Aaron stopped on the sidewalk nearby after receiving Elena's call. His gaze traveled between the complex ahead of him and Reed Corporation behind him, weighing his choices.

Ahead of him was his apartment, where Mia waited for him. Despite already giving birth to their child, she remained as gentle yet insatiable as before.

Behind him stood Reed Corporation, the company he and Elena had established together. It carried countless memories of their time together.

It was a difficult choice that made Aaron hesitate, but only briefly. He said, "I'm really busy now, Elena. Be good and head to the hospital yourself, okay? Or you can ask Dr. Jones—"

Elena hung up without waiting for him to finish. She didn't need to test him anymore, nor did it matter. When one needed to put on a mask to test the other person's love, the feeling itself lost its meaning. There was no point in clinging to it anymore.

She put her phone on silent mode and stuffed it into her bag. Then, she got out of the cab and walked along the sidewalk outside Reed Tower. She traversed the city on foot.

Now that she thought about it, she'd already been in this world for a decade. Throughout that time, she'd focused all her attention on Aaron. Her world had revolved around him, so she hadn't had the chance to take a good look at the city.

She hadn't tried to get a feel of the virtual world the author of this book had created—Halston City was actually a beautiful place.

She was leaving in two weeks, so it was high time she took in the sights. She didn't want to be lost for words and unable to describe anything about the place when she thought about it in the future.

Elena wandered the city until past 10:00 pm. When she returned, the house was still empty.

She had many missed calls and unread messages but deleted them without reading or checking the caller ID. Then, she went to the attic to retrieve some empty packing boxes. Once she was in her room, she started putting her things away.

The first things she started with were her expensive designer bags and jewelry. She'd transmigrated into this book, so she couldn't bring any of these things with her.

There was no way she would leave them for Aaron and Mia—she'd be much better off donating them, her shares, and fixed assets to the needy. She had a lawyer to handle everything for her, anyway.

Soon, Elena filled one box. It contained the jewelry and bags she'd accumulated over the years. Some were gifts from Aaron, and others were purchases she had made herself.

She texted Sean Quilton, her lawyer, and told him to drop by the following morning to take the things away. Then, she washed up and headed to bed.

She didn't know when Aaron returned, but he lay in bed with his arm around her when she woke up. She was revolted by the thought of being so close to him and instinctively pulled away.

Aaron looked glumly at his empty arms. "I'm sorry, Elena. I didn't mean to leave you to head to the hospital alone—I was really busy yesterday. To make it up for you, I made you your favorite seafood bisque for breakfast.

"Can you forgive me this once? I'm also a victim. I've been so busy with work that I haven't had time to be with you."

He really had a way with words. He could make it seem like she was the one to blame for him spending the night outside.

Elena parted her lips to speak when her gaze landed on a provocative mark on Aaron's chest. It had been revealed when he'd lowered his head, making his collar fall open slightly.

It looked fresh—it had probably been left there yesterday. She wondered how vigorously Mia had sucked to leave it there.

Was Aaron aware of it? If he was, did he think of concealing it? Or did he think Elena was a fool who didn't have a mind of her own and would believe everything he said?

Elena curled her lip slightly before saying softly, "Of course I'm not mad at you. You're only this busy for our family, right? I'm just used to being alone now. I was caught off guard when I sensed someone else in bed with me."

That took Aaron aback. He suddenly recalled that he'd delayed his return home from a business trip for three days because his and Mia's child had fallen sick. His business trip had lasted four days, and he'd spent three days with Mia and the baby.

He'd also stayed out last night to get his fill of Mia, so he and Elena hadn't slept in the same bed for eight days. This made him feel guilty.

"It's definitely a lot busier running a company alone. Once I settle everything I have in hand, I'll take a long break so I can be with you, okay?"

There he was again, making the matter seem like it was her fault. Elena smiled coldly. "Sure. I'll wait for you."

…

Aaron was pretty good in the kitchen. The seafood bisque tasted delicious, and he'd prepared a few other snacks to go with it. Elena managed to enjoy her meal despite having to endure his presence.

He was relieved to see her eating happily and left for work when she was done. Shortly after, Sean arrived. Elena handed him the things she'd already packed before getting back to work.

She and Aaron had gone through an amorous stage for three years before officially dating. Then, they'd dated for four years before being married for three. They'd accumulated quite a number of things after spending a decade together.

