It turns out that love has an expiration date—a very short one. A lifetime together is nothing more than a myth. People’s affections shift quickly, unpredictably, like the changing winds. Julian and I had reached the end of our story. There was no future left for us.

With a heavy heart, I made my decision. I walked out of the banquet, no longer able to bear the pretense, and took a taxi straight to the obstetrics and gynecology department of the hospital.

The clinic was quiet in the afternoon, and it wasn’t long before it was my turn. The nurse at the counter, with a sharp eye, instantly recognized me. She hesitated before asking if I was the infamous Mrs. Foster from the headlines.

I smiled, hiding the ache in my heart, and shook my head. "My name is Audrey Quinn, not Mrs. Foster."

Before she could respond, her colleague pulled her aside, whispering in a low voice. "Are you an idiot? Mrs. Foster underwent three artificial inseminations and finally got pregnant. How could she possibly want an abortion?"

The nurse went silent, her face reddening with embarrassment, and quickly apologized.

I entered the consultation room and explained my situation to the doctor. I lied, claiming that the father of the child had tragically died in a car accident. I told him I was resolute in my decision to terminate the pregnancy.

The doctor, perhaps sensing my pain, didn’t press further. He prescribed me medication to halt the pregnancy’s progress and handed me a prescription for the procedure, asking me to return the next morning.

I left the clinic, the effects of the medication already making me feel dizzy and unsteady. My body felt heavy, and I struggled to keep my eyes open. Once home, I collapsed into bed, the exhaustion pulling me under.

I slept deeply, though my sleep was restless, filled with disjointed dreams.

In those dreams, I was running—though not freely. My legs felt sluggish, like they were weighed down by invisible chains. I tried to run faster, but my body resisted, my breath coming in short gasps. I was suffocating.

And then—

I stepped into nothingness. The world tilted, and I felt myself plummeting, weightless, as the ground disappeared beneath me.

The shock of that sensation jolted me awake, heart racing, breath shallow. The heaviness in my chest lingered, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell whether it was from the dream or the reality of my waking life.

When I opened my eyes, the darkness of the night pressed in, and Julian was standing by my bed, his face etched with concern.

"Audrey, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" he asked, his voice laced with unease. "Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll always protect you."

His arms wrapped around me in a comforting embrace, but I could smell the unmistakable scent of lust on him, mingling with the perfume that Hazel favored.

His clothes were disheveled, and the faint smell of oil lingered on his hands—he must have just come from the kitchen, rushing over to me. His worried expression seemed genuine, but I couldn’t shake the knot in my stomach.

"I was really scared," he continued, his voice soft. "I was cooking noodles for you, and I heard you shouting. I thought you had a nightmare, so I ran in."

He studied my face, his brow furrowing as he noticed my discomfort. "Audrey, what's wrong? You look so pale. Do you want to go to the hospital?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile to suppress the tremor in my throat. "It's nothing, just some early pregnancy discomfort. I’ll be fine."

His distress seemed to deepen. "You’re so strong, Audrey. I wish I could bear all the pain for you."

Really?

I smiled coldly, my heart heavy with the weight of his hypocrisy. Wasn't it he who had caused all my pain?

I didn’t want to continue this charade any longer. I reached under my pillow and pulled out the "gift" I had prepared. It was time to end things.

"You’ve been so good to me, Julian," I said, my voice soft but steady. "I also have a gift for you."

Julian’s eyes brightened with surprise, and he eagerly reached for it.

"Wait," I stopped him, a weak smile playing on my lips. "This gift isn’t ready to be opened yet. I want you to open it in three days, okay?"

He chuckled and pinched my nose affectionately, teasing, "So mysterious? What’s the surprise?"

I could barely hold back my emotions, my words dripping with sarcasm. "Three days are going to feel so long... but I’ll manage."

I could feel that the three days stretched out before me, each moment heavier than the last.

It was longer than the eight years we had spent together. Longer than every memory we had built.

I smiled faintly, my gaze fixed on him, while my mind counted down the days—three left.

