks in his facade. However, I had been there through his darkest days. Looking at me was like looking into a mirror he didn’t want to face. Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to divorce me. To Randall, I and the child we lost were still his "real" family. Macy was just a distraction. He thought he’d hidden his feelings well, but he didn’t know Macy’s plans. Randall’s logic was simple. As long as I didn’t cry or rage, I would eventually forgive him.“Why should I? How can I forget, as if nothing happened?”I didn’t want to argue with him about the future.“Randall,” I said, “You disgust me.” It was pathetic. Love had once made us believe we were each other’s whole world. We’d whispered sweet nothings and dreamed big. Now, all we had left were bitter words and venomous accusations. Perhaps this was how love ended.It always ended this way. …Two months later, my healt

  • It All Ends the Same   Chapter 8

    "Now that I don’t love you anymore, you’re suddenly clinging to me. Aren’t you pathetic, Randall?" No matter how much I lashed out, Randall didn’t resist. He only looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Since I’d been discharged from the hospital, he’d been watching me with that same unreadable gaze. There was sorrow in his eyes, but also something deeper, something I couldn’t or didn’t want to understand. It was the same way he used to look at me when I fought tooth and nail against Macy’s intrusion into our lives. He would say, “Nara, there’s nothing between me and Macy.”However, his actions told a different story, allowing her to cross lines. Every time, it felt like a knife twisting in my chest. My hands came down on his face, again and again. "Stop looking at me like that, Randall. If you don’t, don’t blame me if I gouge your eyes out in your sleep." Finally, Randall got the hint and moved out. He didn’t stay gone. Every day, he was there. Someti

  • It All Ends the Same   Chapter 7

    "You’re always like this, Nara. Always so cold and overbearing."You’re crazy." … The words hit like a slap, and even Randall seemed shocked by what he’d said. Regret flickered across his face as he tried to soften his tone. "Nara, I didn’t mean that. I misspoke." He let go of Macy’s hand and took a step toward me, trying to steady me as I swayed on my feet. However, I couldn’t hear him anymore. A sharp ringing filled my ears. I finally understood why Randall had fallen for someone like Macy. He hated my strength, my sharp edges, preferring women who were soft and fragile—someone who needed his protection. He had forgotten something, though. The life we’d built together didn’t come from softness. It was forged by my resourcefulness during the late nights at the negotiation table. That wasn’t something shameful. That was my journey. Even as I tried to remind myself of that, my head pounded relentlessly. The room spun, and before I blacked out, I managed to say one l

  • It All Ends the Same   Chapter 6

    I had no interest in watching their lovey-dovey act, so I waved over the stunned factory manager. "When we were touring earlier, weren’t there visitors around?" The manager thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes, today’s open house. There were visitors taking a tour." "I remember seeing some of them taking pictures or recording. They helped bring the injured to the hospital earlier, right? They might still be here. Go find them." It didn’t take long before the manager rushed back, panting. "Good news. They haven’t left yet!" … The manager held out his phone, showing a video to everyone. Luckily, I’d noticed some visitors recording during the tour. The factory had been spruced up for the open house, making it look picturesque. I had hoped they’d captured the scene at the giant cat statue. The footage was clear, with no obstructions or editing. The video showed the moment the ceramic fell, and it was obvious I was standing far from the unsteady wooden shelf. Macy’s cla

  • It All Ends the Same   Chapter 5

    Randall frowned as he asked, "Why were you over there?" I replied, "Because Macy called me over. She wanted to talk." Randall pressed on, "Did you touch the shelf?" I shook my head. Before I could say more, Macy chimed in softly, "It seems like she might have." I straightened in my seat, my tone growing cold. "What do you mean by that?" Macy shot me a hesitant glance. "Ms. Nara, I think you might have bumped into the shelf. That could explain why it became unstable."Mr. Harris, if I'd known the shelf was that fragile, I would have stopped Ms. Nara myself." I hated the way Macy always played the helpless victim, as if everyone was out to get her. Randall, on the other hand, had to have been bewitched to fall for someone like her. I cut her off. "Did you actually see me touch the shelf?" Randall’s face hardened with irritation. "Why are you being so aggressive?" I clenched my fists, swallowing the mix of disappointment and bitterness. "If I’m truly responsible,

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