"Elena, I'm pregnant."

"This is the money Jack gave me. It's all for you. Will you leave him?"

The blonde girl's sheepish words pierced my heart like a sharp dagger.

Three months ago, Jack Morgan, missing for five years, came back.

He remembered everyone. The only one he'd forgotten was me.

When he returned, he had his precious Cinderella by his side.

"Elena, I'm sorry. I've forgotten you. Give me some time. I'll remember everything."

"But until then, I hope you won't make things difficult for Lisa."

Everyone urged me to be patient, saying Jack would get his memory back someday.

But his child arrived before his memories did.

I forced a smile, took the money, and slipped it into my purse:

"In a week, the title of Mrs. Morgan will be yours."

————————

1

[Today is our tenth anniversary. Please come back to the Beverly Hills villa. I need to talk to you.]

I sat in the car, sending Jack a text.

[Can't. Meeting.]

The curt, ice-cold reply stabbed at my heart.

Tears welled in my eyes, I could barely keep my emotions in check.

Jack and I were childhood sweethearts, from families of similar standing, and we’d been engaged since we were young.

From dating to marriage, we were the couple everyone in high society envied.

No matter how busy he used to be, he’d always put me first.

In the early days of our marriage, we were inseparable, always clinging to each other wherever we went.

Even our parents couldn't help but tease us, telling us to cool it a little.

He’d been back for three months now, but aside from that first day he returned, we hadn’t seen each other.

Most of the messages I sent vanished into thin air.

Back in the mansion, facing those empty rooms, I finally broke down, sinking to my knees as I sobbed.

I’d waited five long years for Jack, all alone in this empty house, and he was finally back.

But this house still felt so empty.

He was home, but his heart wasn't.

A sharp ring from my phone shattered my thoughts. I wiped my tears and answered.

"Mrs. Morgan, today is your and Mr. Morgan's tenth wedding anniversary.""This year, Mr. Morgan has an emerald and blue diamond necklace ready for you. Would you have some time to come by and pick it up?"

It was a sales associate from Tiffany & Co. on the line, Jack's favorite jeweler.

Before we got married, Jack had put aside a sum of money to pre-order a gift for every single one of our anniversaries.

"It's not that I'm being lazy or thoughtless," he'd said, "I just really love their 'Eternal Promise' collection. And hey, I've written you a letter for every year!"

Eternal Promise, a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry each year, a vow to find each other again in the next life.

The jewelry and the letters—they never stopped, not even during the five years he was missing.

I was so thankful that this promise had been the crutch that got me through those five years without Jack.

The sales associate on the other end was still gushing about how exquisite this particular piece was.

I took a deep breath and told her I’d come get it.

At the very least, I wanted to see that letter.

It was from the Jack of ten years ago, written to me.

"The blue diamond at the center of this necklace is absolutely top-tier, the best on the market right now. You're going to adore it. I’ll go fetch Mr. Morgan’s handwritten letter for you right away."

I nodded, waiting quietly as the sales associate went to get them.

"I want that one! It's gorgeous, Jack! I want this necklace!"

That familiar voice came from behind me. I spun around to see Lisa strolling into the boutique, arm-in-arm with Jack. Lisa pointed at my necklace, her eyes glinting with greed.

The sales associate heard their voices and hurried out to explain it was my order.

When she saw Jack, she clearly froze for a moment, "Mr. Morgan?"

She glanced back at me, then, steeling herself, finally said, "This is the tenth-anniversary gift you pre-ordered for Mrs. Morgan..."

Jack’s brows furrowed deeply as he turned in my direction.

The man who, just half an hour ago, claimed to be in a meeting, was now standing in a jewelry store.

A wave of bitter irony washed over me, yet I also felt utterly pathetic.

"Since it's Elena's, Jack, I'll just pick something else."

Though Lisa said she'd give it up, her eyes remained glued to the necklace.

"You really like it?"

Jack stroked her hair, his gaze soft and doting, just like he used to look at me.

"Wrap this one up for Lisa. As for Mrs. Morgan's gift, you all can just find something else."

