Love Wilts Like a Flower

I received a voice message from the hospital director, Colin Foster.

He said in relief, "Thank goodness! You finally said yes! Don't worry. We have the most professional medical team at your service. Your condition will improve for sure."

I stared at the horrifying, criss-cross scars on my wrist with a bitter smile.

Hansel Saddler had no idea that I had suffered from severe depression after that miscarriage five years back. I had been taking care of him all this while and seeing a professional behind his back.

However, as my depression worsened, I could not stop the urge to self-harm.

Meanwhile, Hansel faked his depression, letting me—the actual patient who acted like everything was fine—take care of him.

The movements in the therapy room grew louder and more aggressive.

"Don't forget the protection."

"Darling, I want a baby. What do you think?" asked Giselle Pellington.

Moments of silence later, Hansel agreed in a deep voice. "Sure."

Hansel had stopped me from calling him "darling" ever since he started faking his depression. He'd refuse any acts of intimacy. All I could do was call him by his first name.

In the past five years, he had not touched me once. Even when I gave him a soft hug, he'd heartlessly push me away.

It was only now that I realized he had been doing that with another woman.

My tears fell to the floor in silence. Taking two deep breaths, I turned around and left.

I drove myself to the embassy to get my visa done.

"Your visa will be approved in a week's time."

…

I got home, only to be greeted by the sight of Hansel lying in Giselle's arms. He wore a relaxed smile, looking as if he were asleep.

His eyes fluttered open when he heard my movements.

Giselle glared at me.

"Melissa, why didn't you pick Hansel up today? Do you really not care about him? You're a failure of a wife, and the reason he ended up in this state!"

Instead of apologizing like I always did, I merely offered an explanation.

Giselle nearly erupted in anger when her attempt to provoke was met with complete indifference. Hansel immediately pulled her back.

They exchanged a look.

Giselle then announced, "I have good news for you. Hansel has recovered from depression, but his condition is very unstable now. He has received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. You need to make sure his mood is stable at all times."

She arched a brow, puzzled at my lack of response. She wondered aloud, "Aren't you happy to hear that?"

Before I could speak, Hansel held me tightly. It felt as if he wanted to crush me.

"Mel, thank you for your effort over the past five years. Thanks for not giving up on me. I'm finally back to normal. I can finally love you back… and I'm so happy."

I met his loving gaze and saw my reflection in his dark pupils. He looked at me the same way when he had proposed to me ten years ago.

I would have fallen for his lie and his act if I hadn't overheard his conversation with Giselle in the therapy room.

But I kept my silence and allowed him to hold me.

Giselle was shooting daggers at me in the meantime. Soon, she put on an innocent smile and pulled us apart.

"Hansel has just recovered. Time to take better care of his health. Let's make some food for him."

She dragged me to the kitchen and hissed in my ear, "Melissa, Hansel has never been sick. It's just an excuse to stay away from you because you disgust him.

"I'm the one he loves. If I were you, I'd leave him now."

I pretended I didn't hear her. Devoid of emotions, I pulled out the knife and started cutting the vegetables.

Suddenly, she gripped my wrist so that the blade was directed at her. Then, she screamed, "Mel, what are you doing? There's really nothing going on between me and Hansel!"

She got Hansel's attention with her shrill screams.

He rushed over and slapped the knife away from my hand. After that, he wrapped Giselle in a tight hug while gently comforting her.

The knife clattered loudly on the floor. The pain that shot through my thigh made me double over.

I saw a deep, bloody slash on my skin. Blood trickled down my thigh and stained my white shoes.

Hansel looked down at me with a cold glint in his eyes.

"Thank goodness Giselle is safe. What am I gonna do if anything happens to her? She's my attending physician! I do not wish to see this happen again."

With that, Hansel scooped Giselle into his arms and left without a care for my blood-stained lower body.

I watched them disappear from view. This reminded me of that night from many years ago when I suffered from period cramps.

Hansel had carried me on his back and walked in the snow through the night. I remembered his back being wide and warm. It was a stark difference from his cold demeanor today as he walked away from me.