Chapter 6
The medical staff left one by one. The door wasn’t fully closed, leaving a crack ajar.
Marissa peeked through the gap and saw Matt standing by the hospital bed, slowly unbuttoning his shirt with trembling fingers, like he was struggling.
Leah lay on the bed, cheeks flushed and eyes brimming with tears.
Matt took off his shirt, revealing his toned body. With shaking hands, he leaned over and began unbuttoning Leah’s gown, one button, then
another…
In the end, their bare bodies pressed tightly together in a deep embrace.
Leah let out a satisfied sigh. “Mr. Holloway… your body’s so cold…”
In that moment, Marissa felt her whole world shatter.
She stood outside the ward, staring through the slightly open door at the two of them–naked, clinging to each other. Matt held Leah close, their skin touching, their warmth entwined, like a real married couple.
She suddenly remembered how Matt used to hate being touched.
Once, a female assistant at work accidentally brushed his hand. He immediately went to wash it three times, then came back frowning and said, “Marissa, I can’t stand anyone touching me, except you.”
But now, he had stripped down without hesitation, using his own body to warm Leah.
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Marissa bit her lip hard, only letting go when she tasted blood.
She turned and left, bought some fever medicine from the room next door,
then went home alone.
That night, she had one dream after another, all of which were of the 16- year–old Matt.
He climbed the school wall and skipped class just to buy her milk tea. He stood on the basketball court, shouting, “Marissa, I love you!”
He dropped to his knees in the snow and said, “Will you marry me?” In the end, 16–year–old Matt held 16–year–old Marissa’s hand as they walked farther and farther away, until every memory faded with the wind.
Three days later, Matt finally came back.
They faced each other in the living room, tension thick in the air. Marissa turned to head upstairs, but Matt suddenly grabbed her wrist.
“Marissa, about what happened that day, I need to explain-”
“You chose Leah because she’s pregnant,” Marissa said calmly. “I understand.”
Matt paused, then let out a quiet breath, thinking she truly didn’t mind.
He smiled, his tone relaxing. “I’m glad you get it. Oh, and your birthday’s coming up. I’ll throw you a party.”
Marissa was about to refuse, but he had already let go and turned away to
make the call.
The birthday party was as grand as the previous years. The glittering chandeliers, a glowing champagne tower, and guests raising their glasses in celebration. But Matt’s mind was clearly elsewhere.
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He kept glancing at his phone, replying to messages nonstop. Marissa didn’t have to guess; he was worried about Leah and the baby she was carrying.
Sure enough, before the party was even over, Matt hurried over and whispered, “Marissa, something urgent came up at work. I have to go.”
Marissa said nothing, just quietly watched him walk away.
She didn’t feel like staying either and was about to leave when her phone suddenly buzzed. A message popped up from an unknown number.
“Happy birthday, Marissa. Too bad no one really cares about your party.”
Attached was a photo.
In it, Matt, who was supposedly at “work,” was standing in another hall. It was Leah’s birthday too. He had left in such a hurry to celebrate another woman’s birthday.
Another message from Leah popped up, “Come take a look. My birthday party’s right next door, and there’s a little surprise waiting for you!”
Marissa had meant to leave, but her legs moved on their own, carrying her
toward the neighboring room.
The moment she opened the door, it felt like a bolt of lightning struck her.
Matt was gently caressing Leah’s belly, and his gaze was so gentle.
Cayden and Ava were slipping an emerald bracelet onto Leah’s wrist.
“Leah, this bracelet has been passed down to the daughters–in–law of the Holloway family. You’ve done so much carrying our grandchild.
“To us, you’re our only daughter–in–law.”
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Chapter 6
It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over Marissa. Her whole body trembled. She recognized that bracelet.
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Back when Matt first brought her home to meet his parents, Cayden and Ava had once held Marissa’s hand with the same warmth and said, “Marissa, this bracelet has been passed down to the daughters–in–law of the Holloway family. One day, it’ll be yours.” But after word got out that she couldn’t have children, they never smiled at her again, and even asked for the bracelet in a roundabout way.
And now, that same bracelet was on Leah’s wrist.
Marissa wanted to leave, but her feet felt rooted to the ground.
Just then, Matt suddenly looked up from across the room. His eyes cut through the crowd and locked onto hers.
His expression changed instantly. He rose to his feet. “Marissa!”
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