Chapter 4

After John hung up the phone, I remained frozen for a long time, unable to recover.

His words were like a sharp dagger, stabbing deep into my heart without any trace of affection, only humiliation.

I couldn't understand why the person who once cherished me above all else now spoke to me with such malice.

That unbearable pain crashed over me like massive waves, tearing me apart again and again.

From the system, I found out that Ivy and John got into danger when they went out together. Ivy was hit by a drunk driver, who didn't know heads or tails of what happened.

Ivy insisted that I had bribed the driver, that I had intended to harm her and the child she was carrying.

This accident enraged John completely. Blinded by fury, he hadn't stopped to think before calling to demand answers from me.

The blow was so heavy that my mind reeled. I had long been unwilling to admit that whatever feelings John once had for me had already been worn away completely by his repeated lies. I chose to deceive myself, trying to maintain this marriage that was already on the verge of collapse.

Again and again, I lowered my bottom line and accepted everything in silence.

In the past, I hated nothing more than lies, yet I started to lie to myself to cling onto the warmth that I'd desired for so long, hurting myself in the process.

But now, I no longer wanted anything to do with it.

In the two days John left on the trip, I packed up all my things, throwing every single photo of us, filled with sweet memories, straight into the rubbish bin.

Then, it was my clothes, then my luggage, until I was the only thing left in the villa.

Over the years, John had regularly transferred money into the card he gave me. I rarely even used it, and now that I was leaving this world, there was no use leaving it around anymore, either.

I donated all the money to the orphanage in John's name, doing the same thing I'd done in the past. I wished both for the children to benefit and lead better lives, and for it to aid John's business.

In any case, this was the last thing I would do for him.

On the day of our fifth wedding anniversary, I calmly prepared a table full of dishes for myself.

I had learned how to cook these dishes all by myself, especially for John. He'd always had to drink a lot while attending banquets and social functions, and I wanted to learn how to create some dishes that would nourish his stomach.

But now, I was the only one who sat there in front of the table, eating by myself.

Before I could even take a bite of the food I meticulously made, the door was kicked open with a bang, showing John's subdued expression.

Seeing the food on the table, he scoffed, before flipping the entire table over and crashing everything on the floor. Glass was sent flying, and some shards even cut the top of my foot.

Then, he grabbed me by the neck, almost suffocating me as Ivy walked in behind him, her expression smug and provoking.

His face was inches away from mine, and he bit out every word. "Ivy lost her baby, all because of you! How could you be so cruel?!

"If it weren't for me, do you think you could have everything you do now? How else did you escape that pathetic life of yours?

"Since when did you become this cruel? You make me sick!"

I struggled under his grip, opening my mouth, but I couldn't force out a single word.

Ivy sneered at me. "Elodie, no matter how much you hate me, you can't take it out on a baby! This was the only kid John and I had. Do you know how much I cherished it?

"I don't want status, I don't want money, I just want to give birth to John's kid. That's all I ever wanted."

She made a show of speaking with anguish, and I could feel John's grip on my neck growing stronger and stronger.

Finally, when my face grew red and I almost suffocated to death, he let go.

I coughed violently, gasping for air.

It took a long time before I could steady myself.

"Elodie, you hurt Ivy. I'm divorcing you."

Those words felt like they were dragging me straight into hell. I had never imagined that John would be the first one in this marriage to give up.

I looked at him, despair filling my eyes.

"You're right, I did everything, and I really am that cruel. What, did you only realize that now? Are you disappointed?

"Didn't you notice it during the entire time you've been with me?"

Then he probably also forgot everything he promised me, too.

John's anger reached its peak, and he slapped me hard across the face.

For a moment, flashes of the past came to the forefront of my mind.

Once, he told me, "No matter what you become, I'll always love you. Don't worry, you'll always have me."

But now, seeing him protect another woman and call me a cruel woman, I couldn't help but laugh. Crazed, wild, and uncontrollable.

"I regret nothing more than falling for you, getting married to you, and believing every word you said!"

I grabbed a shard of glass from the ground, and pointed it at my neck.

"Since you love Ivy so much, I hope you two live a long, happy life together.

"It's been boring, hasn't it? Living a life trapped by me, I mean.

"Well, now you're free."

At that, I stabbed the glass shard into my neck, blood splattering from my artery onto John.

Ivy screamed in terror.

At the edge of my consciousness, I saw John at eighteen, smiling brightly as he ran toward me.

"Elodie! Come on, let's go home together."

Alright.

Let's go home.