Evelyn's POV:

“Evelyn…”

“Evelyn, please don’t pass out…”

At last, on the brink between life and death, I was pulled out of the swimming pool.

It was none other than my best friend, Anne Foster, who saved me.

The bracelet on my wrist was icy cold, just like my heart at that moment.

I had already lost consciousness.

With no other choice, Anne wrapped me in a bath towel and rushed me to the hospital.

That night, I burned with a high fever, my body cold as ice.

Anne held me tightly, sobbing nonstop, pleading for me to recover.

…

The next morning.

I woke up, exhausted. Seeing the familiar surroundings, I knew I had been brought back home.

Anne must have remembered clearly, I hated the sharp smell of hospital disinfectant more than anything.

My body was so cold it trembled uncontrollably.

My lips quivered as I tried to say something.

“Evelyn, Evelyn?”

“Are you okay?”

Anne hurried over, checking on my condition before placing a hand on my forehead.

It was still burning hot.

“Where is my bracelet?”

I looked around hazily, panic flashing in my eyes.

Anne gently took my hand and whispered.

“Don’t worry, darling.”

“I’ve already put it back on your wrist.”

“Something that important, no one will ever be able to take it from you again.”

I looked at the bracelet glimmering on my wrist, and at last, the corners of my lips curved into a faint, relieved smile.

That was good.

“Did James come back at all last night?”

Suddenly, I thought of James. My voice was hoarse and bleak.

The moment Anne heard his name, she frowned, anger flaring up instantly.

“Why are you still asking about that bastard?”

“Are you stupid?”

“That bastard didn’t come back all night. He’s probably sleeping with his mistress again.”

“And yet when you were burning with fever, you were still whispering his name.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Is the world really so short of men for you to love?”

Anne spoke as if venting all her rage.

I endured it in silence, not daring to argue back.

I only spoke hoarsely, exhaustion weighing on every word.

“Anne, don’t be angry.”

“I’ve decided.”

“I’m letting go.”

“I’ve asked Charlie to prepare the divorce papers.”

Hearing that, Anne finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Good. At least you’re thinking clearly.”

“Just consider that you were blind before.”

“Alright then, what do you want to eat? I’ll go buy it for you.”

Her tone softened.

I blinked. Perhaps because my mouth tasted bitter, I only wanted something sweet.

“I want minced pork porridge, and a slice of red velvet from the shop on the next street…”

The moment she heard that, Anne pressed a hand to her forehead.

“You really know how to bully me, making me go that far just to buy cake.”

“It’ll take me at least half an hour to drive there and back.”

Even as she complained, Anne still sighed.

“Fine. Who told me I’m your friend?”

“Wait here. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve bought the food.”

I smiled sweetly, even mustering the strength to wave goodbye to Anne.

The room fell into silence, but not for long.

The door suddenly flew open, catching me off guard.

“Anne, you’re back so soon...”

My words stopped short.

I saw James holding Lena close, his gestures intimate and gentle.

James cleared his throat and looked at me as if issuing an order.

“Lena was traumatized by what happened yesterday, so I’m letting her stay here to recuperate.”

“Move to the guest bedroom.”

“Give this room to Lena.”

Hearing those words, my eyes went completely blank.

Involuntarily, I thought back to the days when I had first moved into this place.

Back then, my heart had been filled with excitement as I said this would be the home that belonged to James and me alone.

A place where no outsiders would ever be allowed to step in.

“Alright, let this be our own sweet little world, okay?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone else come in and disturb you.”

Those were the promises he had made.

He had even indulged me with a gentle kiss, saying that this house was like his heart, one that held only my reflection within it.

And for a time, he truly kept his word.

Once, simply because his female secretary had casually come over to retrieve some documents, and he was afraid I might feel upset, he fired that secretary on the spot.

Yet now, here he was, brazenly bringing Lena back.

And even demanding that I give up the bedroom for her.

