Forgotten Wife: My Ex-Husband Regrets It After I Left

For five years, Sienna played the perfect role: a silent wife in a marriage built on nothing but a contract. She cooked, cleaned, and raised a son who now clings to another woman and calls her “Mommy.” In the mansion she once called home, Sienna is nothing but a ghost—unseen, unheard, unloved.

When her husband’s ex returns and effortlessly takes everything—his attention, his affection, and even Sienna’s place in their son’s heart—Sienna remains quiet. Until a cruel accident leaves her lying on the pavement... alone and forgotten.

That’s when she realizes: no one is coming to save her. Not her husband. Not even her child.

Will Sienna choose to forgive... or will she finally walk away for good?

1

Sienna's POV

“I want to end the contract,” I said softly but firmly. I looked into my mother-in-law’s eyes—Mrs. Wilson—who sat across from me. Her gaze was sharp, but not angry. Just contemplative, like she was weighing something important.

“You once said that if Liam didn’t fall in love with me within five years, the contract would be void, right?” I asked to confirm.

She didn’t deny it. “I did say that, Sienna,” she replied calmly. “But now you and Liam have Noah. You love that boy deeply. Are you really willing to let him grow up and see someone else as his mother?”

I inhaled deeply, my chest tightening—but my answer was firm. “Yes. I am.”

Because the truth is, this marriage was always just a contract. Even Noah—my beloved little boy—was part of that agreement. And now, with Emily back, Liam no longer needs me. Noah doesn’t seem to either.

Five years I’ve lived this life. From the outside, it looked beautiful—perfect even. As if I was the luckiest woman to marry the heir of the Sinclair family. But on the inside? Cold. Empty. Loveless. I used to believe that my sincerity could warm Liam’s frozen heart. I was wrong.

Mrs. Wilson stood up and went to her drawer. She pulled out a brown folder and handed it to me. “There’s one week left in your contract. Here are the papers. Sign it now. Next week, you’ll be free from this family.”

Without hesitation, I took the pen and signed the last page. No trembling hand. No tears. Just exhaustion and a long-overdue resolve.

I left the Sinclair mansion—a grand place that had felt more like a prison. The autumn wind hit my face as I opened my car door. A notification popped up. A photo from Noah’s school.

My hand trembled as I opened it. Liam was smiling, his laughter radiant—something I hadn’t seen in five years. Standing beside him was Emily, holding Noah’s hand tightly like she belonged there. They were all wearing matching family sportswear. Outfits I had prepared for Noah’s school event. But I wasn’t there. I hadn’t been invited. I hadn’t even been considered.

I bit my lip to keep the tears in. Emily hadn’t just returned. She was replacing me.

Liam and Emily were once the golden couple—he, the heir to a fortune; she, a rising actress. Different worlds brought together by love. Until she left him for her career and broke him. I still remember that night. The media went wild over Liam’s near-suicide. Meanwhile, I sat in a hospital waiting room, praying my father would survive surgery. My family was drowning in medical bills.

That’s when Mrs. Wilson made her offer: “Help Liam recover. Marry him. Just for five years.”

She would pay for my father’s treatment. I said yes. I thought maybe love could grow.

But when I first met Liam, I realized—I had stepped into a frozen world.

When Mrs. Wilson asked, “Liam, will you marry Sienna?” he replied coldly, “Whatever. No one matters but Emily.”

That was the start of our marriage. A formality, nothing more.

I tried. I stayed by his side when he was drunk. I managed his schedule. I cared for him. And slowly... I fell in love.

But Liam remained distant. He never even made our marriage official.

Then came that night. He stumbled in, drunk. Looked at me with hazy eyes.

“Let’s have a child,” he said.

And foolishly, I thought things were changing.

The next morning, I saw the news: Emily had just announced a new boyfriend.

That night was nothing more than a distraction.

Still, I got pregnant. Liam didn’t oppose it. He even changed a bit—became more human. I thought maybe we could build something real.

Then Emily came back.

She left her boyfriend and slowly returned to Liam’s life. They were caught together on camera. Emily started showing up. Staying over.

And I? I became a ghost.

Liam, who once hated being photographed, now proudly printed pictures of himself, Emily, and Noah.

