Benedict panicked, his voice rising with urgency. “I’ll have someone transplant semi-mature trees here. Maybe, just maybe, we can still see them bloom this year...”

Odette gazed at the space, her voice a whisper of finality. “No need. Dead is dead.”

Benedict wrapped his arms around her from behind, his tone pleading. “Don’t talk like that. Don’t scare me.”

Odette turned her head slightly, her voice soft yet steady. “Benedict, your birthday is coming soon. I’ve prepared a gift for you.”

His face brightened, the warmth of a smile spreading across his lips. “Really? I’m looking forward to it.”

But the moment was shattered by the sharp ring of his phone. After answering, his demeanor changed, his expression darkening.

Once he hung up, his words were swift. “Someone at the construction site is threatening to jump. I need to check it out.”

Odette nodded silently, her eyes following his retreating figure.

Back when they were dating, Benedict had always watched her leave. He used to say she was an angel in white, a warrior fighting against the tide, saving broken families and precious lives.

But she couldn’t save their love.

Soon enough, Odette received a picture from Millicent, which was a pregnancy test.

A sharp pain twisted in Odette’s chest, the air seeming to squeeze out of her lungs.

Benedict had broken his promise again.

How many times had he betrayed her? The count seemed impossible.

Six months ago, on their way to a simple date, they had been in a car accident.

In that moment of impending doom, Odette had thrown herself in front of Benedict, shielding him from harm.

The crash had left her gravely injured, bleeding heavily, and took from her the one thing she could never get back: her uterus.

Benedict had been beside himself with fear, shaking as he held her hand tightly, vowing that no matter what happened, his love for her would never waver.

When the news came that her uterus couldn’t be saved, he had immediately assured her it didn’t matter, that he could live without children as long as she was by his side.

Before she was wheeled into surgery, fully aware she could never have a child of her own, Benedict had proposed again, the eighth time.

Everyone in the room had been moved as Benedict spoke with such sincerity, his voice thick with emotion. “Odette brought light into my life, and now she’s sacrificed everything for me. If I ever fail her, I deserve the heavens to strike me down.”

Overwhelmed, Odette had agreed, tears filling her eyes.

But reality had come crashing down hard, leaving her heart shattered.

The promises still echoed in her mind, but the man who made them had proven unable to control himself. Instead, he had let another woman carry his child.

Millicent's message popped up, cold and cruel: [I’m pregnant. Your man laughed in my face, calling you a useless hen who can’t lay eggs. He’s on his way to see me now.]

[How could a successful man settle for no heir? Only someone as naïve as you would believe otherwise.]

[Odette, maybe he loved you once, but that was in the past. Now, all his passion belongs to me. Doesn’t it sting watching him move on?]

]Oh my god, he’s amazing. He got here so fast and even brought my favorite beef patties.]

Millicent followed up with a photo of pancakes, then another one of Benedict washing her feet.

Odette stared, unblinking, at the screen.

It was true, those who were adored never had to fear losing it.

She scrolled through one of Millicent’s earliest posts, her finger trembling as she read.

July 31, 11:58 p.m.

At that exact moment, Odette had been lying on the operating table, the cold sting of the scalpel cutting into her as her uterus was removed.

Meanwhile, Millicent had posted. [My CEO boyfriend is practically Superman! Braving the storm to bring me my favorite beef patties. When someone truly loves you, they’ll give you nothing less than the best.]

The post was accompanied by a picture of steaming, juicy beef patties, and there, drenched by the downpour, stood Benedict, his white shirt clinging to his body, the rain making it almost see-through, accentuating the sensual curve of his throat and neck.

Odette recalled the storm; it had been a once-in-a-lifetime tempest that day.

After the anesthesia wore off, Odette slowly came to, her vision blurry. The first thing she saw was Benedict, drenched to the bone.

In a weak, raspy voice, she asked, “Where have you been? Why are you soaked?”

Benedict gently placed a protective charm in her palm, his eyes glinting like stars in the night sky. “Baby, I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. I was out of my mind with worry.”