I was so exhausted that I no longer had the strength to resist.

Some things, he had already chosen to forget.

No matter how much I reminded him, perhaps he was only pretending not to remember.

I merely looked at him coldly, saying nothing.

“Can you do that?”

My silence seemed to anger James.

He questioned me in a cold voice, looking at me with utter disgust, as if I were nothing more than an extra, a surplus existence.

Thinking of the slap from the other day, and the despair I felt when I was pushed into the swimming pool, I no longer wanted to provoke James.

“Fine.”

“I’ll pack right away", I spoke heavily, my voice hoarse, then slowly sat up in bed.

Only then did James seem satisfied.

He reached out to rub Lena’s hair and said he would go downstairs to make breakfast for her, then quickly disappeared down the hallway.

The pale smile on Lena’s lips instantly twisted into a sneer.

Hearing this, my movements paused for a brief moment.

Make breakfast?

The man who always claimed to hate stepping into the kitchen, who disliked the smell of cooking oil, was now willingly making breakfast for Lena?

Clearly, throughout our entire relationship and five years of marriage, he had never once stepped into the kitchen to cook for me, not even a single bowl of noodles.

Without comparison, there truly would be no pain.

I only let out a bitter smile, then slowly lowered my gaze, forcing myself to steady my emotions.

“So, Evelyn?”

“Does it feel good, being slapped by your husband and shoved into the pool?”

She glanced at her nails, mocking me.

Her voice was piercingly sharp, yet deliberately kept low,

so that James downstairs wouldn’t hear.

“Your cheek is still red.”

“Have you come to your senses yet?”

“Kneel down and beg me to spare you now, and it might still be in time.”

“Oh no, don’t forget, you also have to take the initiative to sign the divorce papers and get out of this house.”

My head throbbed as if it were being split apart.

I frowned at her words.

Get out?

Don’t even think about it.

I calmly gathered the fever medicine from the table, took it with me, and slowly walked out of the room.

“Only someone shameless would take pride in seducing another woman’s husband, Lena.”

“If I were you, I’d be so ashamed I’d want to die.”

My words struck straight at Lena’s sore spot.

They hit her where it hurt the most, leaving her completely unable to retort.

“Bitch, shut up!”

“Who gave you the right to talk about me like that?”

“Die, you bitch!”

And in the very next second,

driven by pure rage, she shoved me hard from behind.

I lost my balance and fell violently down the staircase.

I had no time to react.

With a heavy crash, my body tumbled down, rolling several steps, my abdomen slamming hard against the stairs.

Blood quickly seeped out, spreading across the staircase in a shocking crimson.

I clutched my stomach, bone-deep pain surging through me, leaving me utterly unable to speak.

At the same time, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Evelyn's POV:

As my consciousness slowly blurred,

I heard a dull thud.

Lena deliberately collapsed to the floor and screamed loudly.

“Evelyn, I know I was wrong.”

“Please, don’t be angry with me.”

“I didn’t mean to take your room…”

“James, help me…”

She acted the part perfectly.

Through the haze, I vaguely heard footsteps quicken.

James rushed over, completely ignoring me, and ran straight to Lena.

“Lena, are you okay?”

She sobbed as she leaned into his arms, crying uncontrollably. Her tears soaked into his clothes, making her look unbearably fragile.

James turned in fury and pointed straight at me.

“Evelyn, how can you be so vicious?”

“How could you push Lena?”

The accusation was so absurd that I almost found it laughable.

My voice was hoarse, my life force draining away with every breath.

I couldn’t help thinking of the child in my womb.

Perhaps the baby didn’t want a terrible father,

and a weak, powerless mother like me,

and so had chosen to leave instead.

“Push Lena?”

“If I pushed her, why would I be the one lying here in a pool of blood?”

“James, are you blind, or are you stupid, to believe everything Lena says?”

My words, filled with exhaustion and despair, made his eyes flicker with a trace of hesitation.