Even my son changed.

“Mommy Emily,” Noah said one night.

I couldn’t sleep after that.

That was the night I realized—no matter how hard I tried, Liam would never love me.

Thankfully, it was just a contract. One more week... and I’d be free.

I picked up my phone and called the publisher who had once shown interest in my manuscript. Then I booked a one-way plane ticket.

It was time to chase my dream. Time to become a writer.

When I pulled into the driveway, a car slid into my usual spot—Emily’s.

Inside were Liam and Noah.

My fingers clenched the steering wheel. I watched them from a distance.

They stepped out, laughing. Emily held Noah’s hand tightly.

They looked perfect.

Without me.

I took a deep breath. I gave them one last look.

Then I turned away.

No tears. No protests. Just silence.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to take your parking spot. You don’t mind, do you?”

2

Sienna's POV

As the car door opened, Emily stepped out first. The click of her heels against the driveway echoed with quiet confidence. Her smile was sweet, almost polite—if only her eyes weren’t undressing me in that irritating, condescending way.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to take your parking spot,” she said, raising an eyebrow. Casual, yet I could sense the sarcasm behind her words. “You don’t mind, do you?”

I was about to respond, but Liam’s voice cut in from the other side of the car. His tone was flat and cold, clearly aimed at me. “This parking area doesn’t belong to anyone. Anyone can park here. No one has the right to feel offended.”

It was a silent warning. His eyes pierced through me—firm, as if I were the problem.

Before I could breathe, Noah’s voice rang out, cheerful and bright, but to me… cutting deep.

“Aunt Emily, don’t listen to Mommy. Her car is ugly anyway. I’m embarrassed when she parks here.”

I froze. My heart took a brutal hit. For the past four years, I’d raised that child. I was the one who fed him during fevers, read him bedtime stories, kissed his forehead every morning. And now… he could say that so easily?

Liam didn’t scold him. Instead, he smiled faintly and gently held Emily’s arm.

“Come on, let me show you the room I prepared for you. It’s right next to mine.”

The words cut even deeper.

Noah cheered. “Yay! Now I have someone fun to play with! Aunt Emily’s so cool! Not like Mommy, she’s boring.”

I stood still. No expression. Empty. Once, I would’ve argued, gotten angry. But now… what for?

Liam finally turned to me. “Emily’s staying here for a while. Her lease expired, and… I thought this was the best solution.”

I nodded lightly. As if it wasn’t me hearing those words. As if I wasn’t the wife of a man who had just offered the room next to his to another woman.

Liam looked slightly confused, probably not expecting my reaction to be so flat. Maybe he wanted me to explode. But I was already drained—shattered too many times to summon any rage.

Emily spoke again, her voice feigning regret. “Maybe I should just stay at a hotel. After all, Sienna is your wife. I’m just an outsider.”

Those words should’ve hurt. But I felt nothing.

It was Noah who reacted. “Aunt Emily’s not an outsider!” he protested. “She was with Daddy first. If anyone’s a stranger here, it’s not her!”

I almost laughed. Bitterly. How easily roles can be replaced—even in the eyes of a child I raised.

“I bought this villa for Emily,” Liam said without hesitation. “She’s part of my life. Of course I don’t see her as an outsider.”

Without waiting for my response, they went inside. Liam paused for a moment, reached into his pocket, and handed me something.

Car keys.

“Help Emily get her luggage from the trunk.”

I stared at the keys for a few seconds.

“She doesn’t have hands of her own?” I asked flatly.

Liam looked at me, speechless. Maybe surprised. Maybe offended. I didn’t care. My voice held no anger—just emptiness.

“If you don’t want to, I’ll ask the staff—”

“No need,” I cut him off. “I’ll do it.”

I took the keys without expression. No resentment. No surrender. Just a void too wide to fill.

As I dragged the suitcase into the house, the scene in the living room hit me. Noah stood there, holding a small box, his face lit up with joy.

“This is for Aunt Emily!” he said proudly.

Emily looked surprised. “Noah… is this…?”

I recognized the box. It was one of the birthday gifts I gave him—five-gram gold bars, one for each year. Four in total. Not for their worth, but for the meaning behind them. A mother’s love, a prayer that he’d never lack anything.