Aside from the jewelry and bags Sean had already taken away, Elena still had to clear a wardrobe full of clothes and shoes. She also needed to get rid of vases, paintings, daily necessities, souvenirs from trips, and the gifts she and Aaron had given each other.

She put away anything that belonged to her, whether bought by herself or Aaron. There were 14 days left until her disappearance, and she wanted to do it thoroughly. She wasn't even going to leave a shred of paper behind. Aaron wouldn't have anything of hers.

Elena kept busy until noon. As she waited for her takeout to be delivered, she was surprised to see Aaron return home.

A sudden downpour had drenched him, but he didn't bother drying himself. He ran straight to the bedroom, his expression ugly as he stopped before Elena. "Where's your wedding ring, darling? Did you lose it?"

Had he already noticed?

Elena suddenly felt a cruel vindication from being found out. "I didn't lose it—I sold it. I wanted to do some charity work, so I sold all the bags and jewelry you've ever given me.

"You know what it's like to go hungry and have no money, Aaron. I'm sure you won't resent me for doing this. You'll support me, won't you?"

Aaron was taken aback by Elena's nonchalant tone. After a brief pause, he said hoarsely, "It's okay if you've gotten tired of your regular jewelry—we can buy new ones together someday. But the wedding ring…"

He got on one knee and held Elena's hand. From his pocket, he pulled a familiar blue box and placed it on her palm. "You can change all other jewelry, but the wedding ring is unique. I went all the way to South Phrida to source the gem, and I designed and made the ring myself.

"It represents my love for you. You have to keep it with you at all times. If you don't, I'll give up everything—including my life—and go to the ends of the earth to get it back for you."

His gaze was sincere and tender, and his hand was warm around hers. Everything looked the same as before, but Elena knew better. Both of them had changed on the inside, so there was no way things could be the same.

"Okay." She felt like she had something lodged in her throat. She tried to pull her hand away but failed.

"Darling…" Aaron slowly stood up. Then, he leaned forward to kiss her.

She turned away, feeling discomfited. "It's daytime. Didn't we agree to practice restraint?"

He frowned and missed her lips in that split second. The kiss landed on her cheek.

"I'm sorry for being too forward." He smiled nonchalantly and opened the ring box, revealing an exquisite and lavish pink diamond ring. It was eye-catching and gleamed under the lights. Even if it wasn't worth a fortune, it was still expensive.

Aaron had indeed put his heart into designing and making the ring. It was created when his love for Elena was at its peak. It was too bad his love lasted for such a short time. It also came with lies and betrayal.

Elena's chest tightened. It was as if she'd been stabbed in a spot that had just recovered.

"Be good and take care of it. Don't lose it again." He put the ring back on her finger and tapped her forehead gently. He seemed to have much to say when his gaze met hers but ultimately didn't. Instead, he went back to work after giving her a brief hug.

…

Elena didn't know whether Aaron could sense something was up or whether it was just his guilty conscience acting up, but he returned particularly early that night. He cooked dinner for her and even took a stroll with her after the meal.

Since he was willing to treat her well, she would wholeheartedly accept it. They didn't have much time left together, so she would allow him to do whatever he wanted as long as it didn't involve intimacy.

Of course, she didn't reject him outright. She had the perfect excuse to keep him away.

She told him her sudden stomachache yesterday was a combination of a cold she'd caught from being in the rain and her period, which was coming soon. That was why she'd been in so much pain that she'd needed to go to the hospital.

Aaron had always doted on her, so he wouldn't make things hard for her over something like this. He even drew her a hot bath, hoping it would alleviate her period cramps when they came.

He was careless over certain things yet meticulous over others. He paid attention to details when something mattered to him, so Elena's period came and went without much issue under his tender care.

After resting easy for a week due to her period, Elena started getting anxious, especially when it ended. Aaron had always worn a condom when doing it with her since deciding not to have a child—the only time he allowed himself to go wild was during the few days immediately after her period ended.

In the past, he would've made the most out of these few days. Even if he was away on business trips, he would fly back to spend the night with her before flying off again the following morning.

What was she going to do if he insisted on having his way with her that night? Was it necessary for her to get nasty and reject him?

Elena kept thinking about this as she showered. However, she instantly stopped worrying when she stepped out of the bathroom and saw Aaron holding his phone, looking anxious. Her heart sank.

