Karma Starts Somewhere

"Joseph has always been generous with me. Whatever I wanted, he'd give it to me. Sometimes, he'd transfer the money before I even asked," Yarra said.She paused, then smirked. "You've been married so long, and he won't even give you 500 thousand dollars? Annabelle, you're truly more of a failure than a dog."Yarra's wide eyes sparkled with amusement. She let out a light chuckle. "But don't worry, it's just a little money. I'll help you ask for it."The phone connected almost immediately. It was unlike when I called and only heard a cold beep. As soon as Joseph heard it was me, his voice turned cold. "What is it?"I lowered my voice, trying to preserve the last bit of dignity. "Joseph, I'm sick. Could you send me 500 thousand dollars?"He sneered. "Annabelle, have you really lost all shame? Now you're pretending to be sick as an excuse? Are you planning to take my money and run off with another man? Back then, you were so proud, wanting to break up because I was poor. Did you ever

Before long, a familiar fragrance reached my nose.I opened my eyes to see a bowl of oatmeal at the bedside, with Joseph sitting quietly beside me. His expression was soft, and his eyes were filled with a hint of concern."You're awake?"For a moment, I almost believed we were still in those days from years ago. However, I noticed the fresh scratch marks on his neck that struck me like a slap across the face.Back then, Joseph would try to make me different kinds of food, though our circumstances were poor, and his cooking skills left much to be desired.After being with Yarra, he took a cooking class.I often saw them together in the kitchen. Joseph prepared the ingredients while Yarra happily chatted away about her latest stories.He scooped a spoonful of oatmeal and slowly offered it to me."I didn't know when you'd wake up, so I kept it ready. You don't look well. What happened?" he asked.The scene before me overlapped with the past. He looked just like the young man who

I used to have a child with Joseph. Back then, I hadn't fallen ill yet, and I thought I could carry our child. I had asked the doctor to keep it a secret from Joseph, telling him to wait until the pregnancy was stable.However, Joseph accidentally found my prenatal check-up slip at home, and he was overjoyed."Anna, let's make up. I'll learn to be a good father and take care of you and the baby," he said. "Whatever you've done in the past, I forgive you. Let's start fresh."Yet, he didn't know that day was the day my illness truly began.The baby was already three months old, and the doctor told me the chances of survival were slim. Even if the child lived, there would be severe congenital defects.When Joseph found me, I had just come out of surgery.Yarra looked at me with a pained expression. "Anna, even if you hate Joseph and want nothing to do with him, the baby is innocent. How could you just kill it?"I wanted to explain, but then I saw Joseph's expression."Annabelle, w

I felt like I was watching my body collapse, and a deep red stain spread across my chest.In the distance, Joseph ran toward me in a panic. "Annabelle! I won't let anything happen to you!"I had no idea what kind of act he was putting on. I wanted to mock him, but my lips wouldn't move.He looked at the blood gushing uncontrollably. His eyes were filled with terror. He snatched the medical report from my hand."Why? Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"I lay unconscious on the bed, hearing Joseph slap himself repeatedly."It's all my fault. I did this to you. You told me you were sick and needed money for treatment. It's just 500 thousand dollars, but I still refused to help you."He sobbed uncontrollably. "Anna, I was wrong. Please don't leave me. I'm begging you. Don't leave me alone. If you wake up, I'll give you everything. Anything you want. Please open your eyes and look at me, even just once."Through my blurred vision, I caught a glimpse of the boy he used to be—the o

"Anna's symptoms are exactly the same as her mother's," Edmund said.Joseph asked in disbelief, "What are you saying? Her mother had the same illness?"Edmund sneered, "Yes, it's a genetic condition. Her mother started showing symptoms around the time your family fell apart. Didn't you know? I always thought that's why you two broke up."Joseph collapsed onto the floor. "She knew all along that she was going to die?" Then, as if trying to convince himself, he mumbled, "No, we broke up because she cheated on me. She betrayed me."Edmund punched him again. "She loved you so much. If it weren't for some unavoidable circumstances, there's no way she would have given up on you. The affair was something she begged me to help her deceive you about. What have you been doing? You pushed her to die."Joseph was silent for a moment, then muttered, "I didn't know! Why didn't any of you tell me? Why did everyone keep it from me?"He had so many chances to notice that I was sick. After all, it