But Lena weakly clung to him, sobbing softly.

“James, my stomach hurts so much… my leg too, it feels like it’s about to break.”

“But you shouldn’t blame Evelyn.”

“After all, when she pushed me down, she fell down too…”

Her words were like pouring oil onto a fire, instantly wiping away the hesitation in his eyes.

He let out a cold, mocking laugh.

“Pushed Lena and then fell herself?”

“That’s your retribution.”

“Now stay here and suffer through it.”

I froze, my eyes widening in shock.

When I saw him bend down to lift Lena up and prepare to leave, I disregarded everything and grabbed the hem of his pants.

My entire body trembled violently. My voice was weak and broken from excessive blood loss.

“James, you can’t be this cruel.”

“Please… can you take me to the hospital?”

“Our child… are you really this heartless toward our child?”

His movement paused for a moment.

But at that instant, Lena let out a weak cry of pain in his arms.

James’s gaze turned icy.

He coldly kicked me away.

“That’s enough, Evelyn.”

“Stop pretending.”

“If you still had the strength to question me just now, then you also have the strength to go to the hospital by yourself.”

“Take good care of yourself.”

With that, he carefully carried Lena away, leaving me alone on the staircase.

Blood continued to flow, even staining the jade bracelet on my wrist red.

I gasped weakly, trying to crawl back to the room to get my phone and call Anne.

But with no strength left, I collapsed in the hallway.

Before losing consciousness, the only thought in my mind was,

I’m sorry, baby.

I couldn’t protect you.

The child, the only bond connecting me and James, was likely gone as well.

This marriage, too, no longer had any reason to exist.

…

When I woke up, my mind felt hollow, as if my soul had left my body.

I saw the doctor standing beside the bed, and Anne sitting anxiously nearby.

Her eyes were red-rimmed with panic.

“Evelyn, how are you?”

“How did I leave for just a moment and come back to find you lying in a pool of blood?”

“What happened?”

I closed my eyes in exhaustion, my hand resting on my abdomen.

There was nothing there. Only emptiness.

As if the child wasn't appeared.

“James brought Lena home, and Lena pushed me down.”

Anger flared in Anne’s eyes.

“Lena again, that bitch…”

I calmly looked at the doctor.

“My child…”

I hesitated.

The doctor sighed, his voice lowering.

“I’m very sorry, Mrs. Claire.”

“But you lost too much blood, and you were brought to the hospital too late…”

“The child couldn’t be saved.”

I closed my eyes, too tired to even cry.

Maybe, my tears were dried, in this bury marriage.

The child I had carried for three months, barely even formed, was ultimately killed by my husband’s mistress.

And James had stood by coldly, indifferent.

How ridiculous.

If before, I still had a little hope that James would change his mind, would save me, would love me like in the past.

Now, that hope is gone.

Only utter despair remains.

After explaining how I should take care of my body after the miscarriage, the doctor left the medical report on the table and walked away.

I lay there silently, staring at the ceiling.

My gaze was utterly empty.

Anne looked at me, her expression falling as well.

“Evelyn…”

I tilted my head toward her, my voice hoarse.

“Has lawyer Charlie sent the divorce papers yet?”

She nodded.

“He called earlier. I answered for you.”

“The divorce papers will be delivered to the hospital soon.”

Good.

From the moment I saw James carry Lena away, leaving me in a pool of blood, I regained my senses.

At this moment, all I wanted was to end this rotten marriage between James and me.

I just want to leave him.

The sooner, the better.

Evelyn’s POV:

The next morning, I went to the company as if nothing had happened.

The pallor of my face was concealed beneath delicate makeup.

My steps were steady as ever.

No one knew I had just lost my child.

Rumors from last night had already spread everywhere. The people around me whispered their accusations, saying I had fought with Lena, that in jealous malice I had pushed her down the stairs.

