She'd even made it public—if Edward was willing to be with her, the entire hospital could bear his name.

But Edward hadn't wavered. Not once.

He'd offended her so thoroughly that the medical establishment nearly blacklisted him. Even then, he'd held my hands and told me with absolute conviction:

"I could lose the whole world, Celine Fox (the Other Celine). But I could never lose you."

So I had to wonder.

What kind of woman could make a man like Edward—a man who treated loyalty like religion—change his heart?

What kind of woman could make him willing to destroy the child we'd spent five years hoping for, just to see her smile?

I was still lost in thought when Edward ended his call and walked over to me. His expression was serious, attentive.

"Honey, have you made your decision? About the baby?"

I looked at him. Really looked.

Then I nodded.

"Yes. We'll do what you suggested."

Edward smiled and stroked my hair, satisfied.

"I'm glad you came around."

"Don't worry—I'll perform the procedure myself. I promise we'll have children later. When the time is right."

When the time is right.

The words dragged me back to the day I'd found out I was pregnant. He'd held me just like this, made promises just like this, his voice thick with emotion:

"Celine, I swear—I'll use every skill I've learned in medicine to keep you and our baby safe. No illness. No pain. Ever."

How laughable.

The man who'd sworn to protect me and our child for a lifetime was now ready to end that child's life with his own hands.

For another woman.

I couldn't stand looking at that mask anymore.

"I'm tired," I said flatly. "I want to go home."

"I'll drive you—"

"No." I shook my head. "The surgery's coming up. You must have preparations to make. Go do what you need to do. I'll take a cab."

Something flickered in his eyes. Tenderness. Gratitude.

"Celine..." His voice dropped, reverent. "Marrying someone as understanding as you is the greatest blessing of my life."

If I hadn't seen that post.

If that college girl didn't exist.

Maybe—just maybe—the sincerity in his eyes would have moved me.

But now, meeting that gaze so full of love—

All I felt was the bitter taste of irony.

So love really could be faked. Perfectly. Completely.

I said nothing. Just turned and walked away.

But I didn't go far.

I slipped into a café on the ground floor of the hospital, ordered a coffee, and waited.

Minutes later, Edward emerged—white coat gone, civilian clothes on, moving with obvious urgency.

I set down my cup and followed.

He looked happy. Giddy, even. He walked and talked on his phone simultaneously, gesturing with his free hand, practically bouncing with every step. Clearly delivering good news to whoever was on the other end.

I trailed him to an upscale residential complex near the hospital.

The moment he reached one of the buildings, a girl came flying down the stairs and threw herself into his arms.

When I saw her face—

My eyes went wide.

Her?

It was her?

I'd been torturing myself trying to understand. Edward had loved me. Loved our child. Loved us enough to throw away his own life if he had to.

How could he suddenly have a mistress? How could he betray everything we had?

Now I understood.

Because of her.

The sight knocked the air from my lungs.

Everything clicked into place.

This was why Edward hadn't hesitated. Why one word from this girl was enough to make him demand I abort our baby.

I couldn't watch them anymore—couldn't stand seeing his arms around her, his smile meant for her.

I fled.

Back home, I collapsed onto the couch.

And sat there, unable to move, unable to think, for what felt like hours.

That girl's face kept flashing before my eyes.

And it made me realize—this was far more terrifying than I'd imagined.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and made several calls in quick succession.

Half an hour later, my parents, my mother-in-law Margaret, and my sister-in-law Sophie Abbott had all rushed over.

"What's wrong, Celine? You called us all here so suddenly—did something happen?"

The four of them sat by the sofa, watching me with worried expressions.

I looked at them for a long moment, then told them everything—Edward's affair, and how he'd tricked me into agreeing to abort my baby.

The moment I finished, Margaret shot to her feet, trembling with rage.

"That animal!"

"How could he do this to you and the baby?"

"Celine, don't you cry over him. I'm going to find him right now and—"

My mother caught Margaret's arm, holding her back.

She turned to me, cautious. "Celine, could there be some kind of misunderstanding?"

My father nodded slowly. "Everyone can see how much Edward loves you and the baby. How could he possibly have an affair?"

Sophie shook her head in disbelief.

"Exactly, Celine. You're the only woman my brother has ever loved—his whole life."

