๋ก๊ทธ์ธ๊ณต์
Chapter 7
๊ด๋ จ ์ฑํฐ
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 1
When Lionel Franco returned home, I swallowed a mifepristone tabletโthe medication I was supposed to take for the abortionโwith a bite of cake. It was my birthday. I had bought the cake earlier, planning to celebrate with Lionel and tell him I was pregnant. I waited until 7 p.m. but he ignored my calls and didnโt reply to my messages. Then I saw Sandra Howardโs Instagram post flaunting a property deed.I couldnโt help myself so I left a comment. Within seconds, Lionel called backโnot to explain, but to lash out at me. Before I could explain, he hung up and blocked me. I was so furious that I nearly suffered a miscarriage. When he finally arrived home, he glanced at the cake and the medication on the table. He furrowed his brow.โWhose birthday is it? Yours?โ I silently put away the pills and threw the cake in the trash. โNo,โ I said calmly. โItโs a friendโs.โ He exhaled in relief. โI thought so. Your birthdayโs September 28th and todayโs only the 8th.โ Five
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 2
I had been hooked up to an IV drip for two hours at the hospital, but when I came out, Lionelโs car was nowhere in sight. I felt miserable, and unable to bear it any longer, I took a cab home. My phone died soon after. Thatโs when it hit meโhe hadnโt come to pick me up. Once, he had been so attentive to me. When had he started pulling away, growing distant and cold? โYou blocked me so I couldnโt call you,โ I said flatly. Lionel blinked, his anger fading slightly from his handsome face. โI figured youโd be hungry, so I brought you some supper. Beef stew and some hash browns.โ I looked at the bowl in his hand. It was just some watery soup with a few chunks of beef in it. It looked more like leftovers from someone elseโs meal. Half an hour ago, I saw Sandraโs post on Instagram. The picture showed Lionel in the kitchen, stirring the stew: [Who says there are no good men in the world? Not only did he teach me to drive a stickshift, but when I was hungry, he made
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 3
Harry kicked the young man and gave him a look for being so clueless.โIโm going to the bathroom,โ I said softly. I rose slowly, not wanting to lose my temper in front of everyone.Lionel glanced at me, then at Sandra, but ultimately didnโt follow me. When I returned, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and was now sitting on the beach. Sandra and Lionel sat closely together, their postures intimate. I quietly found a spot in one corner to sit alone. Harry tried to lift the mood again. โAlright, now that weโre all here, letโs play a gameโTruth or Dare!โ Lionel won the first round against Sandra. She chose Truth, and Lionel, in a rare moment of generosity, asked, โWhatโs something thatโs made you happy recently?โ Sandra blinked and gazed at Lionel, her eyes full of affection. โI met a really good man, and in just one day, I got a house and a car. Oh, and he even taught me how to drive a stickshift.โ She threw a smug look at me and raised her eyebrows playfully.
