LOGINCharlie's POVAstrid took out a photo album. Inside were the magazine covers I modeled for years ago.I froze. I had searched everywhere for them before and thought they were gone for good. I never knew she had secretly kept them all this time.Naomi opened the album, her fingertips tracing each picture of my face. Tears fell onto the pictures, leaving little wet flowers behind. She panicked and hurriedly wiped them away."Oh, no. I can't get Daddy's face dirty."Astrid's eyes were rimmed red too. I simply watched them coldly and let out a silent sigh.The next day, Ethan was taken to court. He was charged with falsifying my medical records, which indirectly led to my death.Knowing there was no way out, Ethan decided to expose everything he and Astrid had done over the past three years in front of the reporters."Astrid, you really think you're so innocent? For three years, while Charlie was locked away in that hospital, you and your daughter traveled all over the place with m
Charlie's POVIt wasn't long before Astrid had a court summons served to Ethan.That same day, someone pounded on the front door. The moment she opened it, Ethan dropped to his knees. His face was deathly pale, and he was sobbing uncontrollably."Astrid, I messed up. I really know that now. For the sake of the four years we spent together, please forgive me."He pulled out a ring, the sight of it glaring. It was exactly like the one Astrid gave me years ago.Back then, she had smiled and told me it was called the "forgiveness ring". Whenever we argued, and I made her angry, all I had to do was show her the ring, and she would forgive me.I smiled and promised I would, but she had not only given that ring to me, but also to Ethan.Astrid's body trembled. Seeing an opening, Ethan pressed on through his tears."Astrid, I was Charlie's best friend. His death wasn't entirely my fault. If you send me to prison, there'll be a huge scandal. Charlie's already dead anyway. Why not just l
Third-Person POV"No, you can't!" Ethan bellowed. "That's my baby too! You have no right to abort it!"Astrid didn't look at him. Her voice remained calm and flat. "And you don't get a say. "If you hadn't done this, I would've bought you a villa and made sure you could raise our child properly. They would've grown up healthy."Her voice faltered. Charlie was dead, and her heart had died with him.Humans were strange. When they loved someone, they took them for granted. It was only after they lost the other person that they desperately tried to make up for everything they failed to give that person.Realizing Astrid wasn't joking, Ethan finally panicked. He turned to Naomi, who had been standing silent nearby, and grabbed her shoulders."Naomi, you like me, don't you?" he cried. "I'll buy you all the snacks and toys you want. Please, help me talk to your mommy. If I actually go to prison, I'm finished."Naomi no longer obeyed him the way she used to. Tears still streaked her
Third-Person POVEthan's heart missed a beat.Indeed, there had been something wrong with Charlie's medical report earlier that day, but Ethan hadn't taken the time to read it. He simply had someone alter it.He only wanted to see whether Astrid still trusted him the way she used to. Conveniently, it would also force Charlie to understand where he stood. Maybe then he would finally give up his place as Astrid's husband.He had imagined many scenarios, but the one he had never pictured was pushing Charlie to the point of no return.Ethan forced a smile. "Astrid, stop joking. Charlie was fine just now. How could he be…"Astrid pulled open her coat, revealing the urn and the death certificate. The bright red official stamp cut into his eyes like a knife.Ethan's heart sank even further. His hands started trembling uncontrollably as he desperately tried to suppress his panic."Astrid, whatever happened, let's go home and talk about it. But first, I left something at the hospital.
Third-Person POVThe cake slipped from Astrid's hand and hit the floor with a soft thud.Before she could ask anything, the woman on the other end hurriedly hung up, leaving only an address in a text message.Hearing the noise, Ethan and Naomi rushed over. She saw the cake on the floor and giggled. "Mommy, you're so clumsy. The cake fell."The next second, Astrid swayed on her feet. Ethan panicked and quickly caught her. "Astrid, are you okay? Naomi, press the call button!"Naomi frantically climbed onto the bed and hit the button.Astrid could barely hear the commotion around her. She struggled to steady herself and regain her senses. Then, she stumbled toward the door."Astrid!" Ethan shouted behind her.She didn't look back. Her mind was filled with Charlie.As soon as Astrid left the hospital, she floored the gas and raced toward the crematorium.She ran several red lights along the way without a second thought. Her palms were slick with sweat as she gripped the steer
Charlie's POVAstrid sat beside my hospital bed, though I found no trace of concern in her eyes, only disappointment."Charlie, your tests came back normal. What kind of show are you putting on exactly? "All I did was snap at you a little. It's Naomi's birthday today. Did you really have to run over here and fake passing out just to scare her? If I'd known you'd turn into this, I never would've thought to marry you!"She threw the medical report at my face. The paper stung against my skin.The results were so obviously doctored they could hardly be any more obvious. When I looked up and met the disgust in Astrid's eyes, the words I wanted to say died in my throat.Whatever. Maybe this was for the best. No guilt, no pity for me."Congratulations, Astrid," I thought. "You're finally going to get exactly what you wanted."Realizing she had gone too far, Astrid deliberately softened her tone. "You know what? Just take some time to calm down. I'm going to cut the cake with Naomi.