When Julian opens this gift, he will find two things: my abortion surgery form and the divorce agreement. The child will be the last trace of him, the final mark on our broken relationship. It would also be the end of our eight-year marriage.

By then, I would already be long gone—flying far away from this city that had carved deep scars into me. "Audrey" would be a name left behind, forgotten in the dust of the past.

I planned to erase it all. Completely disappear from Julian’s world, without a trace.

After dinner, prepared by Julian himself, I once again drifted into a restless sleep, my body exhausted but my mind still racing.

But in the second half of the night, the pain came.

It started as a dull ache in my lower abdomen, quickly intensifying into sharp, cramping pains. The child had fought so hard to survive, yet now, it could not withstand this cruel stage.

I felt a coldness wash over me as the life within me slowly faded.

I curled up, trying to ease the pain, but when I turned to my side, I noticed the space beside me was empty—his warmth was gone.

It was past three in the morning. Julian was nowhere to be found, and I felt the hollow silence fill the room.

Just as I reached for my phone to message him, my screen lit up with a notification from Hazel.

"Audrey, you’re still asleep? I hope you’re resting well alone."

"I just said I was hungry, so Julian came over in the early morning to make me breakfast, worried that my child and I might be starving! I just had to share this joy with you—thank you for training Julian so well."

She continued, her words dripping with malicious satisfaction.

"I can’t help it, Audrey, Julian cares so much for me and my child. He said that I am different from you, after all, your child was born through surgery, and the genes aren’t healthy or flexible. He doesn’t think much of you at all, but with me, it’s different. He and I are the natural creation of love. I’m definitely better than you!"

This time, Hazel didn't just send me photos. She sent me a video, demanding that I watch it carefully.

In the video, Julian was shirtless, wearing a pink apron, moving around the kitchen. His back was turned to the camera, and the faint outlines of scratches marked his skin—signs of their recent intimacy. It was clear they had just been together, reluctant to part for even a moment.

Hazel’s voice was sweet and teasing, her words dripping with affection. Julian, still with his hands busy, took a strawberry and fed it to her, then gently patted her head as if comforting her.

"Julian, I don't want to be apart from you," she cooed. "Can you stay with me and the child a little longer?"

Julian hesitated for only a second before replying, "Okay, I'll stay for a few more days."

The video ended, but my phone buzzed with a message from Julian.

"Audrey, there’s an urgent meeting at the company. All departments have been called in. I didn’t want to wake you up since you were sleeping so soundly. Stay home with the baby, and I’ll be back in a few days. I’m about to board the plane now."

Along with the text, there was a three-second voice message. His voice, distorted by software, sounded like a distant echo, with the hum of an airport announcement in the background.

And then, a false confession slipped through the static.

"Audrey, I love you."

I didn't respond. I didn’t need to.

The weight of his lies suffocated me, but my resolve only grew stronger.

I wasn’t going to wait around anymore.

The next morning, I forced myself to go to the hospital for the abortion.

When I woke from the anesthesia, everything felt distant—my body heavy, my mind clouded. I was wheeled into a general ward for observation and discharged the following day.

Fortunately, the pregnancy was only a month along, and the physical trauma was minimal. There were no complications after the procedure, and I was able to move around freely. I was discharged quickly.

Back home, I stood in front of the mirror, scissors in hand. I cut my hair, shedding the remnants of the woman I once was, and applied heavy makeup to create my new identity.

I packed only a single set of clothes, leaving everything behind—no belongings, no phone. I didn’t want anything that would tie me to the past. I deliberately avoided the cameras, slipping out of the building unnoticed, taking the stairs down from the dozen floors. I walked through the back entrance of the community, moving quietly into the night.

Julian had no clue. He hadn’t been home for days, still wrapped up in his blissful life with Hazel, pretending to be a family of three.

And that suited me just fine.

Without him in my way, I could leave without a second thought.

I removed my wedding ring and tossed it into the grass, not sparing it another glance. I left without looking back.

Goodbye, Julian.