Chapter 3

The next time I saw Aaron again was at the hospital. By sheer coincidence, we ended up taking the same elevator together. However, he was accompanying Candace to the obstetrics and gynecology department.

Before getting out of the elevator, he stole a glance at the medical examination report in my hands but didn't say anything.

It wasn't until I reached the examination room that I finally got a text message from him.

"Did anything go wrong during the physical exam? Or are you just feeling unwell?"

I didn't reply to him, and he transferred another 1,000 dollars to me.

I read the notification from my bank app and didn't say a thing, heading straight toward the clinic instead.

I asked Dustin, "If I'm still alive and kicking after giving birth to the baby, is there any possibility of curing this cancer?"

He carefully looked at my examination report, took a deep breath, and said, "Viola… I hope that you can become that miracle."

My nose tingled with emotion. I nearly burst out crying at that moment.

I knew that hope was slim, but I still had to try. What if it all worked out in the end?

I walked out of the hospital and saw Aaron crouching by the roadside, next to a stone wall.

"Were you waiting for me?"

He stubbed out the cigarette hanging from his lips as he nodded. "Are you sick?"

I didn't deny it. Instead, I asked tentatively, "Is Candance…pregnant?"

He lowered his head and said with some difficulty, "No. The pregnancy test expired."

I heaved a sigh of relief and thought of coming clean to him.

"Aaron, I'm p—"

"But we've agreed on a wedding date."

We both spoke at literally the same time.

My expression froze on my face. A few seconds of silence ensued before he continued, "We had sex again while I was staying with her. I need to take responsibility for her.

"We'll be getting married in three months."

When he realized that I wasn't responding, he pulled out a card from his pocket and pressed it into my hands.

"This is the money that the Blanchards gave me after learning that I was marrying Candace. There's 180,000 dollars in the card.

"She'll be giving you an invitation then, but please…don't come."

I dug my nails into the palms of my hands. I didn't know what to say to him. I simply couldn't find it in me to wish him well at all.

Ultimately, I just hummed in acknowledgment and turned to leave.

"You should stop digging your nails into your palms, Viola. It's a bad habit you need to unlearn."

I heard him. He was speaking quite loudly, after all. However, the only response he got from me was the sound of the bustling traffic behind me.

…

After getting back to our rented apartment that evening, I sat on the couch, reading up on prenatal education. The sound of a key turning in the door made me tense on instinct.

It was Aaron. He glanced at me with a troubled expression.

I put on my indoor slippers and went up to him. It was then that I realized Candace was there too, holding a limited-edition handbag while leaning lazily against the door. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down behind her.

So, he was feeling troubled because I was in this dilapidated apartment right now.

I observed his expression and went to my room, grabbing the biggest travel bag I could find. Then, I quickly began packing up my things.

Fortunately, our lease was ending soon, and we hadn't renewed it yet.

While dragging my things out of the door, Candace called out to me.

"Viola, Ronnie and I never intended for you to move out. You don't have a job, do you? Why don't you stay behind and work as our housekeeper? I'll pay you 5,000 dollars a month."

I clenched my fist and grabbed the nearest mug, throwing it at her dolled-up face.

The mug smashed to pieces, but I'd missed her.

Candance immediately ran back into the apartment and into Aaron's embrace, telling tales on me with an aggrieved look on her face.

"Did I say anything wrong, Ronnie?"

Aaron pushed her aside and marched up to me.

"You actually dared to lay a finger on her, Viola Goodwin? Are you out of your mind? Are you bipolar or something? You weren't like this in the past!"

I raised my head high and glared at him before grinning with my eyes wide.

"Yeah, maybe I am bipolar. So, do you still want me to be your housekeeper? Would you dare to do it?"

He plucked the cigarette from his ear and put it into his mouth. Then, he looked at me and softened his tone with me.

"I wouldn't dare. You should go as far away as you can. It'll be even better if we never meet again."