When I was four months pregnant, my fiance, who was a doctor, left me hanging when we were supposed to get married. This was not the first time; this was the sixteenth time.

The first time, his nurse fainted at the sight of blood during an operation, and I waited for him for an entire day at the city hall.

The second time, his nurse called, and he left me behind on a viaduct to buy daily necessities for her.

Whenever we were about to get married, his nurse would call him for all sorts of problems.

The final time was when he told me he was sick. Despite the rain, I rushed to the hospital, only to find that it was his nurse who was sick.

He stayed by her side to care for her while he lied to me without batting an eye.

At that moment, I began to hate him.

I aborted our baby and left. But he chased after me and even traveled out of the country just to apologize.

The rain drenched my body.

Unlike my pathetic appearance, the atmosphere in the room was domestic and happy.

Garcia York, a nurse, was lying in bed. Meanwhile, Jonathan Pullman, my fiance, stayed beside her and told her to rest as he peeled an apple for her.

The apple skin never broke.

It showed that he was skilled at peeling apples.

I recalled the five years we spent together.

I loved eating apples, but I never managed to pick up the skill of peeling them. I even ended up injuring my hands a few times.

I used to ask Jonathan for help, but he would always scowl.

“Since it’s so bothersome, don’t eat it. The only knives I’ll hold are scalpels, not fruit knives.”

I stopped eating apples after that.

Yet, Jonathan picked up a fruit knife and peeled an apple for Garcia with his precious hands.

“I’m sorry. I prevented you from getting married to Elena again, Jonathan,” Garcia apologized with teary eyes, like a sad bunny.

Jonathan froze for a moment before he sternly said, “My marriage to Elena isn’t as important as your health. Don’t say such things again.”

I put my hand against the wall for support because I almost fell to my knees.

Jonathan had stood me up fifteen times when we were supposed to get married. But I never blamed him once for it.

However, during this sixteenth time, his words stabbed my heart like a knife.

It hurt so much that I trembled.

Before I could rush in to argue with them, they said something that struck my soul.

“If you hadn’t celebrated my birthday with me, you wouldn’t have drunk so much wine… I never expected Elena to do something so despicable.”

“It’s my fault. If I hadn’t drunk so much because I was too happy, she wouldn’t have had the chance to get pregnant and force me to marry her.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

That day, four months ago, I celebrated my birthday.

Jonathan had promised to celebrate my birthday with me. But he later said that he had a gathering with his colleagues and came home late while drunk.

As I helped him out of his clothes, he dragged me to bed.

He was incredibly happy that day, and he held me tightly as he wished me a happy birthday.

In the past, whenever we made love, he would make sure to use protection. But that day, he did not.

I thought that he was just delighted to celebrate my birthday for the fifth time, but I was piggybacking off of Garcia’s birthday.

Besides, he was saying that I was using my baby as a tool to force him into marrying me?

Somehow, I ended up becoming a despicable person in their minds.

My clothes stuck to my body. They were cold and wet, but they could not compare to the disappointment in my heart.

Five years ago, I had cut ties with my parents and traveled to this city with Jonathan. I needed to stay at home to do the chores, and this meant that I had to give up on my dreams of becoming an artist. Even so, I was willing to do it because I loved him.

I wanted to become his wife and live the rest of my life with him.

However, at this moment, all of my hopes turned into a joke.

Hatred began to fester within me.

I stumbled as I left, but I soon heard footsteps behind me.

Then came Jonathan’s surprised voice. “Why are you here?”

I turned and met Jonathan’s gaze.

He ignored my drenched appearance and scowled. “Why did you come here? I told you before that this is my workplace, not some club.”

He spoke to me so sternly. He seemed completely different from the gentleman he was when he spoke to Garcia.

I should feel sad, just like how I always felt when he neglected me.

However, all I felt was a cold numbness this time.

“You said that you were sick, so I came to visit you.”

I had waited for Jonathan for an entire day at the city hall today. But I only managed to get through to his phone when it was time to clock off work.

When he mentioned that he was sick, I threw caution to the wind and ran over.

I was thankful that I did.

Otherwise, who knew how long he would keep toying with me like an idiot?

He was momentarily stunned before he looked away guiltily.

“You got it wrong. I’m not the one who’s sick. It’s G—”

“You’re right. It’s my fault.” I interrupted him.

