Chapter 4

As I ate, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Dominic’s shadow.

His body remained hidden around the corner, but I could see his hand gripping the doorframe, knuckles white and strained.

Sabine reached out, about to tuck the blanket around me, but suddenly gasped in pain.

She doubled over, her face draining of color in an instant.

Dominic burst into the room at once.

“What’s wrong?”

“My belly… it hurts so bad…”

He instantly gathered Sabine into his arms, turning to rush out the door.

My hands trembled out of control, and the bowl of soup slipped, shattering on the floor.

Dominic’s footsteps halted.

It was as though he had just summoned every ounce of mental resolve within himself, his posture rigid.

“I’m sorry.

“I gave you my word, but I simply cannot stand by and watch her suffer.

“This is the last time.”

Without another word, Dominic carried Sabine away.

Sabine’s hand lifted slightly in the air before falling back down, empty of strength.

I opened my mouth, but my throat burned with a dry, excruciating ache.

My back was throbbing in agony as well.

Yet what right did I have to say anything?

What right did I have to burden them with my pain and heartache?

I went to the cemetery and poured my heart out in front of my father’s headstone.

“Dad, those things never belonged to me in the first place. I’ve made up my mind. I’ll step aside, so they can be together.”

I brushed my fingers over the headstone, leaning my head against the cold marble.

“It’ll be new year before we meet again.”

When dusk settled, I finally stepped out of the cemetery.

I stood by the side of the road waiting to hail a cab, my mind drifting far away.

Just one block over was the central hospital.

Suddenly, a heavy reek of alcohol hit my face.

Before I even had the chance to turn my head, a man lunged forward and grabbed my wrist.

He tried to yank off the gold bangle I was wearing.

My father had given it to me as a birthday present seven years ago.

It was the very last keepsake he had left me.

I tried to fight back, but the open wound on my back sent a jolt of pain so sharp I gasped for air.

Noticing my disadvantage, the man covered my mouth, pinned my arms behind my back, and dragged me headlong into an alleyway.

“Keep quiet if you don’t wanna die!”

He slammed me onto the ground. The moment I regained a sliver of strength, I bit down hard on the hand pinned over my face.

Yelping in pain, he kicked me away.

I tried to scramble up and run, but that proved to enrage him further.

He seized me by the hair and yanked a pocketknife out of his waistband.

Without a word, he plunged the blade into my abdomen—one blow, and another.

I lost count of how many times he stabbed me.

I was empty of all strength to resist at all.

The man slipped the bracelet off my wrist, spat on my face, and cursed:

“Serves you right. Die, bitch!”

So much blood spilled out, pooling beneath me.

My vision gradually blurred.

In that final moment, the face that popped into my mind was Dominic’s.

With immense effort, I fished out my phone and dialed the top contact on my list.

The line rang for several seconds.

To me, it felt as excruciatingly long as waiting through a century.

Finally, he picked up.

“Elaine.”

Dominic’s voice carried through the receiver, detached and cold.

“Sabine’s abdomen was bothering her. We’re still at the hospital waiting for some tests.”

Blood was still gushing out of my body, yet a smile touched my lips.

“Okay.”

Perhaps sensing something was amiss with my tone, Dominic’s breathing grew heavy on the other end.

“Is your back hurting again?

“I’ll run back once the results are out.”

I didn’t say another word.

Instead, I slowly closed my eyes.

The world went pitch-black as an unprecedented sense of peace washed over me.

It was for the best.

Without me around, their life would finally return to the right track.

By the time Sabine finished her series of tests, it was nearly midnight.

Looking at the unread messages, Dominic ultimately made a trip back home.

The house was pitch-black.

Assuming I had already fallen asleep, he slowed his steps as he approached the master bedroom.

The door was left slightly ajar.

He scanned the room, only to find the bed empty.

Dominic’s fingers involuntarily tightened as he pushed the door wide open and stepped inside.

He flipped on the light and searched around: there was no one.

He checked the rest of the house, but I was nowhere to be found.

He pulled out his phone to call me, only to be met with the automated prompt:

“The number you’re calling is unavailable…”

Dominic suddenly recalled the phone call from two hours ago. An icy chill swept through his body, and the phone slipped from his hand, crashing to the floor.