I stared at Jack in disbelief, subconsciously stepping forward.

Jack immediately shielded Lisa, his protective stance making it seem as if I were about to hurt her.

"How much jewelry do you own already? Do you really have to fight her for this one piece?"

I choked up.

"Jack, don't talk to Elena like that. This was meant for Elena in the first place. Someone like me could never deserve such beautiful jewelry..."Lisa pretended to smooth things over, even as she gestured for the sales associate to box up the necklace.

The sales associate, looking like a huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders, placed the letter on the box too, and handed it to Lisa.

Jack, standing off to the side, wore a dark expression.

"Huh? What's this?"

Lisa picked up the envelope, "This looks like Jack's handwriting?"

The second I saw she was about to open the envelope, I lunged forward and slammed my hand down on it:

"Don't touch my letter!"

Lisa’s brow twitched, her expression instantly hardening as she hissed at me in a low voice:

"Elena, if I tore this letter up right in front of Jack, whose side do you think he'd be on?"

Her voice was so low, only I could hear it.

My eyes shot wide with shock. The next instant, the letter ripped in two between our struggling hands. I snapped and slapped her hard across the face.

Lisa immediately burst into tears, sobbing her apologies to me.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it."

The next second, a sharp, stinging slap cracked across my face.

Fiery pain seared my cheek, a ringing in my ears, as I clutched my face and looked up at Jack.

Jack snatched the jewelry box, thrust it at Lisa, then bent down and scooped up the letter from the floor.

"You dare to hit someone in front of me, just for a letter like this?"

With a few swift, violent motions, he tore the letter to shreds and scattered them into the air.

"No!"

"Elena! This is your final warning! Don't you lay a hand on her!"

Tears burst from my eyes. I crouched down, desperately trying to pick up the shredded pieces from the floor.

But no matter how I tried, I couldn't seem to gather all the tiny scraps.

"Jack, do you even know what today is? It's our tenth anniversary... You've gone way too far..."A wave of hurt and anguish washed over me, and I finally ended up showing him just how fragile and small I felt.

Jack just stood there, cold as ice, his eyes blank, showing no emotion.

"It's just an anniversary. It's not like you're dropping dead tomorrow."

The Jack I used to know would personally plan surprises for my birthday.

For our anniversaries, he'd take a red-eye flight from Europe just to be with me.

He used to say that when you love someone, you give them the most precious thing you have.

So he'd make time to celebrate every special day of mine, just to make me feel loved.

Now, those casual words completely shattered my heart.

It was only then I truly understood: the Jack I once knew was lost to me forever.

Jack pulled Lisa out of the jewelry store, and before they left, she even flashed the jewelry box at me, a brazen smirk on her face.

I left the jewelry store in a daze. The sunlight that day felt unusually harsh, but the wind cut right through me, bone-chillingly cold.

After walking out, I turned back and picked out a gift for old Mrs. Morgan, whose birthday was the day after tomorrow.

Then I hailed a cab to the immigration office and picked up some paperwork.

My family had already emigrated three years ago. If I hadn't been waiting for Jack, I would have left long ago.

Now, I was finally leaving.

All that holding on had turned into a bitter pill I couldn't swallow, choking me, making it hard to breathe.Back home, the moment I opened the door, I saw Jack standing in the middle of the living room.

In that spacious room, our eyes met.

"What happened today, that was my bad. I'm sorry. Lisa's different from you. She's rarely around these kinds of luxuries, and it’s the first time she’s ever really asked for anything…"

His words were so grating, I had to cut him off.

"Just get to the point."

Anger flashed in Jack's eyes, his voice low:

"The day after tomorrow is Grandma’s birthday, and I want to bring Lisa."

"She’s pregnant now, and I was hoping you could help put in a few good words for her with Grandma."

"This baby, I have to keep it."

His words were like commands, forceful and cold.

Hearing that, I couldn't help but laugh.

A dull ache throbbed in my lower abdomen, a bitter reminder of the life I’d lost.