The last time Jared looked this nervous was during their wedding, back when his love was passionate, and his vows were thundering.

He had stayed loyally by her side, even after her accident and the loss of her eyesight.

She once thought their love would last forever, but dreams were never permanent.

After a while and some hesitation, Jared said, “Vanessa, we should have a big celebration for our anniversary this year.”

I agreed. This celebration would mark the end of our marriage.

Jared gave me a genuine smile.

Over the next few days, a sense of normalcy returned. Jared was seldom home, busy with preparations for the celebration.

Not only had he booked the rooftop banquet hall, but he even arranged for the ingredients for the banquet to be transported from abroad on the day of the event.

It was a day of happiness for some, and frustration for others. Regina hadn’t smiled once since Jared began preparing for the celebration.

Soon, the day arrived.

The majority of River City’s upper class gathered at the banquet hall. On the screen was a projected slideshow of pictures, captioned: “I love you, Darling. Until death do we part.”

While Jared made his rounds chatting with the guests, I stood alone to the side.

A few wives of powerful businessmen approached me to catch up.

“You’re so lucky, Mrs. Hampton!”

“Mhmm! Your husband has no room for anyone else in his eyes! He even prepared this whole day just for you.”

I smiled politely but did not comment.

Perhaps they found my lack of reaction boring because, after a while, they stopped with the pleasantries and began to gossip among themselves.

“Pfft. What a bunch of lies. True love, my foot!”

“She’s blind. What can she even do?”

“What a fool. Does she actually think Mr. Hampton hosted this event for her?”

I heard every word they said. I thought it would break me, but I was surprisingly calm.

“Mr. Hampton even prepared a fireworks show!” someone announced.

The guests began crowding toward the balcony for a better view.

I had been standing near the corner of the hall, but as the crowd moved, I found myself pushed toward the stage.

Guests shoved each other for space, and I lost my balance, falling to the ground.

My body knocked against the machinery, and I gasped in pain. Then, the slideshow and caption on the screen began to change.

Now, they were selfies of Regina, with the caption: “Welcome to the world, Baby.”

Everything made sense. None of this was for me.

After all, who would prepare a fireworks show for someone half-blind?

Even though my vision had partially returned, the sheer number of guests around me blurred everything.

I struggled to push myself up, but it was futile. The guests continued stepping on me as if I didn’t exist.

By the time I managed to lift my head, all I could see was Regina laying her head on Jared’s shoulder.

Fireworks erupted in the air, streaking gold across the night sky.

“I love you, Baby,” Jared said softly.

My chest constricted.

I couldn’t tell if it was my heart or my body that hurt, but I couldn’t take it anymore. My vision darkened, and my eyes rolled back.

When I woke, the sterile smell of disinfectant filled the air.

My vision was hazy, and my body ached. I sucked in a cold breath, trying to gather my bearings.

But what terrified me most was the conversation I overheard outside the corridor.

“Mr. Hampton, we’re seeing signs of the blood clot dispersing in your wife’s brain. Her vision could return soon.”

Instead of elation, I heard him growl, “Are you f*cking kidding me?!

“You promised me that if I fed her blood-clotting herbs, it would increase the size of the blood clot in her brain! You said it would damage her nerves so she’d go blind…”

The voice outside the door suddenly paused, and then the man pushed it open.

I quickly held my breath and closed my eyes as I heard his footsteps grow closer and then move away again.

When the door closed, Jared’s voice was much softer.

“I installed so many cameras at home to keep an eye on her, so I’d know if she suddenly recovered! I didn’t want her to do anything to Regina’s kid!

“And now you’re telling me she’s going to recover soon?

“I don’t care what you do—Vanessa better stay blind.” His voice was sharp as he grabbed the doctor’s collar.

With every word he said, I felt my body grow colder.

I had always thought my blindness was the result of bad luck.

Jared had searched far and wide for a cure, even booking flights to visit miracle doctors.

Every time, I blamed myself for burdening him and dutifully finished every bowl of medicine he gave me, even if it changed nothing.

Over time, the medicine began to taste worse, and I started pretending to drink it. Instead, I poured it down the toilet.

To my surprise, my vision began to return.

The sound of their quarreling faded, and a series of rushed footsteps echoed outside the door.

“The director wants us to check up on Mrs. Hampton.”

“Come on, I heard Mr. Hampton is there too.”

…

My eyes shot open, and I quickly changed out of the hospital robe.

To conceal myself, I grabbed a mask from the nurse’s station.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared before me.

Jared.

Regina trailed behind him.

He was looking around anxiously, grabbing anyone in a hospital robe. When he realized they weren’t me, he let them go angrily.

Beside him, Regina said something that deepened his frown. His anger rising, he shoved her to the ground.

Jared turned around, and our eyes met. My heart stuttered at the fierceness in his gaze.

Thankfully, he quickly turned away.

Keeping my head low, I slipped into a car and urged the driver to leave immediately.

I exhaled in relief only after we left the hospital grounds.

The familiar streets outside the window were filled with memories of a time when Jared still loved me.

Calmly, I asked the driver to take me to the airport.

Just then, my phone rang, and Jared’s name flashed on the screen.

I took out the new phone I had prepared, inserted my SIM card, and discarded the old one out the window.

The cars behind us crushed it.

I knew Jared had put a location tracker on my old phone. He’d always been able to find me easily—but not anymore.

I booked the earliest flight, even if it had a layover. I didn’t want to stay in this city for even one more second.

Finally breathing the air of a different place, I felt alive again.

Jared acted faster than I had anticipated. My phone was bombarded with messages as soon as I got off the plane.

All of them were from the same familiar number.

Before I could read through them, my phone rang.

“Have you gone mad, Vanessa?!

“Enough with your tantrum! How could you break your phone too?

“Where are you? I’m coming to get you right now.”

He didn’t curse or insult me, but I could hear the fury in his tone.

He continued reprimanding me for a while, but when I didn’t respond even once, his tone softened.

“Vanessa… I’m sorry.

“I should’ve taken better care of you. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you.

“Tell me where you are, hmm? I’ll come and get you right away. You’ve been asking for sweet and sour pork, right? I’ve already asked Regina to make it…”

At the mention of her name, I finally spoke, cutting him off.

“You won’t find me, Jared.”