And now, he was giving them to another woman.

“I love Aunt Emily,” Noah said simply. “She’s pretty and nice. I want her to keep this.”

Liam finally stepped in. “Noah, that gift was from Mommy. You shouldn’t just give it away.”

But Noah insisted, “But Aunt Emily’s not just anyone! She’s special to me! And anyway, it’s just some gold, right? Our family isn’t short on money.”

Liam looked at me. Maybe expecting me to be angry. But I simply said, “Let him. Noah’s right. Those gold bars aren’t worth much. If he wants to give them to someone he loves, that’s his right.”

Emily turned toward me, awkward. Liam looked like he wanted to say more, but I was already walking away. I left the suitcase in the hallway, climbed the stairs, entered my room, and quietly closed the door.

Behind the door, I leaned back. The cold wall pressed against my back, but it couldn’t cool the burn inside my chest. I closed my eyes. No tears. No sound.

Seven more days. Just seven more.

Then I would leave. Leave this house. Leave Liam. Leave Noah.

All that would remain... is me—and the life I choose for myself.

3

Sienna's POV

That morning, I woke up early, as always. The sun hadn’t fully risen, yet my mind was already drifting far. Five years living in this house with him—and in all that time, we had never once shared a bed. Not because I didn’t want to, but because Liam never truly accepted me as his wife. And he had extreme hygiene habits—even the doorknob to his room couldn’t be touched without his permission.

After a shower and slipping into a simple outfit, I took the document I’d prepared the night before and drove to the law office owned by my best friend, Liliana. She greeted me warmly, as always, but her smile faded the moment she saw my face—likely far too used to being drained of light.

We sat in her office, and Liliana looked at me with a troubled gaze. “So all this… your relationship with Liam, your closeness with Noah—it was all just a contract?” I nodded softly. There was nothing to hide now.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, holding her breath. “When I read those tabloids about you two, I feared you’d actually fallen for that man. But to find out it was all an act… I’m slightly relieved.”

She leaned back in her chair, visibly overwhelmed. “So, what brings you here today? Want me to draw up divorce papers?”

I gave a faint smile—not out of amusement, but bitterness. “We never registered our marriage legally. There’s no marriage to divorce.”

Liliana fell silent. “Then what?”

“I want you to help me draft a custody release form.” My voice was barely audible. “I want to give up custody of Noah.”

Her face changed instantly. She stared at me, stunned, as if I’d just said something unforgivable. “Sienna, are you insane? Everyone knows how deeply you love Noah. Why are you handing him over to Liam?”

I held my breath, trying to bury the wounds where no one could touch them. But I knew—my eyes had betrayed me.

“Please, Liliana. I just need the document.”

She didn’t reply, only stared at me for a long moment, perhaps hoping to find a crack she could persuade. But she knew—once I decide, there’s no going back. With a heavy sigh, Liliana began typing. Moments later, a printed page lay on the table. I accepted it calmly, slid it into my bag without a word.

As I stood to leave, she called out softly, her voice almost breaking. “Sienna… you’ve given everything for the past five years, but he never really saw you. Please, from now on, give your goodness only to yourself.”

I turned to her and smiled—just slightly. “I’ll try.”

When I returned to the villa, it was already ten in the morning. The grand house was silent. No smell of coffee, no sound of Noah running around. In the kitchen, the breakfast I’d prepared earlier still sat untouched on the table—now cold. I put it in the microwave absentmindedly, then headed upstairs. As usual, I intended to wake Noah and Liam. I didn’t know why I still followed this routine—when deep down, I knew no one was really waiting.

I stopped at Liam’s bedroom door. I always knocked. Though we never shared a bed, I knew how much he hated people entering uninvited. But before my fingers touched the wood, the door opened on its own. Emily stood there. Her hair loose, pajamas hanging perfectly on her frame. She smiled as if nothing were out of place.

“Oh, Sienna. I just came in to borrow the bathroom,” she said lightly. “Don’t know why, but my back’s been sore since waking up.”

I froze. My face must’ve gone pale, but I said nothing. Didn’t react.

Seconds later, Liam appeared behind her. His pajamas were rumpled, hair a mess. He looked startled to see me at the door.

