Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Final Bouquet: Leaving My Cold Husband: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 19

I had finally set foot on Ridgecrest Highway.I could see rolling snow-capped mountains through the car window, and the azure sky seemed so close that I could almost touch it.I parked my car next to the observation deck and lifted my camera.As the shutter clicked, I felt a little dazed.It had been years since I held a camera.For Keith's sake, I had once given up on my career, my dreams, and even myself.But as I stood here, I finally realized that my passion was never truly gone.Still, I felt some regret.Dad was gone.It was a wonderful view, but I couldn't share it with him anymore.I was deep in thought when I heard movements up ahead.Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw a black motorcycle parked haphazardly by the road.The owner of the motorcycle was crouching down and examining the engine. By the looks of it, the motorcycle had broken down.I had no intention of meddling in his business, but when I passed by, the young man suddenly looked up."Hey, mis

I found the question ridiculous.Wrenching my hand free from his grasp, I retorted, "Keith, is this how you see me? Am I a wench to you? You're letting your female colleague throw herself at you, and you still expect me to stay by your side and have your children?"Keith was at a loss for words.But then again, he had always been full of himself.Or, more accurately, the love and compromise I'd given him over the years had spoiled him.He didn't look like he believed my explanation.He looked at Ruben, his gaze filled with enmity. "Just tell me. How long have you known this guy?"I didn't want to get trapped in the cycle of proving myself, so I said to him, "This has nothing to do with you. We're already divorced.""Divorce!" He suddenly raised his voice, his eyes red-rimmed. "When have I even said I wanted a divorce?"I responded calmly, "You signed the agreement yourself. Do you need me to jog your memory?"He completely lost his composure. "I didn't even know it was a divo

After receiving the call, I rushed back to my hometown overnight.When I arrived at the corridor outside the emergency room, Mom was still being resuscitated inside.The doctor had a grave look on his face. "She's in critical condition, and she has to undergo surgery right away. However, our hospital is not equipped for the surgery. We recommend transferring her to another hospital."My blood ran cold.I felt like I had gone back to that day three years ago.Back then, Dad was lying on the hospital bed, and the doctor told me the same thing.A terrible thought crossed my mind. "I lost my father that day. Am I going to lose my mother too?"I lost my balance, and I almost fainted on the spot.Just then, Keith hurried over. "I'll do it."Everyone at the scene was stunned.The doctor recognized him. "Are you… Dr. Reed? Dr. Keith Reed?"Keith nodded. "Show me the medical records."In just a few minutes, he came to a swift conclusion. "It's doable. Quick, get ready. I'll perform

I called the cops, and Sonia was taken away.She had intentionally provoked a patient after surgery to cause a relapse, and that would be added to her charges once the investigation into the major blood loss incident concluded.A punishment far worse than getting fired awaited her, but I couldn't be bothered to find out what happened to her in the end.Mom's condition took a turn for the worse.As I waited outside the ICU, the doctors handed me one critical condition notice after another.I hadn't slept a wink for two whole days. I simply stared through the glass window at my mom, who was lying on the bed and covered in tubes.Every single shift in the numbers on the monitor was like a dull blade sawing away at my nerves.Over the past few days, Keith stayed put in the hospital as well. He got even less sleep than I did, and he had dark circles under his eyes.But as I looked at him, I couldn't feel an inkling of gratitude inside me. I only felt a persistent sense of disgust.

Looking at Keith, I said in a calm voice, "From the day my dad died, we were never supposed to have a future together."Keith froze on the spot.A long while later, he suddenly let out a bitter and pathetic chuckle. He looked like a gambler who had finally lost every single chip in his hands."I see." He nodded, his voice hoarse as he said, "Clara, I won't bother you ever again."With that, he turned around and left. His footsteps were excruciatingly slow, but he never once looked back.I stood where I was, watching him slowly walk away until he melted into the shadows at the far end of the corridor.I didn't feel any sense of relief or sorrow. Instead, I only felt an extremely faint sense of peace.It was like a book that had finally reached its last page.…Five years later, Hailey and I sat on the bank of a river in Valis, drinking wine.Her experience in the past five years had turned her into a fiercely capable woman. She was now a renowned top-tier attorney in the indus