I felt my chest tighten with the weight of her words, but I refused to let her see me break.

Since I knew what Evelyn wanted. She wanted a reaction, wanted me to grovel and beg.

Without another word, I began gathering my belongings.

As I threw the last box into the trunk of my car, I turned to the front door one final time since I knew Evelyn was still standing there.

“One day, Liam will remember the truth,” I said firmly. “And when that day comes, he’ll see you for what you really are, Evelyn.”

Then, I got back into my car and drove away.

My thoughts turned to Theodore. “I hope Theo doesn’t mind his rabbit doll,” I muttered to myself. “He’s always slept with it since he was a baby.”

The thought of him going without his favorite toy made my heart ache, but there was no way I could fight Evelyn for it.

I stopped at a baby store on the way back to the hospital, picking up new clothes, toys, and essentials for Theodore.

It was exhausting, buying so much at once, but I refused to let Evelyn’s cruelty ruin Theodore’s comfort.

By the time I returned to Theodore’s ward, my body felt heavy with fatigue. I set the bags down in the corner and collapsed onto the sofa, too drained to do much else.

The next morning, as I finished getting ready for my ER shift, I glanced over and saw Nathaniel playing with Theodore. To my surprise, there was a pair of little bunny ears perched atop Nathaniel’s head.

I could not help but burst out laughing. “Nathan, did you even look in the mirror this morning?”

Nathaniel glanced at me, completely unfazed. “What do you know? Kids love this stuff. Isn’t that right, Theo?”

Theo babbled enthusiastically in agreement, making both of us smile.

It was then I noticed that Nathaniel and Theodore were wearing matching socks with bunny patterns. The sight sent a warm, comforting current through my heart, filling me with gratitude for Nathaniel’s genuine care.

He truly had a gift for connecting with children, as if they were his own. It was not hard to see why he had chosen pediatrics—it was as if he was made for it.

Seeing Nathaniel still focused on Theodore, gently chatting with him to keep him calm, I took the opportunity to ask, “Nathan, could you tell me more about the program you mentioned earlier? I think I’m interested in it.”

Nathaniel turned to me, his expression lighting up with cautious optimism. “It’s an offer to work at our branch hospital in the countryside,” he began, his tone both measured and encouraging.

“It’s a new hospital—just recently built—but they’re struggling to find applicants. They still have vacancies in the ER.”

I tilted my head, intrigued. “Why’s that? Are people hesitant because of the location?”

He nodded. “Exactly. ER positions are already hard to fill, even in big city hospitals, because of how demanding they are. Now imagine a small hospital in a remote area.

“The equipment might not be as advanced, the resources might be limited, but the trauma cases will be just as frequent, if not more so. It’s not an easy sell for most people.”

“What about you?” I asked, genuinely curious. “You’re not afraid of the challenge?”

Nathaniel’s expression softened, and his quiet passion shone through. “I’ve already applied for a position as a pediatrician there. From what I’ve researched, the area has a high number of malnourished children.

“They don’t have access to proper medical care, Amelia. I want to help them. They deserve the same level of care as anyone else.”

His words struck a chord with me, his sincerity stirring something deep within.

Nathaniel leaned forward slightly, his voice gentle but encouraging. “If you’re interested, I can help you apply. We could go together.

“And since it’s a branch hospital, it’s part of a doctor exchange program. If you decide it’s not for you after some time, you can always return to the main hospital.”

I mulled over his words, the possibilities swirling in my mind. That was my only opportunity to step away from the chaos and the suffocating toxicity of Liam and Evelyn.

“But…” I hesitated, glancing at him. “What about Theodore? Can you tell me more about the location? I’d need to bring him with me, and I want to make sure he’ll be okay there.”

Nathaniel’s expression softened further, as though he had anticipated my concern. “There’s a daycare near the hospital,” he said, his voice reassuring.

“It’s small, but it’s well-staffed and reliable. You wouldn’t have to worry about him. And from what I’ve heard, the area’s quiet and safe—perfect for raising a kid.”

Relief washed over me, and I felt my shoulders relax for the first time in hours. “Thank God,” I breathed, my voice laced with gratitude. “That sounds… perfect.”

Nathaniel chuckled, his familiar warmth bringing a smile to my face. “It does, doesn’t it? But first, you’ll need to talk to your professor. She’s one of your biggest supporters. I doubt she’ll be thrilled about you leaving, but she’ll understand if it’s what you need.”

I laughed softly, the sound foreign after such a difficult day.

“You’re probably right. I’ll stop by her office before heading back to the ER,” I said, leaning down to kiss Theodore’s forehead gently. “Be good for Dr. Nathaniel and the nurse, okay?”

“Yes!” Theo chirped happily, flashing me a wide grin.

Nathaniel, ever the playful teaser, grinned at me. “What, no kiss for me?”

Instead of indulging him, I playfully poked his forehead with my finger.

“Ouch!” Nathaniel exclaimed dramatically, pretending to be in pain.

The exaggerated act had Theodore giggling uncontrollably, his laughter filling the room and lifting my spirits.

After treating several patients in the ER, I finally found time to visit my professor’s office. She looked up from her desk, expecting a discussion about research, but her expression shifted when I told her my request.

“You want a transfer?” she asked, her tone a mix of surprise and disappointment.

“Yes, Professor,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the lump in my throat.

She sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair. “Fine,” she said after a pause. “I can’t hold you back. I’ll give you three years to work there, but after that, I expect you to return. Consider it an opportunity to gain experience, alright?”

