I was discharged from the hospital five days later. My body had yet to heal fully, but I forced myself to walk toward the house that was no longer my home.

I paused at the entrance as soon as I caught the sound of voices from within.

"Isn't it Meryl's due date tomorrow? Is she really not planning on coming back?" my dad, Timothy Stewart, asked.

"You know what Meryl is like, Timothy. She uses these tactics to manipulate us for attention. You know, she even brought up divorce. It's just her way of trying to make me pay attention to her," Wallace explained firmly.

"That's right! Meryl had always been like this since childhood! How could she disappear during Beth's birthday party and then bring up the divorce with you, though? How outrageous! She needs to be taught a serious lesson!" Mom chimed in, agreeing with Wallace.

Wallace nodded firmly. "If she doesn't admit she's in the wrong and apologize to Beth, I'll refuse to go to the hospital for the delivery. That should be enough of a punishment to make her see the error of her ways."

Beth immediately interjected, exclaiming, "You can't do that, Wallace! You have to stay with Meryl when she delivers the baby. After all, the baby is what matters the most right now. We can't abandon Meryl and the baby just because she's clearly trying to strong-arm us by running away for days."

She sounded as though she were genuinely concerned for the baby and me, but in reality, she was accusing me of being childish and causing completely unnecessary drama.

I pushed the door open and walked in, making them immediately turn their attention to me.

Upon spotting me, Wallace became more convinced of his assumption.

"I knew you'd come back on your own. You've achieved your goal, so you don't need to use divorce and the baby to get my attention anymore. I'll personally accompany you to the hospital for the delivery, Meryl."

I offered no reply. I simply stood at the door, silently watching the people who were supposed to be my closest family speak such cruelties about me, all thanks to Beth.

I limped as I moved across the threshold, instinctively tightening my coat around me. It was clearly colder outside, but stepping in felt even more bitterly cold.

They spotted the gauze-wrapped wounds still visible on my body and instantly concluded that I was merely putting on an elaborate show.

"I already agreed to accompany you to the hospital for the delivery, Meryl. Why are you still going to such lengths with this act?" Wallace asked, his brow furrowed in utter annoyance.

I wasn't putting on a show, though. My leg had come perilously close to breaking, and I had gotten severe abrasions when I had rolled across the street during the crash.

I walked right up to them, took out the divorce agreement from my bag, and handed it directly to Wallace.

Mom shot me a reproachful look, saying, "Wallace has already said he'll be with you during the delivery, Meryl. How could you still bring this here?"

Beth was the only one who moved. Snatching the divorce agreement from me, she casually flipped through it.

She moved closer to me and asked with feigned innocence, "How come the agreement doesn't have the court's approval, Meryl? You must have brought some fake documents, right?"

Beth's words were all the proof Wallace and Mom needed to believe I was merely staging a performance. The initial flicker of tension they felt instantly dissolved, leaving them with only resignation and profound disappointment in me.

"You can go ahead and keep up with the whole charade, Meryl. You want to get a divorce, right? How do you intend to get it when this agreement doesn't even have the court's approval?" Mom asked, looking at me with disappointment.

I stated plainly, "I've already submitted the documents for a no-fault divorce. The court has already approved it, which means that, in a month, we'll be officially divorced. This document is merely the official summary of the divorce agreement that I'm required to give Wallace."

Beth immediately cut in, exclaiming, "Even if you want attention, you can't just make things up, Meryl! You know, applying for a no-fault divorce is extremely complicated! You don't even meet the minimum requirements to file for it!"

It only took a single remark from Beth to convince them that I was just throwing a childish temper tantrum. Mom and Dad's expressions immediately hardened with stern disapproval.

Wallace's demeanor turned even colder. "That's enough of this nonsense, Meryl! You ought to know that none of us will believe any of your lies anymore! You should pack your things now—I'll take you to the hospital for the delivery!"

"The baby is gone!" I roared as tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

It was only then that their attention finally shifted to my abdomen, where the once-prominent baby bump was now noticeably flat.

Upon seeing my flat belly, Wallace was stunned into silence for a few seconds. "Did you secretly deliver the baby all on your own while you were gone for the past few days, Meryl?"

I wanted to respond to him, but my body was utterly exhausted from standing too long. I felt my vision blur, and my throat refused to make a sound. I desperately stretched a hand out to the side, searching for something to steady myself so I wouldn't fall.

I had just reached out when Beth preemptively grabbed me, stabilizing my fall. She asked with feigned concern, "Where have you hidden the baby, Meryl? You shouldn't use your own child as leverage against us—"

She grabbed my wrist mid-sentence and used it as leverage to dramatically fling herself away from me, causing her head to hit the corner of the dining table nearby. A thin trickle of blood appeared on her head.

I hadn't even fully registered her sudden collapse and injury when Mom suddenly shoved me aside.

They immediately rushed toward Beth, their eyes filled with frantic concern for her well-being.

I, on the other hand, had been pushed to the floor, making my wound split open.

If they had just turned to look, they would have seen the fresh blood flowing from my abdomen. Yet, their entire focus was on Beth. They completely forgot that I had only just been discharged from the hospital and was still covered in injuries.

Mom exclaimed anxiously, "What should we do? Beth's bleeding! Go call for an ambulance and get her to the hospital now!"

Beth feebly opened her eyes. She was gasping for air as she tightly gripped Mom and Dad's hands, saying, "You guys shouldn't blame Meryl. I'm sure she didn't mean to push me—I'm the one to blame for not keeping my footing!"

Upon hearing that, Wallace immediately turned to accuse me, snapping, "Beth was only trying to help you, Meryl! You shouldn't have pushed her even if you're upset! Do you see how she's bleeding from the back of her head—"

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence. He looked downward, where the sight of my flat belly and the blood pooling beneath me seized his attention.

I caught a glimpse of worry and hesitation flickering in his anxious eyes, but in the next second, Beth weakly cried out, saying, "You should hurry and help Meryl first, Wallace. I know she's always put on a show, but I truly believe she’s not faking this time! You should hurry—"

She lost consciousness before she could finish her sentence, causing Mom, Dad, and Wallace to completely dismiss my state.

They frantically rushed Beth to the hospital, while I was left at home, once again succumbing to another deep coma from excessive bleeding.

The image of them turning away from me and carrying Beth out the door kept flashing through my mind—a cruel reminder that their love had never been mine. That was when I finally realized there was absolutely no reason for me to stay here anymore.

…

I found myself back in a hospital when I regained consciousness. I had no idea how I got there, and I was genuinely surprised that I had survived.

In the next instant, someone entered my field of vision. It was none other than Wallace.

I finally noticed genuine concern crossing his face as he looked at me. "I've brought you some fresh fruit and a few snacks. Do you feel hungry right now, Meryl? I can unpack them for you right away."

I met his gaze and let out a long, weary sigh. I didn't acknowledge his offer, choosing instead to ask, "How did I end up in the hospital, Wallace?"

Wallace replied, "Beth is in the room next door. Jennifer unintentionally knocked you over after you shoved Beth. You were bleeding profusely on the floor, and while I refused to believe it at first, now…"

"What is it?" I asked as I kept my gaze lowered, urging him to continue.