“Emily just needed a power bank,” he said quickly. “Don’t think anything weird.”

But I’d seen it—the red marks on his neck. Kisses. Intimacy.

In five years of marriage, he’d barely touched me. Always kept his distance. But that distance didn’t seem to apply to Emily.

I took a breath, smiled faintly. “Breakfast is ready. I’ll head down first.”

I didn’t ask. Didn’t demand an explanation. What for? It was just a contract. And that contract was ending in a few days.

Five minutes later, they joined me in the dining room. I was already eating the dumplings I’d reheated. Noah wrinkled his nose.

“These dumplings were reheated? They taste bad. Mommy, I want your fried dough instead!”

Liam tried to calm him. “Noah, Mommy made this for us. Don’t throw it away. She’ll make fried dough tomorrow, okay?”

“No! I want it now!”

Liam looked frustrated, but before he could speak, Emily chimed in sweetly. “Sienna, I heard you’re great at making fried dough. Mind if I try some too?”

Liam turned to me. “If everyone wants it, just make some, Sienna.”

I kept my gaze on my bowl. Didn’t look up.

“No,” I replied.

My spoon clinked gently against the porcelain.

“If you want to eat, cook it yourself. I made these dumplings this morning. If you don’t like them, throw them out.”

Silence.

Liam looked at me as if seeing a stranger. Emily still smiled, though her expression stiffened. Noah huffed.

I didn’t care. For the first time, I didn’t care. I wasn’t trying to be the best mother. I wasn’t trying to be the understanding wife.

I was just… being me.

I scooped another bite of my dumpling. Cold. Bland.

But for the first time, it tasted real. Not an illusion.

These past five years of marriage felt the same—cold, bland, and never truly satisfying.

4

Sienna's POV

Liam went silent. I could feel it in the way he looked at me, as if he was still processing the words I had just said. All this time, I had almost never said “no” to him. No matter how small or complicated his requests were, I always found a way to fulfill them. I was so used to pleasing others—especially him—that I forgot I, too, had limits. But today, I finally found that limit.

Emily gave a small smile, trying to ease the tension like she always did. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a burden. I’ve already troubled you enough by staying here. Hoping to taste your cooking on top of that—I feel embarrassed.”

She stood and walked toward the door. But before she could leave, a sharp little voice rang out.

“Mommy is mean!” Noah shouted, glaring at me. He even smacked my arm lightly. “Don’t be mean to Aunt Emily!”

My body stiffened instantly.

Liam reached out for Emily’s arm and looked at me like I was the cause of all the chaos that morning. “You’re still upset about this morning? Didn’t I tell you Emily only came in to borrow a charger?”

I looked at both of them. My face remained blank—too tired to be angry.

“I’m not feeling well,” I replied calmly. “My body’s exhausted. I don’t have the energy to cook.”

Noah shot me a sharp look. “Sick? Ew, why didn’t you say so earlier! Aunt Emily’s body is weak, you know. What if she catches your sickness?”

I could barely breathe.

The child I carried, gave birth to, raised with all my love—now worried more about a woman who only arrived a few weeks ago. Suddenly, I felt like a stranger in my own home.

Noah had always been an angel, but lately, something had begun to change. Was I seeing my son less? Could that be a sign that Liam and Emily were becoming a negative influence on him—even as they pretended to be understanding?

Noah tugged on Liam’s hand. “Dad, we have to buy medicine for Aunt Emily. She can’t get sick!”

“I’m fine, Noah,” Emily said gently, trying to calm him.

But Liam was already looking at her with full concern. “It’s okay, let’s listen to Noah. You remember how long it took for you to recover last time? Better to be safe.”

And just like that, they left. The three of them now looked like a perfect little family—without me.

I was still seated at the dining table, staring at the bowl of dumplings that had gone cold again. Full. Untouched. Just like my role in this house: prepared with love, yet unwanted.

Slowly, I cleaned up the remains of breakfast and carried them into the kitchen. I dumped everything into the trash. Tasteless. But my heart was even more so.

After all these years with them, I was still no one. Liam only knew me through a contract, and Noah… even he now chose Emily over me.

As I stood staring at the cold kitchen floor, my phone buzzed.

A message from Liam.

