I used to have a child with Joseph. Back then, I hadn't fallen ill yet, and I thought I could carry our child. I had asked the doctor to keep it a secret from Joseph, telling him to wait until the pregnancy was stable.

However, Joseph accidentally found my prenatal check-up slip at home, and he was overjoyed.

"Anna, let's make up. I'll learn to be a good father and take care of you and the baby," he said. "Whatever you've done in the past, I forgive you. Let's start fresh."

Yet, he didn't know that day was the day my illness truly began.

The baby was already three months old, and the doctor told me the chances of survival were slim. Even if the child lived, there would be severe congenital defects.

When Joseph found me, I had just come out of surgery.

Yarra looked at me with a pained expression. "Anna, even if you hate Joseph and want nothing to do with him, the baby is innocent. How could you just kill it?"

I wanted to explain, but then I saw Joseph's expression.

"Annabelle, was it so disgusting to carry my child? Was it so disgusting that you'd rather kill it just to cut ties with me?"

Why was it that when Yarra said a single sentence, he believed her completely?

That was my child, too. Did he think it hurt me any less?

In the end, as if possessed, I coldly said, "Yeah. The moment I realized it was your child, I'd rather it die."

After that, our relationship was almost completely torn apart.

The noise on my phone died down, and the number of people in the live stream kept increasing. Some viewers asked when they were getting married.

Yarra removed the mosaic, flashing a mysterious smile as she took a ring out and gently placed it on both her and Joseph's hands.

Joseph had always worn a ring, but it wasn't nearly as extravagant as the one Yarra now wore.

That ring was a family heirloom. When Joseph and I confirmed our relationship, my mom gave it to him. At that time, he was overjoyed and said he would always treat me well.

"Your family has accepted me as their son-in-law. You can't run away now," he said.

For years, he had worn that ring, never once taking it off. However, it now lay discarded to the side as if it were nothing.

That ring was the only thing my mother had left me. I couldn't just watch them trample over it.

When I arrived at the hospital room, they were still wrapped in each other's embrace.

"Where's the ring? You can return it to me now, can't you?"

Yarra chuckled. "So that ugly thing was from you? No wonder I always wondered why Joseph kept wearing it. Anna, did you think he wasn't worthy of something better?"

She lifted Joseph's hand, proudly displaying a pair of dazzling couple's rings.

"I personally picked these out. You won't believe how expensive they are. They cost enough to buy several homes in the city."

I ignored her and turned to Joseph. "You know what that ring means to me. Where is it?"

Joseph scoffed. "What meaning? Wasn't it just some worthless trinket your family used to deceive me? Trash belongs in the garbage where it should be. I was such a fool back then. I should've realized sooner. Your mother was just as conniving, trying to win me over with a cheap piece of junk."

A surge of fury overtook me, and I slapped him across the face.

"Insult me all you want, but insult my mother, and you're asking for death!"

Yarra quickly stepped aside, sneering. "Are you insane? You two are disgusting, and we're just saying it out loud. With a mother like that, no wonder she raised a daughter like you."

Even in her last moments, my mother had been thinking of Joseph and me. And now, they dared to slander her like this.

Before I even realized it, I lunged at them, landing slap after slap.

"If you insult my mother again, I'll kill you!"

Joseph shielded Yarra behind him and turned to me indifferently. "Annabelle, so you do have feelings after all. Yet, you're just like your mother. You both deserve to die. Let's get a divorce. I don't want to see you ever again."

I looked at him, laughing and crying at the same time. This was how it all ended.

They had their happiness, while I had nothing.

"Fine."

They claimed to have thrown the ring in the trash, but after searching the hospital from top to bottom, I never found it.

The stench of antiseptic and the foul odors of the hospital made me retch over and over.

I was coughing up blood more frequently now. It felt like I really was about to die.

I wondered if Joseph would feel even a hint of regret if he ever found out I was telling the truth.

Joseph never came back.

On the first day, I looked at the pills the doctor prescribed me. I took them, only to throw them up immediately. Meanwhile, Yarra posted pictures of all the luxurious gifts Joseph had given her.

On the second day, the bleeding wouldn't stop. To avoid dirtying the house, I could only sit in the bathroom.

Yarra posted photos of herself in a wedding dress on social media, claiming to be the happiest woman in the world.

…

It felt like we were separated by underworld and heaven.

When I came out of the hospital after my checkup, Yarra sent me an address.

"Come quickly. There's a surprise for you!"

I didn't know what could possibly be a surprise for someone like me, who was about to die. The address led to Springville Manor, the mansion Joseph had built for Yarra.

There were many luxury cars parked outside, some belonging to Joseph's family and friends.

They were all smiling, and in the middle of the crowd stood Yarra in her wedding dress.

"Yarra, you look so beautiful in that dress!"

"I've always said you two should have been together from the start. All this time was wasted because of that bitch, Annabelle."

"Let's not talk about that slut today. Joseph, are you finally happy with this wedding?"

They had all been there when Joseph and I got married, but back then, almost everyone had been cursing me.

"She's just a gold digger. You could have married anyone, but you chose her. Be careful. She'll just run off again when things get tough."

"If you're just trying to get back at her, that's one thing, but don't get too involved with her."

"Annabelle, you better keep to yourself. If I find out you've hurt Joseph again, don't blame us for what will happen."

Joseph smiled. "We aren't just celebrating the wedding. Our child is one month old today!"

"You're being unfair. Yarra is carrying your child. You don't still plan to let her be the mistress, do you?"

"If you want to stay with Annabelle, we won't stand for it."

Joseph sighed in resignation. "How could I? I was blind, but I've seen the truth now. Some people are just ingrates, no matter how well you treat them."

I clenched my fists quietly, and the vows he once made echoed violently in my mind.

"I will only marry Annabelle in this life! I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful girlfriend. You don't know how envious everyone around me is. I'll be good to you forever. If there's a day I fail, I'll kill myself in front of you."

Inside, he was celebrating new life with his guests.

Outside, in a place where no one cared, I quietly met my end.

Joseph, this was our final farewell.