“I heard the peace charms at Divine Light Chapel are especially powerful, so I braved the storm and climbed the mountain to pray for you.”

“So dangerous…”

Back then, Odette’s heart had ached for him. She had thought he was being sweet, even silly.

But now, she realized the fool was her.

Climbing mountains to pray for blessings?

When she’d lost her uterus because of him, Benedict had been out in the storm, buying beef patties for Millicent.

Scrolling further through Millicent’s social media posts, Odette found nothing but heartwarming displays of affection.

They had climbed the Himalayas together, sharing passionate kisses as they gasped for breath at the summit.

They’d even watched the auroras dance across the sky, chasing shooting stars together.

All the promises Benedict had once made to Odette lingered in her mind like fading echoes. They were promised to visit places and share moments. Still, he had delayed them, one after another, until they became nothing but distant dreams.

Countdown: Five Days

Odette gathered all the photos of her and Benedict that had been tucked away in his study.

One by one, she slowly cut herself out of each picture.

In the end, all that remained in those photographs was Benedict, standing alone, as if he had never shared his life with anyone.

Countdown: Four Days

Odette ripped down all the sticky notes from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Benedict had a habit of leaving her little messages, writing things he wanted to say, even on the busiest days.

Once upon a time, Odette had lovingly replied to each note, cherishing every word.

Now, she tossed those love-soaked notes into the fire pit, watching them curl and burn, a symbol of everything she was letting go.

When Benedict passed by the window later, he felt a subtle shift in the air; something was off.

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, as if the warmth between them had suddenly slipped away, leaving only a cold space.

Countdown: Three Days

Odette received a photo of a tattoo from Millicent.

It was a picture of the tattoo on Benedict’s body.

Four years ago, they had walked into a tattoo parlor hand in hand, promising each other forever with matching tattoos.

Odette had a flame etched on her waist, with Benedict’s name, “Benedict,” burned into the fire.

Benedict had a blooming begonia flower inked on his waist, with Odette’s name, “Odette,” nestled beside it.

But now, a white cloud had been added next to the begonia.

That cloud symbolized Millicent.

Millicent taunted her through WhatsApp. [Odette, mark my words. One day, he’ll erase your begonia for me.]

The words cut deep, but Odette didn’t flinch. Instead, she took a leave of absence and made her way to the tattoo parlor.

With a clenched jaw and a heart full of quiet resolve, she removed the tattoo that once bound her to Benedict.

Countdown: Two Days

Millicent went to the hospital for a prenatal checkup, but her real plan was far from innocent.

In the quiet of a blind spot, she threw herself down the stairs, then spun a web of lies, falsely accusing Odette of pushing her.

Odette watched from the shadows, her gaze as cold as ice. At the same time, Millicent exaggerated every detail to Benedict on the phone.

Millicent didn’t even try to hide her malicious delight, putting the call on speaker so Odette could hear Benedict’s voice.

“How could you be so careless?” Benedict’s voice sounded sharp with worry. “I’ll call the lawyer. If any doctor is at fault here, I’ll make sure they never work again.”

Millicent’s lips curled into a victorious smile. “Darling, hurry up. I’m waiting for you at the hospital.”

After hanging up, she clutched her stomach, feigning fear. “Lucky for me, the baby’s fine. But if anything had happened, let’s see if Benedict wouldn’t tear you apart in public.”

A couple of nurses nearby murmured, intrigued by the spectacle.

“Who was that? Did she just mention Mr. Evander’s name?”

“Impossible. Mr. Evander is known for only having eyes for Director Clarendon. How could he be involved with another woman?”

“Must be some opportunist. Mr. Evander’s been targeted by one of those dishonest women!”

The nurses’ whispers hung in the air like poison, but Odette’s heart was a stone. She’d heard enough.

Benedict arrived in a flash, his hands quickly going to Millicent’s side to help her to her feet.

"Are you blind or…"

The moment his eyes met Odette’s, the harsh words froze in his throat. “Odette?”