[We’re at the supermarket. Pick us up now.]

I stared at the screen without emotion, then grabbed the car keys. I didn’t reply. I didn’t ask. I just left.

I parked not far from the supermarket’s exit. From a distance, I could see Noah clinging to Emily’s arm, grinning.

“Aunt Emily, I want ice cream!”

Emily chuckled and pinched his cheek. “If Noah wants it, of course Auntie will buy it.”

I approached them slowly and spoke in a soft but firm voice. “Noah, did you forget what the doctor said? Your stomach is still sensitive. Ice cream will make you sick.”

Noah immediately whined. “But I only want one…”

Before I could explain further, Emily turned to me and responded casually, “Sienna, if a kid wants ice cream, just give it to him. No need to be so uptight.”

I looked at her, sharp. “He’s my son. His health is not yours to comment on.”

Just as I finished speaking, Liam arrived, pushing a shopping cart. His eyes immediately landed on the three of us. He saw Emily and Noah’s sulking faces, then looked at me.

“Emily just wanted to buy him ice cream. Why make a fuss?”

I sighed. “The doctor said Noah shouldn’t have cold food until his stomach stabilizes. It’s not the right time yet.”

But Liam didn’t listen. His eyes pierced through me. A gaze that once made me tremble, now only left me numb.

“If you keep being so rigid, he’ll only grow more distant,” he said quietly but sharply. “You could’ve just said, ‘One spoonful only, the rest Mommy will eat.’ Done. But instead, you escalate everything.”

That sentence struck like a whip. Painful. Brutal. Undeniable.

I stood frozen.

In their eyes, I no longer mattered. Every kindness I’d ever given now held no value. I wasn’t just losing in love. Even in the one thing I tried hardest to protect—Noah’s health—I still lost.

I didn’t reply. I just gave a faint smile. One that even felt unfamiliar to myself.

Since Emily’s return, everything changed. From a wife, I became a housekeeper. From a mother, I became a nanny. And now… I was just an outsider.

I turned around. The afternoon breeze brushed against my face as I walked toward the car. My steps were calm—not from peace, but because my heart had frozen.

Inside the car, I sat still. Staring straight ahead. My left hand on the steering wheel, my right hand gripping the fabric of my skirt—now damp with cold sweat.

5

Sienna's POV

I stood a few steps behind them, trying to keep my distance from the little world they had built. A world where I no longer belonged.

Emily stood in the center, flanked by Liam and Noah. The little boy I had once raised with all my love now shouted loud and clear, “Dad and Aunt Emily are the best! Not like Mommy, she’s so stingy, won’t even buy me ice cream!”

His voice was loud enough to turn heads in the supermarket. Whispers started circling. Some looked at us, likely wondering—who’s the real mother of that child? The elegant woman he clung to, or the quiet one standing alone in the back?

I lowered my gaze. It felt like being stripped bare in public. That boy… the one I cradled all night when he had a fever, the one I read stories to until he fell asleep, was now hugging another woman and calling me “mean.”

Liam said nothing. He let it happen. He allowed our son to humiliate me in public as if I meant nothing.

Emily feigned concern, gently stroking Noah’s hair. “Don’t be mad, sweetheart. I’ll get you an even better one later.”

My fists clenched tightly. I couldn’t say a word. If I fought back, I’d look jealous. If I stayed quiet, I’d still lose.

After shopping, Liam decided we’d have lunch at a restaurant known for its spicy food. He phrased it like a suggestion, but everyone knew I never had a say.

We sat down, and he immediately ordered a variety of spicy dishes. Only one menu item was for Noah—scrambled eggs with tomato. No one asked what I wanted. No one cared. I felt like a ghost at that table.

“Liam, I can’t believe… after all this time, you still remember all my favorite dishes,” Emily said sweetly, lightly touching his hand.

Liam gave a stiff smile and quickly served her, one dish after another. His every move so attentive, as if Emily was the only one who mattered.

I looked down and quietly scooped plain rice onto my plate.

Liam glanced at me. “Why aren’t you eating the dishes?”

“I can’t eat spicy food,” I said softly.

He went quiet. Maybe he’d just realized… that in five years of marriage, he never even knew that simple fact. And yet I always cooked spicy meals for him, fed him, took care of him—never once did he ask if I liked them too.

