He and the Past, Letting the Memory Go

The day I discovered I was pregnant, my husband, Leon Harber, was so overwhelmed he burst into tears.

He then swept through the city, buying out every baby product he could find, even commissioning a custom-made necklace, carved with image of a protective angel to watch over me and our child.

Then he held me, laughing and crying all at once, showering my belly with kisses.

“Cassidy, I’m so happy,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion.

“When this child is born, I’ll give you both the best the world has to offer.”

Watching his tear-filled eyes, I smiled silently.

He didn’t know this child was never meant to be born.

Nor did he know that there would be no future for us.

——

When I went to the hospital for the abortion, a young nurse looked at me with surprise.

“Are you the Mrs. Harber from TV? You’re so beautiful!” the young nurse blurted out in awe.

I stayed silent. Her colleague immediately nudged her with a sharp look.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” the colleague said, lowering her voice. “Mrs. Harber’s in fragile health. She’s been married for five years and only just got pregnant. Mr. Harber treats her like she’s made of glass. There’s no way she’d come to a small hospital like this for an abortion.”

She wasn’t wrong.

Leon loved me. His love was flawless, unconditional.

Since childhood, I had been frail and sickly. After we married, he built an entire hospital just for me.

He brought in the best medical team, dedicated to caring for me alone.

Later, in hopes of bringing me blessings, he opened the hospital to the public for free.

After learning I was pregnant, Leon was overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear. He personally visited a chapel to light candles and offer prayers of gratitude.

Fireworks lit up the entire city, burning brightly through the night.

He bought out all the flowers and baby products in town.

He even lit up a long candle and spent a fortune to acquire a priceless angel necklace to bless and protect my pregnancy.

When he placed the protective angel necklace around my neck, his eyes glistened with joyful tears.

“We’ve finally made it to this day. With you and the baby, my life is complete,” he said.

As he was lost in his happiness, there was no way he ever suspected my true intentions, right?

I had already made up my mind to terminate this pregnancy and disappear from his life forever.

“Ma’am, please sign here,” the nurse’s voice broke through my thoughts.

At that moment, the TV in the room was airing an interview with Leon.

Usually stoic, he was repeatedly brought to tears whenever he mentioned me.

“My wife and I both adore children, but just thinking about the struggles of pregnancy and childbirth makes my heart ache for her…” he said.

“That’s why we’ve decided to have only this one child. Once the baby is born, I’ll transfer all my assets to her and the baby—it’s the least I can do.”

The young nurse watching the screen couldn’t hide the admiration in her eyes.

“Where can you even find a man as amazing as Mr. Harber?” she said, enviously.

“I heard he and his wife were childhood sweethearts. When Mrs. Harber’s family went bankrupt, Mr. Harber ignored everyone’s objections and proposed to her. After their marriage, he gave her everything he had. It’s like something out of a romance novel…”

Hearing those words, my hand froze mid-signature.

Years ago, the housekeeper who once cared for me betrayed the Silva Family—my family—bringing about our downfall.

Leon had sworn to me, “There will never be lies or betrayal between us. If I ever break that promise, may I meet a terrible fate.”

To prove his sincerity, he knelt in a torrential downpour for an entire day and night, pleading with his family to accept me.

When he finally succeeded, he was feverish and trembling as he slid a diamond ring onto my finger.

“Cassidy, don’t be afraid. With me here, I’ll shield you from every storm in this world,” he promised.

Leon kept his word, cherishing me like a treasure for five years.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

The day I discovered I was pregnant, I received an unexpected message: a sultry photo from his kept woman.

It was then I learned the hospital named after me wasn’t built for me at all—it was meant for her.

All those countless times Leon patiently accompanied me to medical appointments and checkups were nothing more than excuses to see her.