When I was finally able to force my heavy eyelids open, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling.

My body ached as if I had been run over by a truck. The pain was unbearable, especially in my abdomen.

Instinctively, I reached for it, only to discover that the bump that had once been there was now gone. I felt a hollow ache within, like I was missing a piece of myself.

"Darling, you're awake!" Gabriel, who had been lying by my side, abruptly lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot.

I turned away, refusing to look at the fake, tender expression of his.

"Our baby didn't make it," he said quietly, carrying a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "But thank God you're fine! I didn't lose you. Cheer up. We can try for another child once you recover!"

Bitterness rose in my throat as I wondered if my child was only meant to be medicine for Lucia. I shook my head, a dull ache spreading through every fiber of my being.

Gabriel tried to coax me as he always did, plastering a smile on his face. "You must be starving. Wait here. I'll go to the east side of the city and buy your favorite pudding."

I looked into those soft, smiling eyes and couldn't understand how he could hide his love for another woman.

As night began to fall, he still hadn't come back.

When the nurse came to change my dressings, her eyes were filled with pity. "Don't you have any family to take care of you?"

I took a deep breath and dragged my weak body up to the third floor.

Through the glass door, I watched as Gabriel spoon-fed Lucia pudding, his gaze gentle and full of warmth.

Lucia's complexion was pallid, yet her beauty still shone through.

When she noticed me, she gave me a taunting look before clutching Gabriel's arm and coyly asking him to help her put on her shoes.

I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug deep into my skin, blood seeping through my fingers.

Gabriel sank to one knee, took her ankle, pressed a reverent kiss on the top of her foot, and let her step on his knee as he slipped her shoes on.

My nose prickled, and tears slid down my cheeks like a broken string of pearls. I couldn't stop them.

This was the chauvinist who once told me that a man should never get on his knees easily and that in this life, apart from proposing, he would never get on his knees for me.

Yet, here he was, looking like a worshipper at Lucia's feet. I, on the other hand, was reduced to a pitiful thief, coveting someone else's happiness.

Panic flashed across his face when he turned with Lucia in his arms. He hurriedly let go of her and rushed toward me. "I can explain, Darling! Raphael is too busy, so he asked me to look after Lucia."

"Where's my pudding?" I asked hoarsely.

He handed me a bowl of pudding that had already turned lukewarm and apologized. "Lucia ate it, but it's good. Have some, Darling. I'm sure you'll like it!"

Lucia strolled over, her face pale and her voice soft. "I didn't know the pudding was yours, Pheebs. I'm sorry."

Gabriel's eyes clouded with conflict and sorrow as he stared at Lucia's thin figure. I bit down hard on my tongue until the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth, forcing myself to let go.

"It's fine." I gave in, despite the fact that he had forgotten that whenever I ate lukewarm pudding, I ended up barfing my guts out.

As long as Lucia was around, Gabriel saw nothing else; she was always his top priority.

There was a time when his gaze had fallen on me, too.

Three years ago, when he had rescued me from the ocean, dripping wet, he got on one knee in front of me and pulled out a dazzling purple diamond ring. "Please give me the chance to love you for as long as I live, Pheebs."

The pink diamond bracelet on Lucia's wrist was the design that had just brought him acclaim.

I still remembered the joy I felt watching him on television, giving his acceptance speech. The host had asked Gabriel where his inspiration came from, and he beamed, "I wanted to give it to the woman I love most, because she is as beautiful as the stars!"

The audience marveled with envy. Even my best friend rang me up to tease me about having such a loving husband.

Yet, the woman he loved had never been me.

Raphael was always busy with work, so Gabriel took it upon himself to look after me and Lucia.

He bought me a bunch of new clothes and handbags as he promised, "Don't take it the wrong way. It's not that I don't love you anymore; it's just that Raphael can't step away from work right now. Plus, he doesn't trust anyone else to take care of Lucia. You understand, don't you?"

When I didn't answer, he wrapped his arm around my waist, his warm breath brushing against my neck. "Come on, don't be mad at me. In a couple of days, I'll take you to church to pray for your safety and well-being."

What he didn't know was that I wasn't angry; I was just numb. I had already died on the night that my child was taken from me. Every word he said now felt like a feather brushing past me, unable to stir even the slightest ripple in my heart.

…

The day we went to church, Lucia and Raphael came along as well.

The path to the church went through a steep mountain path, so Raphael kept close to Lucia while looking after her.

Gabriel frowned, lowering his gaze to hide the frustration in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Gabe?" I asked, a little out of breath.

