After I left the hospital, I went home to pack my belongings.

Five years with William had filled the place with our memories. However, since I had decided to leave William for good, I planned to erase every trace of myself from the home.

I threw out the matching slippers, toothbrushes, and pajamas.

I opened a drawer and found a photo album tucked in the back. It held only pictures of William and me, a record of our five years together.

It showed the day we confessed our feelings, the first birthday he celebrated for me, the first gift he gave me, and our first trip together, among others.

On the cover, he had written by hand, "I will love my only lover, Diana, forever."

I suddenly found it absurd. I tore every photo to pieces and tossed the album into the trash.

When I carried the trash downstairs, I ran into William coming home.

He saw me hauling so many trash bags alone and mentioned with concern, "Didn't I tell you to rest and avoid heavy work while you're pregnant?"

I said nothing and let him take the bags from my hands to throw them into the bin himself.

"Why are they so heavy? Did you clean the place?"

I nodded.

William noticed how quiet I was and assumed I was still upset. "Don't be mad, honey. I bought your mom's favorite Blue Mountain coffee. Let's visit her together."

I looked at the gift box and felt a little dazed.

Mom loved Blue Mountain coffee before she fell ill. It was pricey, and we were an ordinary family, so we could only splurge once in a while.

After William and I built a business together, I thought life would get better.

However, he didn't promote me. He sweet-talked me into quitting and staying home while he handled the earnings.

Two years ago, on Mom's birthday, I suggested he buy her Blue Mountain coffee as a gift.

He frowned and blamed me. "Coffee is all the same. Why does it have to be the expensive one? I worked hard so we could live better, not for you to buy luxury items."

Later, I saw on Caroline's social media that William had given her a limited edition Blue Mountain coffee gift set for her birthday.

By then, Mom had been seriously ill and couldn't drink any coffee. She never tasted another sip before she died.

I pushed away the gift box William held out. "She can't drink it now."

It was already too late.

William froze for a moment and then came back to himself. "Sorry. I forgot that she probably can't have coffee due to her condition."

He awkwardly pulled the box back and took my hand. "Then, we can go to the grocery store together and buy something else for your mom. How about that?"

I was about to refuse when his phone rang first.

I clearly heard Caroline's teary voice on the other end. "William, a big spider got into my place. I am so scared!"

Worry flickered in his eyes, and just like always, he turned to me and said, "Sorry, Diana. I needed to go to Caroline's place. I will go with you to see your mom next time."

He was always promising there'd be a next time, but it never came.

Thankfully, I no longer waited for him like I did before. I wouldn't give him another chance.

In the days that followed, I was busy arranging Mom's funeral. In the end, I laid her to rest in the cemetery near my home.

She had been my last surviving family member. Once she was gone, I no longer felt attached to the city.

Leaving the cemetery, I took a cab straight to the hospital. Today was the day I had scheduled my abortion.

Before entering the operating room, I looked at my phone one last time.

William had claimed he was away on a business trip these past few days and hadn't come home. He sent me messages every day without fail.

"I just finished a meeting. It looks like this deal will go through. If it does, I'll buy you a necklace."

"This trip is exhausting. Honey, make sure you rest well at home. Take care of yourself and our baby."

Yet, at the same time, Caroline had been posting photo after photo of the two of them traveling.

They went to the beach, where William wrote their names in the sand and drew a huge heart around them.

They climbed a mountain. He held her hand the entire way and shouted his love for her when they reached the summit.

They went shopping. He bought her clothes and jewelry piece by piece, then packed everything up to ship home.

...

I didn't reply to a single one of William's messages.

When the procedure was over, my hand went instinctively to my belly. For a moment, I felt dazed. That place had once nurtured a life, but now, it was empty.

Still, I knew this was the best choice for both me and the child. I wouldn't let my baby be born illegitimate. I would never give him a father who shirked responsibility.

As I was wheeled out of the operating room, another message from William came in.

"The deal went through. Honey, I got you a gift. I'll be back next week."

"Let's have our wedding again next Saturday. Invite your mother to be there. I promise I'll make you the happiest bride in the world."

He attached a photo of two delicate diamond rings in a velvet box.

I had imagined countless times what it would feel like for him to slip a ring onto my finger, each time overwhelmed with excitement and joy.

However, my heart felt calm—so calm it almost felt numb. I even felt disgust.

I glanced at my flight booking. Next Saturday happened to be the day I would leave.

So, I replied to him. "Okay. I'll prepare a surprise for you too."

On the day of the wedding, William had rented out an entire private island, inviting all of the elite families, high-ranking officials, and influential figures of Astoria City.

The ceremony would be broadcast live on television from start to finish.

Just as he had promised, the wedding was lavish and grand.

…

Meanwhile, I was at home, packing the last of my things.

After five years with William, I owned so little that everything I had fit neatly into a single suitcase.

Before I left, he called me. "Honey, are you ready? The driver should be there soon. I can't wait."

I couldn't wait either. I couldn't wait to leave this city and disappear from his life forever.

To avoid the people William had sent, I slipped out through the back gate of my neighborhood. No one noticed me, and I easily made it into a car headed for the airport.

Right before takeoff, I sent William the photo of the marriage certificate the wedding guest had found online that day.

Then, I deleted and blocked every possible way for him or Caroline to reach me, and boarded the flight to another city.

...

At the wedding venue, William stood in a custom-tailored suit, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Under the gaze of the guests, the host raised the microphone and announced loudly, "Now, let us welcome the bride!"

No one appeared at the entrance.

William's smile froze on his face.

Just then, the driver he had sent for me came rushing in. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, but Ms. Harper seems to have disappeared. We only found this."

He handed over a document.

William took it, and his eyes widened the moment he saw what it was.

It was a report for an abortion procedure.

My name and the operation time were printed clearly on the front. On the back, there was only one sentence.

"William, this is goodbye forever."