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 4
I didnโt know how much time had passed when consciousness began to seep back in. The sharp voice of my best friend, Felicia Granger, echoed in my ears. โAre you out of your mind, Lionel? You forced her to swim? Do you have any idea she just had a miscarriage?โ she asked angrily. โSheโฆ she had a miscarriage? When was she pregnant? Why didnโt she tell meโฆ?โ Lionelโs hoarse voice wavered with guilt and disbelief. โAre you blind? Havenโt you noticed how weak sheโs been these past few days? Or were your eyes glued only to Sandra?โ Felicia seethed, practically trembling with rage. If we werenโt in a hospital, I was sure she wouldโve slapped him. โI really didnโt knowโฆโ Lionel stammered.โYou didnโt know?โ Felicia scoffed. โYet you had no problem signing the house over to that two-faced leech and buying her a car, did you? Do you even realize she miscarried because of your cruelty? Youโre the reason!โ โIโฆโ Lionel trailed off, his voice hollow. โEnough. Just seeing your face
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 5
Lionel grabbed the iPod. Unlike his previous guilt-ridden behavior, this time his face was etched with disdain. "I'll get rid of it now," he muttered. He lowered the window and was just about to throw it out when I reached out to stop him."There's no need to throw it away. I honestly donโt care." "But, Mishaโ" "It doesnโt matter," I interrupted him calmly. "Youโll both be together in the future anyway. If you throw it away now, sheโll only be upset." My words drained the color from Lionelโs face. Ignoring his reaction, I turned my head to gaze out at the passing scenery. When we returned home, Lionel announced he had booked tickets to Andalusite for November. "Youโve always wanted to see the snow there. Take this time to recover, and weโll go together. Iโve arranged everything," he said. He had the air of a man desperately trying to repair something broken.I had dreamed of pausing lifeโs chaos to visit Andalusite with someone I loved. I imagined staying ther
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 6
That night, I begged him to stay, for the sake of the love we once shared. I asked him to sever ties with Sandra. Lionel had been sitting on the sofa, holding his phone, engrossed in whatever message Sandra had sent. A smile curved the corners of his lips, and there was a spark of tenderness in his eyes.Then, he turned his cold gaze toward me. "Why do you always ruin the mood? Canโt you stop taking your feelings so seriously? No one needs anyone to survive. Youโre putting too much pressure on me."I spent that night wide awake."Canโt you forgive me, Misha?" Lionel pleaded."Fine.โ"Really? Youโre willing to forgive me?" he asked in disbelief."I forgive you, but that wonโt stop me from filing for divorce. Weโll see each other in court."With that, I turned and left without another word, leaving Lionel sitting on the ground, pale and motionless.That night, Lionel took a late-night flight back.A few days later, I received another message from Sandra. She had sent m
์ต์ ์ฑํฐ
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 7
"Hmm, that makes sense," I said as it dawned on me."Could it be that Lionel got involved with the college student first, and then dumped Sandra?"Felicia clicked her tongue. "Bingo. Heโs a man addicted to cheating. How could he be content with just one woman?"She paused. "Honestly, apart from you, Lionel's taste in women hasn't changed. That college student just started interning at their company and her attitude is just like Sandra's. โShe gives off main character energy."I sighed, now somewhat curious about Sandra. "Did Sandra really transfer the house back to Lionel?"Felicia scoffed. "Sandra isnโt stupid. There's no way sheโd give up that house for him so easily. She went to extremesโsplashed the Benz and Lionelโs current place with blood. The car was totaled. โAs for the kid, well, Sandraโs never been the type to care about children anyway."When Lionel saw how ruthless she was, he didn't dare bring up the house again."The luxury car worth nearly half a million
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 6
That night, I begged him to stay, for the sake of the love we once shared. I asked him to sever ties with Sandra. Lionel had been sitting on the sofa, holding his phone, engrossed in whatever message Sandra had sent. A smile curved the corners of his lips, and there was a spark of tenderness in his eyes.Then, he turned his cold gaze toward me. "Why do you always ruin the mood? Canโt you stop taking your feelings so seriously? No one needs anyone to survive. Youโre putting too much pressure on me."I spent that night wide awake."Canโt you forgive me, Misha?" Lionel pleaded."Fine.โ"Really? Youโre willing to forgive me?" he asked in disbelief."I forgive you, but that wonโt stop me from filing for divorce. Weโll see each other in court."With that, I turned and left without another word, leaving Lionel sitting on the ground, pale and motionless.That night, Lionel took a late-night flight back.A few days later, I received another message from Sandra. She had sent m
