Steven Wilson, a familiar face from my university days, was my senior.
During the three years I was abroad, I didn’t just undergo treatment–I kept up with my studies too.
Steven and I were in the same research group. He’d once joked, “Let’s just get married. That way, I can adopt little Shelly fair and square.”
At the time, neither of us took it seriously.
But we both knew that if we waited any longer, the U.S. government would assign Shelly to a new foster home.
Steven, a 27–year–old single man, stood no chance of being granted full custody of a five–year–old girl. The law simply wouldn’t allow it.
Our professor–Shelly’s father–had died a hero. During a shooting incident on campus, he had shielded us students with his own body and paid the ultimate price. His wife had passed away long ago.
Right now, Steven was Shelly’s temporary guardian.
A week ago, I mailed him all the documents he needed.
With his abilities, obtaining a marriage license across borders was no problem.
I had already decided to leave the country and settle abroad.
If I was going to become Shelly’s mother, I couldn’t just say the words. I had to live them.
After the illness, my body was no longer capable of bearing children. Shelly would be my only child. My only daughter.
As I lay there, cradled in a deepening pool of my own blood, my eyes snagged on the text message on my phone, its words burning into my mind just before the world dissolved into black.
“Marriage license’s done.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m your husband now–Steven Wilson.”
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved the corners of my lips. Then, the darkness consumed me entirely.
When I woke again, I was in a hospital bed.
Voices floated through the haze–faint, but recognizable. Vivian Ayla was sobbing.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen… I just wanted to explain things to Miss Lachelle…”
“I was afraid she’d be upset after seeing the trending posts. I never thought something like this would happen…”
Her voice was thick with guilt.
Chadwick rubbed between his eyebrows, voice low and gentle.
“You’re not to blame. It was an accident.”
“And I was the one who pushed her away. If Jess is angry, she should blame me. She’s not unreasonable.”
Johnson stood nearby, unusually silent.
Chapter 5
55.56%
Vivian kept sobbing. “But… but what will I do when Miss Lachelle wakes up?”
“What if she can’t accept me? If I ruin your relationship… then I’m the villain.”
She clutched her stomach in pain. Her face went pale.
Chadwick stood up at once, wrapping his arms around her protectively.
“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”
He panicked. In his rush, he knocked over a chair, sending a loud crash echoing through the room.
It was as if he had completely forgotten that I, the “coma patient,” was still lying right there.
Without another word, he scooped Vivian into his arms and carried her out of the room.
Johnson called after him, “My little sister hasn’t woken up yet–aren’t you staying?”
Chadwick paused, looked back at me.
“Take care of her. I can’t leave Vivian alone.”
Then he walked out. A single, silent tear carved a path down my cheek.
Johnson reached over and gently wiped it away, murmuring softly, “Did you have a nightmare, Jess?”
Beneath the covers, my hand clenched into a tight fist, nails digging into my palm.
Johnson held my hand tightly and rested his forehead against it.
I felt warm tears fall on my skin.
He was crying. I heard him whispering to himself.
“Jess… I think I made a huge mistake. I won’t ever do it again.”
“I saw you fall down those stairs. I didn’t even realize it was you. I… I didn’t know what to do…”
“When you wake up… you should beat me up, okay?”
I listened quietly. Chillingly, I found myself devoid of feeling.
Not anger, not sadness. Just… numbness.
I couldn’t even summon the will to wonder why Johnson, my own brother, had conspired with Chadwick in this elaborate
deception.
It didn’t matter. None of it did.
Once Johnson’s left, I slowly sat up and climbed out of bed, legs unsteady.
I grabbed my phone and discharged myself from the hospital.
That’s when Steven Wilson’s call came through.
“I’m here with Shelly,” he said. “We’re both waiting for you, Jess.”
“…Okay.”
Chapter 5
55.56%
Half an hour later, I had my passport and all my documents in hand at the airport.
The plane took off. And this time, I didn’t look back.
Chapter 5