"He treasures you and the baby more than his own life. Why would he trick you into an abortion for some mistress?"

I knew they wouldn't believe me.

So I pulled out my phone and showed them the photo I'd secretly taken while following Edward—the photo of that girl.

"What if this is who he's been seeing?"

The instant they saw her face, all four of them—who'd been so certain Edward could never betray me—went pale.

"How... how is this possible?"

"Why would it be her?"

Margaret's face drained of color. Her lips moved soundlessly, her eyes filled with horror.

Sophie's confident expression crumbled, her voice hollow.

"So it's her. No wonder he wanted you to terminate the pregnancy..."

My parents seemed to deflate, their voices shaking.

"It's over. Everything's over."

In that moment, every single one of them—my parents, Margaret, Sophie—looked at me with the same expression.

Despair. And pity.

Like they were looking at someone already marked for death.

Just then, the front door opened.

Edward walked in, carrying a bag of my favorite sugar-roasted chestnuts.

He froze when he saw everyone gathered there.

"What's going on? Why is everyone here?"

Then, as if it clicked, he answered his own question.

"Is this about the baby?"

He set down the chestnuts and turned to face our parents.

"Mom, Dad—I know none of you want to lose this child. Believe me, I want it even less than you do."

"But the baby has severe deformities. Even if Celine carries it to term, the child won't survive. I can't bear to put her through ten months of pregnancy only to watch our baby die in front of her. That would be too cruel—for the baby, and for Celine."

"We've already discussed it. The procedure is scheduled for tomorrow."

"I'll perform the surgery myself. I'll make sure nothing goes wrong."

Everyone in that room knew Edward was lying.

But no one called him out.

Instead, they exchanged glances and kept their silence—a shared, unspoken understanding.

After a long pause, Margaret couldn't hold back any longer.

"Edward, can we postpone tomorrow's surgery?"

Edward frowned slightly. "Why would we postpone it?"

"Mom, it took everything Celine had to agree to this. If we cancel now and she changes her mind, what then? She'll only get more attached. Better to rip off the bandage than drag out the pain."

Sophie looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"Edward, if you go through with this surgery—you're going to regret it for the rest of your life!"

Edward's expression didn't waver.

"Regret? Why would I ever regret this?"

"This is for your sister-in-law's own good. I have no reason to regret it."

He turned to me—silent, unmoving—and his voice softened with concern.

"Sweetheart, you look terrible. Are you feeling unwell?"

I met his worried gaze. My chest tightened.

"It's nothing." I forced the words out. "Just... nervous."

That much was true.

But it wasn't tomorrow's surgery that frightened me.

Edward drew me close, his arm curling around my shoulders, his voice impossibly gentle.

"Don't be scared. I'm right here."

"Once you're in the operating room, you'll just fall asleep, and when you wake up, it'll all be over."

No.

He didn't understand.

He had no idea what tomorrow's surgery truly meant.

Margaret and Sophie opened their mouths to say something more, but my parents intercepted them, ushering them away.

Before leaving, my parents turned back. Their eyes met mine—heavy with something I couldn't name.

Edward noticed none of it. He was too consumed by the joy of what tomorrow would bring.

His mood soared. He insisted on cooking dinner himself—a full spread of all my favorite dishes.

That night, Edward held me tight as he drifted off, murmuring my name even in his sleep.

The next morning, we arrived at the hospital together.

Soon, I was being wheeled into the operating room.

The moment the anesthetic entered my veins, my consciousness began to blur.

Through heavy-lidded eyes, I watched Edward lean over me in his surgical gown, his voice a soothing murmur.

"Celine, don't be afraid. I'm here."

"You've always wanted to see the Northern Lights, haven't you? Once you've recovered, I'll take a long leave. We'll go together."

"Oh—and that necklace you've had your eye on? I already ordered it. It'll be waiting for you when the surgery's done."

"If I could have my way... I'd grow old with you. Just you."

Tears slipped down my temples as I listened to him paint our future.

We won't make it.

Edward.

This ending was written long before today. I can't escape it.

And neither can you.

The instant his scalpel broke my skin—

The operating room doors crashed open.

A voice, ragged with panic:

"Dr. Abbott! Something's happened!"