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Third Person’s POV
“A week ago, the blood clot in Shannon’s brain suddenly disappeared,” the doctor explained. “And now that it stopped pressing on her optic nerve, she was able to see again.”
Hearing this, Rusty instinctively let go of the doctor’s collar and stumbled back, stunned.§
But the doctor didn’t stop talking.
“She was so excited. She kept talking about how she was going to make it up to you for taking care of her all these years. I suggested she get a full check–up, but she said no. She wanted to go home first and tell you the good news in person.“}]
In that instant, Rusty’s face turned pale. Something clicked in his mind. He didn’t even glance back at the exam room where Gale was waiting. He just bolted, jumped into his car, and sped off.
Panic gripped him. He remembered how Shannon had tried to say something earlier that morning. Now, the thought of what it could’ve been made his chest tighten. With that thought, he pressed harder on the gas pedal.
Frantically, he tried calling her again and again. But just as he looked down at his phone, he didn’t notice the car approaching from the right.
With a loud bang, the phone flew out of his hand. His body slammed into the steering wheel, then the windshield. Blood filled his mouth, and shattered glass tore through his skin.
The other driver ran up, apologizing, promising to take full responsibility.”
But Rusty didn’t even stop to listen. He spat out the blood, started the car again through sheer willpower, and drove off with one goal in mind.
He couldn’t afford to waste another second.
When he finally got home, he was greeted by silence.
Despite the obvious fact, he still told himself Shannon was still there, just angry, maybe hiding somewhere in the house.
But then, he walked into the study and saw the safe was wide open.
His steps slowed, and his breathing faltered.§
It was over.
He stood in front of the safe, his pale face reflected in the metallic surface. His hands trembled as he reached inside and pulled out the documents.}
There it was–her signature.}
His knees gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
She knew everything.”
Even so, he refused to give up. He clung to the hope that if he apologized, she’d forgive him since she had loved him so much. Shannon’s POV
Staring at my phone, I felt disgusted. Rusty had called again and again, and I kept hanging up, but he wouldn’t stop.
Just as I was about to block his number, a message popped up.
[Shannon, please let me explain. I didn’t expect the baby to die. It was an accident. I never wanted a divorce. We promise to grow old together, right?]%
As soon as I finished reading his text, the rage I’d buried came roaring back.
I started typing a furious reply, but before I could send it, his video call request popped up and my finger accidentally hit “accept.“} Our eyes met through the screen.
But I was shocked to see his face bruised and full of blood. He, on the other hand, looked like he might break apart right then and there. His voice trembled with emotion, and so did his entire body.
“Shannon, I know I messed up. But please, think about all the good times we had. I’m begging you. Just give me one more chance.“> His shamelessness lit a fire in me, so I asked, snapping, “What about the baby in Gale’s stomach? That’s your child too, isn’t it?” The moment I responded, he lit up with hope, like my attention alone meant redemption.N
“You tell me what to do. I don’t care if she gets rid of it.”
I almost laughed at how cold he sounded. Just days ago, he was tangled up with Gale, whispering sweet promises. Now he wanted to throw it all away for another shot at me?!
It was pathetic.
I suddenly felt sick. Had Rusty always been like this, or had I just never seen him clearly?
“Do you know what I saw the first time I regained my sight?” I asked coldly.!!
He froze, and his face drained of color again.
Still, I continued, “I saw you kissing her. The two of you, all over each other. I know you planned to dump me in a nursing home. You traded my child’s life for her dream of being a mother. Rusty, I’m not walking away to move on. I’m walking away to make you pay.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but Clayton interrupted behind me, saying, “Shannon, let’s go. The room’s ready for you.” Hearing an unfamiliar male voice and the ambiguous words of the man, Rusty’s mind went haywire.
