The media spun a lavish fairytale about Kenneth and Shannon’s “epic love story.”
Old fans resurrected like zombies, flooding my social media.
“I heard you’re the homewrecker who split them up. How pathetic.”
“You’re pregnant, right? I hope you miscarry. Don’t give birth to the baby, or you’ll ruin Shannon’s happiness.”
“He clearly doesn’t love you. No matter how hard you try, it’s useless. Let this poor couple be.”
The public backlash grew worse by the day, dominating the headlines for three full days.
There’s no way Kenneth didn’t know what kind of mess I was caught in–but he did nothing.
I knew he was waiting for me to cave in. In our relationship, he had always held the upper hand.
He controlled what I wore and what I ate, and he even tracked my movements.
The tenderness and patience were all reserved for Shannon. What he had left for me was nothing but cold dominance.
He was proving that he could live happily without me.
And without him, I was nothing.
He wanted me to break down again, apologize tearfully like I always did, and curl up in his arms like a canary with clipped wings.
But I didn’t want to anymore.
So on the fourth day, Kenneth came back.
That day, it poured. He was soaked, and I didn’t know how long he had been standing in the rain.
He looked at me with an expression full of turmoil–he looked both sad and wronged.
As he took a step toward me, he seemed to remember how cold and wet he was and quickly stripped off his coat.
Then, he pulled me into his arms, and his muffled voice sounded from above.
“I made the prenatal check–up appointment. This time, I’ll definitely go with you.
“I’ve thought it over. What happened with the pickled vegetables… it was wrong of us. I should’ve stopped her.
“The scandal was unexpected. I’ve already asked the company to intervene. No one will badmouth you again.”
Kenneth stared at me, clearly hoping I’d take the olive branch like before.
0.0 %
10:46
Chapter 4
288 Vouchers
This was his tactic–hit you with one hand, soothe you with the other.
But I knew as long as Shannon was in the picture, the one he would always sacrifice was me.
I was tired of fighting over a man.
I said nothing and quietly returned to the bedroom.
Kenneth tried to follow me in, but his phone rang–it was Shannon’s special ringtone.
He stared at the screen for a long time, veins bulging on the back of his hand, but he didn’t pick up.
After showering, he climbed into bed and pulled me close.
In a low murmur, he said, “There’s nothing between her and me anymore. Don’t overthink it.”
I turned to look at the hand around my waist–his wedding ring was on it again.
But I knew… things could never go back to the way they were.
The next morning was the day of my abortion.
Coincidentally, Kenneth had scheduled a prenatal visit–his first time ever accompanying me.
The usually composed Mr. Fernsby fussed like an overeager teenager, triple–checking the hospital bag.
I watched him, just about to tell him my decision, when his phone chimed sharply.
Kenneth instinctively opened it, and the color instantly drained from his face.
The device clattered to the floor, a screen displaying a bloodied wrist.
Kenneth snatched the phone up and bolted.
“Wait-”
Before I could finish, he looked at me pleadingly and said, “Just this once, the last time. Shannon’s losing it–I can’t just let her die!”
I smiled, took the documents from his hand, and said calmly, “Go ahead. I just wanted my things back.”
Kenneth froze for a moment but didn’t have time to think–he turned and ran out the door.
Halfway out, maybe thinking back to how I’d been acting the past few days, panic suddenly set in.
He ran back and crushed me in a desperate hug.
He comforted me softly, “Wait for me at the hospital. I’ll definitely be there.”
With that, he turned and left without hesitation.
I looked away and took a cab to the hospital.
48.2 %
10:46
Chapter 4
As I was wheeled into the operating room, I finally let out a long breath.”
As the anesthesia spread through my body, my eyelids slowly, heavily, began to fall.
95.9 %