What was the point of her turmoil? Aaron had Mia now—she was much more willing to go along with him and do what he wanted. Why would he still be interested in a woman who restrained him and stopped him from going wild?

She recalled how he'd tried to go to meet Mia for a midday tryst during his lunch break. He'd already spent so many days by her side while waiting for her period to pass. How could he possibly hold himself back any longer and stay with her?

Sure enough, Elena was right.

As she applied her skincare, Aaron approached her and helped her dry her hair. Once it was dry and combed, he said tentatively, "A friend from university asked me out to discuss a possible collaboration, darling. You remember he left his company to start out on his own, right?"

He wasn't lying. His friend had indeed started his own business, but Aaron wasn't the same man as before. He now had a net worth of millions of dollars, and every move he made could have widespread consequences.

He had to be careful in everything he did, so how could someone from a startup company get him to meet them so easily?

It was clear he was too impatient to even give her a proper excuse. Still, Elena waved a hand without hesitation. "Go on."

"You're the best, darling." Aaron immediately beamed and hurried to pick out a shirt, tie, and suit.

Elena's heart suddenly throbbed painfully when she saw him looking so delighted. Had he cheated on her because of the novelty, or had he just fallen out of love with her?

Was the prospect of seeing Mia so appealing to him? Was it enough for him to cast aside the bond he shared with Elena?

Aaron left the house after changing and washing up. He even spritzed some cologne. Barely five minutes later, Elena's phone pinged.

She'd received a photo of Aaron leaning against the backseat with his shirt open and belt unbuckled. This was followed by a video.

"Have you missed me and the baby after so many days apart, Aaron?" Mia asked.

Aaron answered her with a muffled grunt. That wasn't enough for her. She pressed him for answers.

"Talk to me, Aaron. Have you missed me after so many days apart? Have you missed my body? Have you missed my tricks? Have you missed sticking it in me from the door to the bathroom? Have you missed our baby?

"He's started saying 'Daddy,' you know. Do you want to hear it? Do you want him and me to call you 'Daddy' together?"

Her words set Aaron on fire. He had nowhere to go, so he pressed her head lower. He panted and said, "Yes, I've missed you and our baby. Now, go faster, babe. Faster!"

The video ended there. Elena walked to the window. Even in the darkness of night, she could vaguely see a car swaying underneath the cover of the trees outside the iron gate.

Tears blurred her vision. Suddenly, she found herself struggling to remember what Aaron was like.

What did the Aaron she'd met ten years ago, fallen in love with seven years, and married three years ago really like? Was he who she thought he was? Or was everything she knew about him just what he wanted her to see?

Perhaps the real Aaron was a scumbag who'd slowly descended into darkness and the mires of life. Elena thought she was his salvation, but all she'd done was make him look better on the outside. She'd made him seem like an ordinary man who was loyal and faithful.

In truth, he was still rotten inside. He'd just hidden it well enough that one could only see past the glossy exterior and discover the decay inside if one peeled back the layers and scrutinized him.

Elena had been stuck in a wonderful dream for the past decade. Now that she'd been roused from her slumber, she realized it had all come to nothing. The foundation upon which she'd built her life had been nothing but lies, bringing her to the verge of a breakdown.

Her chest throbbed painfully, almost as if it was telling her that she'd wasted the past decade on a failure. She couldn't save Aaron or the original Elena, who'd given her a second chance at life.

The anguish she felt was unbearable—she felt like she was going to die. She bent over and curled up against the balcony's railing as she panted for breath.

She bawled her eyes out, leaving them red and swollen. The night passed torturously, and she was in such agony that she didn't notice the rain pouring on her.

When Aaron returned home, he found Elena sprawled on the couch, drenched from head to toe. Her face was red, and she was almost unconscious from her high fever.

"Darling, are you okay?" He ran to her, panicked at the sight of her. He immediately took her to the hospital.

Elena pulled through after some quick rescuing on the doctors' part, but she had to spend a few more days in the hospital due to pneumonia caused by her high fever.

She supposed it was good for her. She only had six days to go before she could leave this world—all she wanted to do was have some peace and quiet in the hospital. She didn't want to go home or have to rack her brains when dealing with someone as fake and fickle-minded as Aaron.

However, it didn't occur to her that Aaron and Mia could come to her.

