She And The Past, Scattered Like Shooting Stars

I became disabled in my legs to save Ellen Haley and she swore to heaven that she would never let me down.

The day I regained the ability to walk, she wept with joy.

She rushed out to buy every high-end pair of leather shoes and tailored trousers the city had to offer, indulging in a spree that also included a watch worth tens of millions. 

That was all to celebrate my recovery.

Then she hugged me happily. She cried, laughed and pressed tearful kisses to my legs over and over again.

“Logan,” she whispered, her voice trembling with hope, “I’m so happy. When you fully recover, we’ll have a child and I’ll give you the best of everything in the world.”

Her tearful eyes sparkled with sincerity, brimming with dreams of a future she believed we could share.

I looked at her for a long moment, my lips curving into a faint smile. But deep down, I held my silence, unable to voice the thoughts stirring within me.

She did not know that I actively cooperated with the treatment just to leave her as soon as possible.

There would never be a future between us.

***

As I went to the hospital for a follow-up checkup, the young nurse looked at me with surprise. “Are you Mr. Lautner from the TV show? You're so handsome.”

I did not answer and her colleague glared at her. “Don't talk nonsense. Mrs. Lautner loves Mr. Lautner so much, why would she let him come to our small hospital for a checkup alone?”

She was right.

Ellen loved me and her love was impeccable.

Back then, my legs were broken by a car while I was trying to save Ellen. 

She cried her heart out and was determined to cure me at all costs. She even built a hospital specifically for me and invited the best medical team to serve me alone.

Later, in order to accumulate merit for me, the hospital was opened to the public free of charge.

After learning that I had recovered, she was so happy that she could not stop smiling and went to the temple in person to kowtow and fulfill her vow.

The fireworks that were set off all night almost lit up the entire city.

She bought high-end leather shoes and trousers in the city.

He even lit sky lanterns and spent tens of millions of dollars to buy an antique watch to celebrate for me.

As she put the watch on my hand, her eyes were filled with tears of joy. “We have finally waited for this day. We must hurry up and have a child, so that my life will be complete.”

How could she have imagined that when she was immersed in joy?

I had decided to disappear from her world forever, after all.

“Sir, please sign here.” The nurse's words interrupted my recollection.

At that moment, the TV was playing an interview with Ellen.

Ellen, who was usually serious, often shed tears when she mentioned me.

“My husband was injured while trying to save me. I don't know how to repay his love, so I can only do my best to treat him well.

“When I saw him looking pale with pain during rehabilitation, I wanted to give him my leg.”

The young nurse looked at it with envy.

“I heard that Mr. Lautner and his wife were childhood sweethearts. When Mr. Lautner's family went bankrupt, Mrs. Lautner resolutely married him despite everyone's opposition. After marriage, she treated him with all her heart. It's more romantic than a novel."

When I heard that, my hand paused as I was about to sign.

Ellen took care of me back then, betrayed my family and caused my family to be broken up.

She swore to me, “There will never be lies and deception between us. If you break this promise, you will die a miserable death.”

In order to prove her heart, she knelt in the heavy rain for a day and a night, asking her family to accept me.

After the success, she put the diamond ring on my finger while having a high fever and trembling all over.

“Don't be afraid, Logan. I'm here to take care of all the hardships in the world for you.”

She loved me like a treasure for five years.

But it happened that day when I just started rehabilitation, I received sexy photos from her lover, Felipe Hatfield.

I realize that the hospital named after me was built specifically for him.

Ellen took the trouble to accompany me to the hospital for medical treatment and examination.

In fact, it was all just to take the opportunity to see him more.

In the early stages of rehabilitation, I was so tortured by the pain that I passed out and had to have an IV drip.

Ellen, however, was having an affectionate affair with Felipe next door.

At that moment, the pain in my heart far exceeded the pain of my disabled legs.

I gritted my teeth and intensified my training, refusing to give up even if the pain made me faint.

The purpose was to leave her step by step as soon as possible with these legs that were broken for her.

After the examination, I called my supervisor. “Sir, I agree to join the secret research center.”

“Nonsense, I saw the news. The institute is in the northwest, the environment is very harsh and all contact with the outside world is cut off. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet, can you endure this hardship?”

I sent the examination report to my tutor to show my determination to participate.

The instructor was stunned for a long time. 

“You... have you really thought it through? Does Ellen agree?”

I was once hesitant because I could not bear to leave Ellen. But then, it was Ellen who made the choice for me.

I said seriously, “I don't need her consent. After being a pampered gigolo for so many years, I should make some contribution to society.

“I only have one request, to permanently cancel my identity so that no one in this world can find me.”

Death was just a moment, but forgetting someone took a lifetime.

I did not want Ellen to die. I wanted her to live in regret for the rest of her life.

“Okay, Logan, you finally didn't let me down. Take care of yourself and wait for my news.”

After some pleasantries, he hung up the phone.

I noticed the string of messages coming to my phone.

[Ellen: Honey, I bought a handmade suit that's perfect for you. I have also booked a package so that we can take family photos together when I get pregnant.]

Since I did not reply, she sent another message.

[Ellen: Are you feeling unwell? Why aren’t you replying? Do you want me to cancel the meeting and accompany you?]

Seeing that I chose to never reply to her messages. As a result, Ellen called me more than a dozen times.

Amidst the dense love words and care, there was also a loving video sent by Felipe.

I read through the messages one by one, turned off my phone, threw away the watch on my wrist and left alone.

On the way, I met Ellen who came hurriedly.

The time Ellen saw me, she hugged me in her arms with an anxious look on her face. 

“Where have you been? You didn't even reply to my messages. I was really scared to death, you know.”

I turned my head away slightly, pretending not to see Ellen's wrongly buttoned shirt and the kiss mark on her neck.

“I just went out for a walk. My phone ran out of battery and turned off.”

She breathed a sigh of relief and pulled me into the car.

“It's my fault. I should have spent more time with you. There was an emergency meeting at the company and I had to attend. I promise you, this won't happen again.”

What would require unbuttoning the shirt to participate?

I did not say anything and Ellen took out a large bunch of blooming lilies of the valley from the trunk.

“A gift of atonement.”

The lily of the valley in the flower shop near the hospital was the most beautiful. Ellen would bring me a bouquet every time she passed by.

I once thought that was a sign of her love for me.

Thinking about it at that moment, that was more like compensation for the guilt after having an affair.

I suddenly thought of the video Felipe just sent. It was covered with traces of ambiguity.

[Felipe: Don't think you've won just by calling her away once. I have plenty of ways to keep her by my side. Just wait and see.]

In fact, I did not know what methods Felipe had and I thought Ellen was really weird. 

She would worry about my safety if I did not reply to her messages.