He looked awkward. “Do you want me to order something else? What do you like? I can—”

“No need,” I cut in. “Just eat. I’m fine.”

And I really was fine—if “fine” meant I’d given up hope completely.

Then someone from the table next to us pointed in our direction. “Wait… is that Emily? And you’re Liam? Oh my God! You two are that viral couple, right?”

Emily smiled sweetly and nodded.

“I’m such a fan of your love story! Five years apart and now you’re back together… it’s like a K-drama! Is it true you’re dating again?”

I lifted my eyes to look at Liam. He glanced at me… only briefly. Then his gaze shifted back to Emily. And there it was—his choice.

“Yes,” he answered.

I wasn’t even surprised. Maybe that was the most painful part.

“True love is real! You’re living proof!” the fan gushed.

Emily added softly, but clearly, “Back then, I was the one who took Liam for granted. But this time, I’ll learn to love him the right way.”

She looked at Liam meaningfully. And Liam… smiled.

I lowered my gaze again. The rice on my plate was getting cold. Like my heart.

After the person left, Noah cheered, “If Dad and Aunt Emily are back together, can I change Mommies?”

The words hit me like a storm. But I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even flinch.

Liam quickly covered Noah’s mouth. “He’s just a kid. Don’t take it to heart.”

I stared at my empty plate. There was nothing left to take to heart. That heart had long been broken.

“I only said that earlier to protect Emily’s reputation. You understand, right?” he said.

I nodded. “I understand. You don’t need to explain anything.”

My calmness made Liam uncomfortable. But I had no energy left to soothe his ego.

“Sweetheart, eat up,” Emily said as she fed Noah. “Your food’s getting cold.”

Liam chuckled softly. I said nothing. To them, it was as if I wasn’t even there.

After the meal, we walked toward the parking lot across the street. The midday heat pressed down, heavy and suffocating.

I walked behind them, like a shadow.

Suddenly, a loud honk broke the air. A car sped from the corner.

Liam pulled Emily and Noah onto the sidewalk. But he didn’t see me.

I was still in the middle of the road.

A loud thud. Screeching tires. My body was thrown onto the asphalt.

Everything went black.

My body trembled with pain. My breath came in short gasps. I tried to speak, but my lips only moved without sound.

“Sienna!” Liam shouted. He rushed to me—yes, finally. He looked panicked. “Are you okay? We need to get you to a hospital, now!”

My hand moved slowly, touching his arm. Not to ask for help, just… to let him know I was still conscious.

But then, Noah’s voice cut through everything. “Dad! Aunt Emily’s about to faint! Hurry, come here!”

Liam turned. Emily stood under a tree’s shadow, looking pale, catching her breath.

And that was the test.

I lay there on the asphalt, weak and hurt. But no hand came back for me. No hurried steps returned.

I remained there, waiting.

And this time, no one came.

6

Sienna’s POV

The moment Noah shouted, I saw Liam panic. His eyes immediately searched for Emily, who looked pale and trembling. In an instant, all his attention shifted to her—as if I, lying helpless on the pavement, no longer existed in his sight.

"I'm okay..." Emily whispered shakily, her body visibly trembling. "I just... I’m scared of blood. Phobia. Don’t worry about me. Sienna… she’s the one who needs help."

Those words should have moved me. But it all crumbled when I heard Noah’s voice—sharp and full of certainty.

"Auntie Emily, your face is so pale! Dad, take her to the hospital, quick! Mom’s just pretending to be hurt to steal your attention from Auntie!"

I froze. Not from the pain in my body, but from the stab in my chest that hurt far more. That child… my own son… thought I was just a nuisance.

Liam stood stiffly, his gaze shifting from Emily’s pale face to my broken figure on the ground. But when Emily let out a soft whimper—whether from fear or something else—I knew I had lost.

Liam helped her up, gently lifting her toward the car. As they passed me, he covered Emily’s eyes, as if I were something too disgusting to look at.

Before getting into the car, he turned and said quietly, “Emily can’t look at blood. She’s too fragile. I... I called an ambulance. They’ll be here soon. Just hang on, okay?”

Just hang on, okay?