He hastily regained his composure, crouched in front of me, and offered, "There's still a long way to go before we reach the top, Darling. Since you haven't fully recovered yet, you should let me carry you up."

My cheek rested against his broad back, his warmth seeping through his clothes and into me. Every step he took was steady, as if he would never let me fall.

It reminded me of the day he came crashing through the waves to reach me. In my haze, I thought a prince had appeared before me.

"When I'm all better, let's visit my parents' graves," I murmured, wrapping my arms around his neck.

Without a moment's hesitation, he said, "Sure, we'll do whatever you want."

When we celebrated our first anniversary, he promised my parents just as firmly that he would spend his whole life doing whatever I wanted.

Raphael walked over with four prayer candles. "Light them up and place them by the altar. I'll take Lucia to the chapel for a bit."

Gabriel forced a smile. His grip on my hand tightened, his palm slick with cold sweat. "Lucia's not in good health. A baby can wait, can't it?"

Lucia leaned into Raphael, chuckling behind her hand. "It can't wait anymore. Mom and Dad called just last night. They're urging us to have a baby."

Her eyes drifted ever so slightly in my direction. "They've been waiting so long for a grandchild, only for something this awful to happen."

The blood drained from my face. Raphael avoided my gaze and hurriedly pulled her away.

Gabriel stared blankly at their retreating figures, lost and dazed. It took him a while to come back to his senses, placing his hand on my belly.

He kissed me fervently, and between his ragged breaths, I heard him whisper, "It doesn't matter if we don't have a child. You're all I need."

Yet, his heart hammered against his chest.

"Let's go," I said flatly, without responding to whatever he said.

We lit our candles, and Gabriel lowered his head as he prayed.

I teasingly asked, "So, what did you pray for?"

His eyes crinkled as he pressed his forehead against mine. "That you'll love me forever."

My gaze dimmed, and I turned away, placing my candle at the altar. Only I knew that I'd never be able to love him for the rest of my life, not after learning he'd killed our child.

The car accident had shattered the bone in my calf, so standing too long always left me with a dull ache.

Suddenly, the pain flared up again, and it was sharp enough to make me gasp.

Gabriel's face tightened with worry. "What's wrong, darling?"

However, before I could answer, a shrill ringtone cut me off.

"What did you just say? I'll be right there!" His hand trembled as he hung up. "Lucia just fainted. Raphael and I need to rush her to the hospital. Go home without me."

Before I could say a word, he hurried off to the chapel.

I was rooted to the spot, watching his figure disappear into the crowd. I knew he had decided to abandon me yet again.

The draft flickered through the rows of prayer candles, making their flames dance. I walked over to the one he had lit. On the small slip of paper beside it, in bold, sweeping strokes, he had written: "I pray that Lucia will always be healthy and happy."

I held that note in my hands like a lost child and broke down in tears. There were passersby walking around me, but I couldn't care less. The pain was unbearable.

However, the pain in my leg was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. Gabriel had always fed me one lie after another.

With tears streaming down my face, I typed out a message. "Please help me prepare a death certificate, Dr. Camden."

I only set my phone down after the doctor, Kathleen Camden, replied, "Alright."

After stumbling home in the pouring rain, soaked to the bones, I found Gabriel's mother, Caroline Harmon, waiting inside. She had always looked down on me because I was an orphan who couldn't help Gabriel with his career; she was convinced that I wasn't worthy of him.

Back then, Gabriel had gone against her will to marry me.

She sat on the couch, her eyes churning with emotions, like a calm before the storm.

"You're finally back." Caroline glanced at me and made no attempt to hide her disdain for me.

Rain dripped from my hair into my collar, and the cold made me shiver all over.

Gabriel draped his coat over my shoulders, his strong arms drawing me into his embrace. He said apathetically, "Mom, whatever it is, let's talk about it tomorrow."

Caroline knocked the coffee mug from the table, sending it crashing to the floor in pieces. She pointed at my nose, fuming, "What's so good about this woman? Mrs. Prescott's daughter is returning to the country soon. Hurry up and divorce her!"

Startled, I shrank into his arms, only to catch the scent of roses—Lucia's scent.

Gabriel clenched his jaw and said firmly, "Phoebe might not measure up to Lucia, but I promised I'd stand by her and love her for as long as I live! Get those ideas out of your head, Mom."

Nausea rose in me the instant those words left his lips. I pulled away from his arms, fighting the churning in my stomach.

I slipped the ring off my finger, thrusting it into his hand. This time, I didn't cry. I couldn't.

I looked straight into his dark eyes and said, slowly and firmly, "Since I'll never measure up to Lucia in your eyes, I agree to the divorce."