I heard it all, yet I did not react. I simply returned to my office.

After arranging the documents, I stood before James’s office.

He was on the phone, his voice unusually gentle.

“Lena, don’t be afraid. I’ll come with you tonight.”

“I am always with you…”

Suppressing the wave of nausea, I waited for him to hang up before knocking and stepping inside.

James looked at me, surprised in his voice.

“You came to work today?”

“Yes", my tone was so calm it felt unfamiliar even to myself.

“There are a few contracts that need your signature,” I said, placing the stack of documents on his desk.

James frowned.

“What contracts?”

He was about to flip through them when I replied indifferently.

“There are two cooperation contracts between our company and two partner companies.”

“They require your signature.”

James nodded after hearing that. Without bothering to read carefully, he quickly picked up a pen.

He signed.

And signed again.

I watched each stroke of ink and quietly let out a breath of relief.

His signature lay clear and decisive upon the divorce papers.

The resignation letter.

Three years of marriage ended in the blink of an eye.

James pushed the folder back toward me.

“Is there anything else? I’m really busy.”

I lowered my gaze and pressed my lips together. In the end, I still took the medical report out of my bag and spoke in a hoarse voice.

“James, this is…”

Before I could finish, James’s phone rang. He glanced at it quickly and saw Lena’s name flashing on the screen.

Without hesitation, he answered.

Even from a distance, I could hear Lena’s sobbing through the phone.

Utterly pitiful.

“The room is too dark? Wait a moment, I’m coming right now.”

James spoke urgently as he sprang to his feet. He did not glance at the paper even once, only hurriedly putting on his suit jacket.

“I have something urgent to take care of. We’ll deal with the other documents later.”

“Tonight, go home and sleep first. You don’t need to wait for me.”

He offered those perfunctory words of comfort, then disappeared in haste. The door slammed shut with a heavy bang.

My hand still rested on the report, my lips curving into a self-mocking smile.

If only James had lowered his eyes, even once.

He would have known.

His child was gone.

But he did not.

Then this no longer mattered.

I placed a hand over my abdomen and suddenly let out a laugh.

“My baby, your father has already signed the divorce papers.”

“After thirty days, I will leave him, and never come back.”

“I’m sorry that I’m too stupid, I can't keep you.”

The child I lost, perhaps it was all my fault. I had trusted the wrong person, and because of that, my child had to leave in grief as well.

Tears streamed down uncontrollably.

I sniffed, folded the medical report, and put it back into my bag.

As for the divorce papers and the resignation letter, I clenched them tightly in my hand.

The thirty days were not meant for reconciliation, but for me to sever everything completely with James.

Never to see him again.

I stepped out of the office and slowly made my way to submit the resignation letter to the head of Human Resources.

“Evelyn, you…”

She looked visibly surprised when she saw the letter, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at me.

“I’m pregnant, so James wants me to rest at home and focus on the baby,” I said sweetly, masking anything unusual.

She quickly believed it and kept admiring, saying how fortunate I was to have a husband like James.

A trace of irony surged within me. I responded perfunctorily, then returned to my office.

I packed up all my belongings.

My nameplate.

One of the couple of ceramic mugs I bought with James.

The wedding ring on my finger.

I threw them all into the trash.

As for the rest of my personal items, I neatly placed them into a box. Carrying it in my arms, I walked out of the company unhurriedly.

Without ever looking back.

At another place,

The moment James pushed the door open, Lena immediately threw herself into his arms,

sobbing.

“James, I was so scared…”

James cupped her cheek and held her tightly.

“Don’t worry. I’m here now…”

Lena choked on her tears.

“Did Evelyn… make things difficult for you?”

James thought of the documents he had just signed and narrowed his eyes slightly. For some reason, his heart felt a faint sting of pain.

“No. She finally learned to be well-behaved.”

But he didn’t know,

Thirty days later,

that “well-behaved” woman

would disappear from his life completely.