Indeed, I was wrong. I had been wrong right from the start.

“I won’t be bothering you two now.”

With that, I left.

Jonathan did not run after me because Garcia started crying. “Is Elena mad at me? It’s my fault… Why do I keep getting sick…?”

Jonathan comforted her gently, “It’s not your fault. She’s just being petty.”

I hurried off.

On my way back, Jonathan called me.

I did not want to answer, but he kept calling.

“Yes?”

“You aren’t busy over the next few days, are you?” Jonathan gently asked.

I responded with silence, so he continued, “Garcia just underwent surgery and needs to be hospitalized for three days. Since you have nothing to do, cook for her over the next few days. She’s a young woman who just joined the workforce, and she has no one to take care of her. You’ll be my wife soon, so you should take care of my student, right?”

He showed such great care for Garcia.

Yet, for his sake, I had argued so fiercely with my parents that I cut ties with them. I would often wake up crying because I missed home so much.

I did not know anyone apart from Jonathan in this city.

Even so, he never showed me such great care before.

A person would only show concern to another if they loved them.

To think that I would only understand this after five years…

Jonathan was about to say something else, but I cut in firmly, “Sure.”

He fell silent.

He must not have expected me to agree to it so readily.

After all, he was asking me to cook for another woman he was close to.

Unbeknownst to him, I had already decided to leave his side.

Before I left the hospital, I had both booked an abortion and scheduled a flight home for three days later.

Jonathan once told me that my love was the only thing that could tie me to him, not a marriage certificate.

Since my love could not tie him to me, I did not want him anymore.

After I got home, I showered in cold water.

The heater broke down half a month ago, and we needed to replace one of the parts for it to work again.

According to Jonathan, we did not need to hire someone for it and he would take care of the repair.

However, many days passed, and he kept saying that he had no time. That was to say, he was busy taking care of Garcia, who kept getting into trouble.

I kept waiting, just like I waited for him to fulfill his promise to marry me.

Unfortunately, our love had fallen to bits and pieces, just like this heater.

I endured the discomfort and went online to find a professional plumber.

The moment the heater was fixed, I finally felt at ease.

So, even if Jonathan was not beside me, I could still survive.

Jonathan did not come back that night.

The next day, I cooked for Garcia, just like I had promised.

The next night, Jonathan still did not return.

On the afternoon of the third day, I went to the hospital with a lunch box and saw him waiting for me by the road.

He was smoking while leaning against his car door, and he looked handsome.

I was a little surprised, as I did not expect him to come out so suddenly.

He hurried over to me and took the lunch box before saying, “Thanks.”

He kept delaying our marriage, but he was so eager to pick up lunch for Garcia.

I found it hilarious, and I laughed soundlessly.

At this moment, he actually reached out to tuck my hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry for standing you up again. Why don’t we get married after Garcia’s discharged?”

I was not as happy as before. All I could think about was how to say no.

Just then, his phone rang.

Garcia’s name was on the screen, and it stung my eyes.

He answered it, and in less than two seconds, he turned around anxiously. “Garcia’s feeling sick. I have to check on her. Go back and take care of yourself.”

Just like the previous sixteen times, a call from Garcia was like an order from God Himself, and Jonathan was her most loyal servant.

I watched him leave. After I went back, I started packing.

Since I had assimilated into his life, I did not have a lot of belongings in the house. It did not take long for me to be done.

I looked around and noticed that nothing about the house changed even after I packed up my things.

It was as if my existence was insignificant to Jonathan.

I wanted to rest for a while, but I received a new friend request on Instagram. I knew it was from Garcia.

I accepted it, but I regretted it at the next second.

I knew that Garcia was not going to say anything nice, but I never expected her to be so direct.

Garcia sent me a few photos.

They were all photos of her leaning against a man’s shoulder while they were in a cinema.

I recognized that man’s dress shirt. Jonathan was wearing it earlier.

[Jonathan’s so nice. He brought me to see a horror movie right after I mentioned that I wanted to see it. Has he ever watched one with you before, Elena?]

No.

Forget a horror movie, we had never even gone to the movie theater together. Jonathan claimed that he felt uneasy when he sat in a dark place. Additionally, those who loved watching horror movies were apparently sick in the head.

