Chapter 5

Despite how desperate I was to get it done, the procedure was scheduled for the next morning.

I had no choice but to go home first.

The balcony looked beautiful under the setting sun.

On the balcony were pots of gardenias, roses, succulents, hydrangeas, and the like.

I had slowly but surely grown these plants over the past few years.

Keith was so busy with work that he didn't have time for me, so I could only focus my attention on these plants.

He probably wouldn't care for these plants after I left. It felt like a pity to let them wilt just like that.

At that thought, I pulled out my phone, took a photo of the plants, and sent it to the homeowners' chat group.

I sent a message. "Moving out soon, giving out free plants. First come, first served."

The plants were a hit among the neighbors.

In just 30 minutes, most of the balcony was already empty.

After bidding the last hydrangea goodbye, I stood on the empty balcony, zoning out.

I was surprised to find that letting go of things wasn't as difficult as I had imagined.

After all the plants were given out, I went to the closet.

Various bags were hanging on display in a glass cabinet.

Most of them were gifts from Keith.

I used to be overjoyed when I received them back then.

But now, as I looked at them, I recalled the half-hearted expression he was wearing when he gave me the bags. In fact, he even gave me identical bags on different occasions. What a joke.

I felt like the man I was in love with had always been the imaginary Keith in my mind.

Now that I had an unfiltered view of the truth, I finally realized how worthless this was.

I took photos of the bags and listed them on a secondhand platform.

The orders came in soon enough. I managed to sell eight of the bags in one night.

The once-packed closet suddenly looked quite spacious.

I felt like it mirrored my heart, which was slowly getting cleared out as well.

At 10:00 pm, I heard the front door being unlocked.

I looked up to see Keith walking in.

He had a scratch on his forehead, and his face was bruised. His right arm was covered in bandages.

Sonia was right next to him, supporting him as they came in. Her eyes were reddened as if she had been crying.

She said to me, "Clara, a patient's family member caused a scene today. Keith only got hurt because he was protecting me. Please take good care of him."

I glanced at her and said calmly, "If you're so worried about him, you can stay and take care of him yourself."

Sonia's face immediately turned red, and tears streamed down her face. "Clara, I didn't mean it like that… Keith and I are just colleagues…"

Before Sonia could finish speaking, Keith's expression had already turned foul. "Clara, can you stop being so aggressive with her?"

I was a little bewildered. "What's wrong with what I said?"

"Sonia was kind enough to send me home. What's with the sarcastic tone?" Keith slammed the car keys onto the table, looking at me with a disappointed gaze.

Sonia hastily wiped her tears. "Keith, it's not Clara's fault! I'm the one to blame. I shouldn't have sent you home. I'll leave right now."

With that, she turned around and ran out.

Without any hesitation, Keith immediately ran after her.

The door slammed shut, and silence returned to the room. I lowered my head and continued packing.

An hour later, Keith finally returned. He seemed even more upset than before.

He didn't notice anything off with me, nor did he mind the empty balcony and closet. He simply asked me, "Are you happy now?"

I didn't even look up. "Happy about what?"

He said, "Sonia cried all the way home. She didn't even do anything. Why are you always picking on her?"

I didn't stop packing. I had long gotten used to it.

To him, Sonia was always the victim, and I was always the aggressive villain.

After stuffing the last bag into the packing box, I got up and headed to the bedroom. I couldn't be bothered to argue.

"Stop right there." Keith's voice turned cold. "No dinner again tonight?"

I paused in my tracks. "There are pizza rolls in the fridge. If you seriously don't know what to do with them, just order something."

Keith's expression was foul as he raised his bandaged hand. "I'm injured."

I looked back at him and put on a mocking smile. "You didn't get hurt because of me. Am I supposed to return the favor in her stead?"

Keith's expression darkened.

A while later, he scoffed. "Fine. Clara, you're unbelievable."

The next second, he stormed into the study and slammed the door, rattling the walls.

I didn't even bat an eye.

I had a procedure scheduled tomorrow, so I didn't have time to waste on arguing with him.

After getting in bed, I soon fell asleep.

This was the best night's sleep I had experienced ever since I made up my mind to file for divorce.

The next morning, Hailey came over to pick me up.

With her hands on the steering wheel, she couldn't help but ask again, "Have you really thought this through?"

I looked down at my belly. After a long silence, I nodded slightly. "Yes."

I thought, "I'm so sorry, little one. If you ever get another chance to be born, I hope your parents actually love each other."

After completing the paperwork, I was brought into the operating room.

The doctor was verifying the information, and the anesthetist was ready as well.

Just then, a familiar figure entered the room.

When I looked up and met the person's gaze, I felt chills running down my spine.

It was Sonia.

She was wearing a mask and a sterile surgical gown as she stood right next to the doctor.

Sensing my gaze, she didn't seem surprised at all as a hint of a smile appeared in her clear gaze.