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 5
Lionel grabbed the iPod. Unlike his previous guilt-ridden behavior, this time his face was etched with disdain. "I'll get rid of it now," he muttered. He lowered the window and was just about to throw it out when I reached out to stop him."There's no need to throw it away. I honestly donโt care." "But, Mishaโ" "It doesnโt matter," I interrupted him calmly. "Youโll both be together in the future anyway. If you throw it away now, sheโll only be upset." My words drained the color from Lionelโs face. Ignoring his reaction, I turned my head to gaze out at the passing scenery. When we returned home, Lionel announced he had booked tickets to Andalusite for November. "Youโve always wanted to see the snow there. Take this time to recover, and weโll go together. Iโve arranged everything," he said. He had the air of a man desperately trying to repair something broken.I had dreamed of pausing lifeโs chaos to visit Andalusite with someone I loved. I imagined staying ther
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 4
I didnโt know how much time had passed when consciousness began to seep back in. The sharp voice of my best friend, Felicia Granger, echoed in my ears. โAre you out of your mind, Lionel? You forced her to swim? Do you have any idea she just had a miscarriage?โ she asked angrily. โSheโฆ she had a miscarriage? When was she pregnant? Why didnโt she tell meโฆ?โ Lionelโs hoarse voice wavered with guilt and disbelief. โAre you blind? Havenโt you noticed how weak sheโs been these past few days? Or were your eyes glued only to Sandra?โ Felicia seethed, practically trembling with rage. If we werenโt in a hospital, I was sure she wouldโve slapped him. โI really didnโt knowโฆโ Lionel stammered.โYou didnโt know?โ Felicia scoffed. โYet you had no problem signing the house over to that two-faced leech and buying her a car, did you? Do you even realize she miscarried because of your cruelty? Youโre the reason!โ โIโฆโ Lionel trailed off, his voice hollow. โEnough. Just seeing your face
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 3
Harry kicked the young man and gave him a look for being so clueless.โIโm going to the bathroom,โ I said softly. I rose slowly, not wanting to lose my temper in front of everyone.Lionel glanced at me, then at Sandra, but ultimately didnโt follow me. When I returned, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and was now sitting on the beach. Sandra and Lionel sat closely together, their postures intimate. I quietly found a spot in one corner to sit alone. Harry tried to lift the mood again. โAlright, now that weโre all here, letโs play a gameโTruth or Dare!โ Lionel won the first round against Sandra. She chose Truth, and Lionel, in a rare moment of generosity, asked, โWhatโs something thatโs made you happy recently?โ Sandra blinked and gazed at Lionel, her eyes full of affection. โI met a really good man, and in just one day, I got a house and a car. Oh, and he even taught me how to drive a stickshift.โ She threw a smug look at me and raised her eyebrows playfully.
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 2
I had been hooked up to an IV drip for two hours at the hospital, but when I came out, Lionelโs car was nowhere in sight. I felt miserable, and unable to bear it any longer, I took a cab home. My phone died soon after. Thatโs when it hit meโhe hadnโt come to pick me up. Once, he had been so attentive to me. When had he started pulling away, growing distant and cold? โYou blocked me so I couldnโt call you,โ I said flatly. Lionel blinked, his anger fading slightly from his handsome face. โI figured youโd be hungry, so I brought you some supper. Beef stew and some hash browns.โ I looked at the bowl in his hand. It was just some watery soup with a few chunks of beef in it. It looked more like leftovers from someone elseโs meal. Half an hour ago, I saw Sandraโs post on Instagram. The picture showed Lionel in the kitchen, stirring the stew: [Who says there are no good men in the world? Not only did he teach me to drive a stickshift, but when I was hungry, he made
The Price of Separationย ย ย Chapter 1
When Lionel Franco returned home, I swallowed a mifepristone tabletโthe medication I was supposed to take for the abortionโwith a bite of cake. It was my birthday. I had bought the cake earlier, planning to celebrate with Lionel and tell him I was pregnant. I waited until 7 p.m. but he ignored my calls and didnโt reply to my messages. Then I saw Sandra Howardโs Instagram post flaunting a property deed.I couldnโt help myself so I left a comment. Within seconds, Lionel called backโnot to explain, but to lash out at me. Before I could explain, he hung up and blocked me. I was so furious that I nearly suffered a miscarriage. When he finally arrived home, he glanced at the cake and the medication on the table. He furrowed his brow.โWhose birthday is it? Yours?โ I silently put away the pills and threw the cake in the trash. โNo,โ I said calmly. โItโs a friendโs.โ He exhaled in relief. โI thought so. Your birthdayโs September 28th and todayโs only the 8th.โ Five