He sure was good at coming up with excuses.

I laughed soundlessly again. I was such a joke.

[Thanks for the food you made for me, Elena. It’s no wonder why Jonathan always praises your cooking.

[Some women really seem like they’re suited for wearing an apron and working in a kitchen.

[Not me, though.]

I could practically see the mocking sneer on Garcia’s face.

I replied, [Do you really think you got yourself a good man?]

Then I immediately blocked her.

Then, I refused to read any of the messages that she sent to harass me.

She was not the only one I blocked; I blocked Jonathan too, not that he would notice.

Just as I had expected, even when I went to the hospital to get my abortion, he never noticed it.

I tried my best to avoid him, but I still ended up running into him in the hospital.

“I forgot to tell you. Garcia’s getting discharged today. You don’t have to send her food anymore.”

He seemed happy. He looked even happier than when he received his promotion.

I simply nodded.

When he realized that I was not leaving, his expression changed. “You don’t have to wait for me. I have a few other surgeries to perform, and I don’t know whether I’m going back tonight.”

I was already used to his lies.

I saw Garcia’s Instagram post today. She was clearly looking forward to me seeing it. That was why she made the post public.

Her newest post read, [I’m getting discharged, and a certain someone has agreed to go for a candlelight dinner with me tonight. I’m so excited!]

I pulled my thoughts back to the present and looked at Jonathan coldly. “I’m not waiting for you. I’m just here for a checkup.”

Regret flashed in his eyes.

“Is it a prenatal checkup? I’ll go with you. I’ve never been to any of them so far.”

I never needed him for those checkups, and I did not need him this time.

I was about to say no when a colleague of his suddenly called for him.

The sight of him leaving made me sigh in relief. Just when I wanted to head to the operating room, Garcia suddenly showed up and blocked my path.

She had a mocking look on her face. “I really am impressed with you, Elena. To think you’d be able to stomach all of this just to marry Jonathan. Do you really think that he’ll marry you just because you delivered food to me every day?”

Since she was putting me on the spot, I mocked her right back. “Since things are going so great between you two, why aren’t you marrying him? Is it because you don’t love him enough, or does he not love you enough?”

However, Garcia blurted out, “Love that’s too easily won won’t be treasured, and you’re the perfect example. Look. You’re forced to get an abortion now.”

I was stunned.

Yes, I was a real idiot.

I thought that since I no longer had a life of my own, I could gain happiness if my life revolved around Jonathan.

I never thought that since people were cheap creatures to begin with, they would only treasure things that were out of their reach.

“Garcia.”

Jonathan’s voice pulled me back from my musings.

I looked up and realized that he had stood behind her at some point in time.

He stared at her quite sternly.

Garcia hunched her shoulders in shock. After all, she had just uttered some truly harsh words.

However, Jonathan merely said, “You’ve just been discharged. Why aren’t you back home? Are you lingering around to catch germs and get sick again?”

Garcia was stunned before she gave me an even more smug look than before. She looked like a general who had won the war.

Then, Jonathan turned to me. “Aren’t you going for a checkup? You should go now.”

At this point, there was really no need for me to stay anymore.

I cast Jonathan one final glance before I left.

…

Jonathan’s story after Elena left.

It was 10 p.m. when Jonathan walked down the hospital corridor. He had just finished surgery, and he heard two nurses gossiping.

“A woman came here today for an abortion, even though she was four months pregnant. She said that she fell out with her parents just to be with her boyfriend, but in the end, her boyfriend cheated on her. She’s so pitiful.”

“I saw her too. She left on her own after the surgery, and her face was as pale as a sheet. She couldn’t even press the elevator button. I was the one who helped her.”

Jonathan stilled. For some reason, he thought of Elena. She was four months pregnant too.

She had quietly kept him company for five years, and she was as gentle as a cloud.

Suddenly, Jonathan wanted to call Elena and listen to her voice.

At this moment, one of his colleagues walked over to him. “Dr. Pullman.”

Jonathan repeated what he had heard to his colleague and said, “That woman shouldn’t regret getting an abortion and leaving that sort of man. In any case, I’ll never let Elena end up in that state.”

However, his colleague gave him a look full of pity.

“Dr. Pullman, I wanted to tell you that Elena’s the one who came in for the abortion.”