"Hi there. Would you happen to know where the pediatric department is?"

Elena looked at the sophisticated, beautiful woman before her. Her hair was curled perfectly, and her dress was crimson and fashionable. Yet she had a baby carrier strapped to her front, holding an adorable boy with large eyes.

She immediately recognized the woman to be Mia, with whom she'd communicated virtually for a long time.

Her chest tightened. She shut her eyes before opening them again. "There are plenty of doctors and nurses outside. You should ask them, Ms. Wynn."

"Oh, so you do recognize me, Mrs. Reed." Mia stuck out her chest to bring her son forward. "Take a good look at my baby boy—this is the son I share with Aaron. He's one this year, and he's smart and adorable.

"He's perfect in every way, really. Aaron adores him so much that he didn't just give him a villa and a yacht. He wants to give our baby his company's shares."

Elena patiently waited for her to finish bragging before smiling faintly. "Do you want him to be plagued by the troubles that come with wealth at such a young age?"

Mia's expression shifted. "What's that supposed to mean? You're just jealous of me because you can't have a baby!"

Elena's smile didn't waver. She pointed at her diagnosis report, which hung at the foot of her bed. "Didn't you do your homework before coming? I have pneumonia after getting a high fever from the rain. You do know pneumonia is contagious, right?"

Mia's expression darkened. She hurriedly covered the baby's face and backed away anxiously, almost running into Aaron as he entered the hospital ward.

He instinctively held her. Then, his expression soured when he saw who she was. "What are you doing here?"

In the next second, he remembered that he was in Elena's hospital ward and turned to look at her. As he hurried to her, he said, "I'm sorry, Elena. Was Mia bothering you? She's one of the company's employees, and she's been kicking up a fuss about career opportunities after giving birth.

"She hasn't been getting her way at the company, so she probably came here to ask you to speak up for her. Is that what happened?"

Career opportunities after giving birth? Elena supposed it was considered a form of career advancement since Mia wanted to kick her out of the picture and take over her role as Aaron's wife.

"Well, it is a serious matter." Elena thought about it and held up a hand. "Give me five days. Come back in five days to tell me what you want."

Mia was delighted. She looked at Elena and asked, "Will you help me with this, Mrs. Reed?"

"Of course." Elena smiled sincerely. "Things are tough for all mothers—I can't dismiss your contributions to the company and Aaron just because you've had a child. Give me at most five days, okay? Once I've recovered and been discharged, I'll give you an answer that'll satisfy you."

Mia's eyes glinted nastily. She gave Aaron an alluring look before leaving.

He parted his lips to say something, but Elena beat him to it. "As your wife and the person who helped you establish your empire, it's only natural for me to deal with things that you might not be able to handle.

"Don't worry too much about this and let me rest for a few days. We can talk about it when I'm better, okay?"

Aaron swallowed his words. His gaze was dark and unfathomable as he looked at her. Ultimately, he looked away. "You're the best wife a man could ever have, and it's the biggest honor in my life to have you by my side.

"No matter what happens in the future, I'll always be by your side. Regardless of how tough things get, know that I won't leave you. I'll never forget everything we've been through together."

…

Time passed in the blink of an eye. It was time for Elena to be discharged, and it was also her final day in this world.

Sean called her early in the morning; her words were the same as before. "Deal with my assets as you see fit. All you need to do is ensure the divorce agreement is given to Aaron by the time I've set."

Then, the funeral parlor called her. "Are you sure you want us to send a hearse to your home to collect your body at midnight, Ms. Frost?"

She laughed. "Of course. I'll be dead by then, so my body has to be taken away. You don't want me to rot and stink up the place, do you?"

Aaron entered the hospital ward at that moment and heard her on the phone. He asked, "What are you talking about, darling? Why are you talking about death so early in the morning?"

Startled by his presence, she quickly hung up. Then, she nodded and said, "I won't talk about it anymore, then. I guess I'm just a little glum because of the stroke of bad luck I've experienced lately."

First, she had a stomachache. Then, her period had come. After that, she had a high fever and pneumonia. What was that, if not a stroke of bad luck? To think Aaron was the cause of her bad luck, too.

His heart ached at that, and he pulled her into his arms. "Let's go to Crimson Peak after you've been discharged so we can pray there. I'm going to pray for your health and safety. How about we have a child once you're all better?"