A wave of relief washed over me, and I bowed slightly in gratitude. “Thank you, Professor.”

By the time I left her office, it felt like a weight had been lifted. I was the last doctor to join the staff at the new hospital, and with our departure scheduled for the next day, I had to wrap up my work at Future Hospital quickly.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly that day, and Theodore made a full recovery.

So, to celebrate our last day in City A, I decided to take him to have dinner at his favorite buffet restaurant—a cozy spot with a playground that was perfect for families.

The evening started perfectly. Theodore laughed as he ran toward the playground after finishing his meal, his smile so infectious that I could not help but smile along with him.

For a moment, everything felt normal, almost like the life I used to have.

But just as I finished my plate and got up to pick up Theodore, a voice dripped with mock sweetness stopped me in my tracks.

“Amelia?”

I froze, recognizing that voice instantly. Turning slowly, I found myself face-to-face with Evelyn, her perfectly polished demeanor glowing under the warm restaurant lights.

Liam was right beside her, his posture rigid and his expression cold. He regarded me with disdain, his sneer almost palpable as he muttered under his breath, “Huft, you again.”

His icy gaze, the way he looked at me as though I were nothing more than an inconvenience, an unwelcome shadow in his new life, made it hard to breathe.

Evelyn’s lips curved into a saccharine smile, her tone sharp despite the facade of politeness.

“You’re not following us again, are you?” she asked mockingly, her voice carrying just enough volume to draw the attention of nearby diners.

I smirked, refusing to let her get the better of me. “Are you a fool?” I said, my tone flat but laced with irritation. “Can’t you see I’ve already finished eating? Which means I’ve been here since earlier.”

Her perfect smile faltered slightly, the crack in her composure giving me the smallest sense of satisfaction.

Without sparing them another glance, I turned on my heel and headed toward the restroom, too fed up to entertain their nonsense.

As I walked away, I could feel Evelyn’s gaze on my back. Clearly taken aback by my complete disinterest in her mocking, she leaned closer to Liam and said, “Honey, why don’t you take a seat first? I need to freshen up a bit.”

Liam nodded, his tone calm but dismissive. “Okay.”

Inside the bathroom, I leaned over the sink, splashing cold water on my face as I tried to steady my breath. My reflection stared back at me, a mixture of exhaustion and anger etched into my features.

Then, that familiar, smug voice broke through my thoughts.

“Why are you still pretty, even though I’ve already kicked you out?”

I turned around sharply, my hands tightening into fists. There she was, Evelyn, standing in the doorway with a mocking smirk on her face.

Without thinking, I lashed out, aiming to slap her across the face. But Evelyn was quick—she caught my hand before it could connect.

“You’re predictable,” she sneered, her grip tightening around my wrist.

I did not let her victory last long. With my free hand, I reached for her hair, determined to pull her down from her pedestal. Evelyn stepped back to avoid me, but her heels betrayed her.

“Ah!” Evelyn shrieked as she lost her balance and fell to the floor.

As luck—or misfortune—would have it, another woman entered the bathroom just in time to see Evelyn sprawled on the floor and me standing over her.

It was the perfect scene for Evelyn to play the victim.

Commotion erupted as the woman called for help, and before I knew it, Liam stormed into the bathroom.

His eyes locked on me, and they were filled with the kind of fury I had once hoped he would reserve for those who wronged me—not for me.

“What are you doing, Amelia?” he demanded, his voice sharp and cold.

Then he came to Evelyn, with her perfect plan, Evelyn started to play victim on me.

“I just came to freshen up, but she suddenly attacked me,” she said as her crocodile tears flowed from her eyes.

Liam was directly mad at me, “You planned this, didn’t you? You knew there wouldn’t be any cameras in the bathroom, so you thought you’d get away with it.”

I stared at him, stunned by how easily he believed Evelyn’s story.

“You’re stupid, Liam,” I said, my voice shaking with restrained fury. “Stupid and blind. You believe this bitch more than the woman who was your wife for three years? Why haven't you even tried to find out the truth at all?!”

He took a step closer, his final words slicing through me like a dagger. “I don’t care,” he said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. “Just disappear from my life forever.”

Those words echoed in my mind. That was the moment I realized Liam had made his choice, a choice that did not include Theodore or me.

I was glad I had chosen to give up on him, leaving him alone with his stupidity.

I turned on my heel, picked up Theodore from the playground, and carried him to the car.

As I drove away from the restaurant, tears flowed freely down my face, blurring my vision.

Theodore’s soft snores from the back seat were the only comfort I had, a reminder of the one person who still needed me, who still loved me unconditionally.

But as I drove, a new thought began to take root in my mind. Leaving Liam quietly would not be enough.

He had discarded us, treated us like nothing. If he could be so heartless, then he deserved to feel the weight of his actions.

I took a detour, driving to a cliff well-known as a site where many had come to end their lives.

My hands trembled as I removed one of Theodore’s tiny shoes. Then, I took off my wedding ring, and placed both items on a large rock at the edge of the cliff.

With shaky hands, I snapped a photo of the shoe and the ring, the jagged rocks and rushing river below serving as a grim backdrop.

I attached the image to a text message addressed to Liam. [You forced me to do this, Liam.]

Meanwhile, I sat in my car, watching the message go from delivered to read. Liam did not respond, confirming what I already knew—he was as heartless as ever.

Without hesitation, I threw my sim card and deleted every trace of him from my phone.

I left the cliff behind, driving away not toward despair but toward freedom.