Just like that, I was left behind. Again.

Their footsteps faded. The car door shut. And the world fell silent again.

I looked up at the sky. Too bright. But my vision was blurry. I wanted to laugh—but instead, blood dripped from the corner of my mouth. Warm and salty.

The ambulance arrived. Faintly, I heard someone speak. A paramedic, maybe.

“Damn. She’s bleeding, and they just left her like that?”

***

I opened my eyes. The sharp scent of antiseptic greeted my nose. Everything was white and still.

I was in the hospital.

My body felt heavy. Sore. Every small movement felt like it tore something inside me.

A male doctor walked in, glancing at the chart in his hand. “You have a mild concussion and some abrasions. Nothing serious, but we recommend a four-day stay for recovery.”

I nodded. There wasn’t much to say. The physical pain… somehow felt lighter than the wounds no one could see. The ones that kept throbbing relentlessly.

After the doctor left, I stared at the ceiling. Eleven more days until my contract with Liam ended. Once I left this hospital… I’d have only seven days left.

Seven days to freedom.

But even that hope felt fragile when I overheard two nurses gossiping outside my room.

“Hey, did you hear? Emily’s also being treated here. I saw her being carried in by her boyfriend—Liam, right?”

“Oh my god, she’s so cute! Liam even called in a specialist for her and booked the VIP room! Like a K-drama!”

I lowered my head. My hands clenched the blanket. Cold. Not from the room’s temperature, but from my frozen heart.

I stood up. Slowly. Even though every step felt like walking on knives. I followed the signs toward the VIP rooms, leaning against the wall.

Through the slightly open door, I saw them.

Emily sat gracefully on the hospital bed, her face tired but peaceful. Noah sat beside her, holding her hand tightly. And Liam—feeding her porridge with tender care.

His gaze… so warm. So gentle. A gaze I never once received, not even after five years of marriage.

I stood at the doorway like a stranger. Like an outsider spying on someone else’s happiness.

A passing nurse let out a soft chuckle. “They’re the perfect couple, huh? Liam was totally panicked earlier, almost crying. Looks like all those rumors about their love story might be true.”

I offered a faint smile. “Yeah. They looked really happy.”

Then I returned to my room. Slowly. Since the accident, not a single message had come through. My phone was silent. No word from Liam. Not even from Noah. No one asked how I was doing.

Except for one notification—an email. A reminder that the deadline for an international writing competition was near.

I stared at the screen, then pressed the call button. “Liliana, could you please bring my laptop to the hospital?”

Not long after, Liliana arrived and handed it to me.

The following days, I spent writing. For the first time in five years, I returned to myself. Not as someone’s wife, not as a mother clinging to the remnants of love, not as a shadow swallowed by wounds.

I wrote. Endlessly.

In the neutral, quiet air of the hospital room, I felt free. I even turned off my phone and went completely offline.

I had come home—to my own world.

By dawn on the fourth day, a nurse came in with a bright smile. “Congratulations, Mrs. Sienna. Your test results look good. You’re allowed to go home today.”

I looked out the window. The sky was clear. The air felt light.

I had finished my manuscript. And I had closed a dark chapter of my life.

When I turned my phone back on, the screen instantly filled with over 99 unread messages and missed calls. All from Liam.

But for the first time… I didn’t rush to read a single one.

I stood silently at the doorstep, gazing at the yard that once felt familiar—now… it felt like a stranger’s. In my hand, the manuscript I had written over the past four days was tightly held—a silent witness to those quiet days in the hospital. Four days without a single warm message from my husband or child. Only dozens of missed calls from Liam… that came when everything was already nearly too late.

As I stepped inside, one of the housemaids greeted me with a look of relief.

“Mrs. Sienna! You’re finally home. While you were away, Mr. Liam was like a lost man. Nothing tasted right to him.”

I gave a faint smile. So that was why he kept calling? Not because he was worried. But because… his appetite was affected.

I slowly took off my shoes, placed them neatly on the rack, and walked into the living room. There, I saw Liam sitting on the sofa, hunched over, his face weary. As soon as his eyes met mine, his expression changed drastically.

“Sienna?” He stood up quickly and came toward me. “Where have you been? I called so many times! Why didn’t you answer?”