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!"