Chapter 1

“I’m pregnant. Why don’t you just leave Nathan? Even though the Foster family’s not what it used to be, you were once a lady of that family. Have a little pride.”

Today was Bella and Nathan’s four-year wedding anniversary.

She wasn’t greeted by her husband but by his side chick who was waving around a positive pregnancy test, demanding to take her place. So funny. She almost want to laugh.

In her four years of marriage, he never touched her. He always said he respected her work and dreams, told her to stay healthy, and made sure their future kid wouldn’t miss out on a father. Yet here he was, having a baby with someone else. The old her would’ve kicked Julia out long ago.

But now, she stayed calm. “Sure, let’s get a divorce.”

Julia couldn’t believe her ears. “You agree? Are you serious?”

Bella nodded.

Julia was thrilled. “Let’s find Nathan now! You’ll get the divorce today!”

She had caused a lot of trouble to convince Bella to agree to a divorce, but Bella stayed stubborn. If she had known faking a pregnancy would work so well, she wouldn’t have wasted so much time.

As they got into the car, Bella asked directly, “Do you know where Nathan is?”

Without hesitation, Julia replied, “The Mandarin Hotel.”

Bella went quiet. Nathan hadn’t been home for a month. She couldn’t reach him, couldn’t find him. She never got the chance to tell him she was sick. Last month, she was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. Besides Nathan, she had no family left. When he refused to go with her to Riverside Town, she went alone. She hadn’t seen Nathan since, and there was always a small hope in her heart that she might see him one last time, to close this chapter.

With these thoughts, a bitter smile crossed her face. She hadn’t expected that at the end of her life, she’d need his lover to help her see him. While she was suffering, he was enjoying love and affection with someone else. It was time to wake up.

Just then, a truck sped toward them from the right.

Bella’s eyes widened, and she tried to warn Julia to hit the brakes. But it was too late… As her consciousness started to fade, she vaguely heard voices.

“Mr. Quinn, there’s someone else in the car besides Miss Julia!”

“Save Julia first!”

Then, she felt the car door being pried open and someone carrying Julia out. He was wearing the same wedding ring as hers… Bella slipped into unconsciousness.

When she woke up, she heard voices around her, though they seemed distant.

“What do you mean? I’ve asked so many of you. Are you all useless?” It was a deep, familiar male voice.

“Mr. Michael… We really tried our best. Miss Bella was sitting in the front seat. Her injuries were severe, and she didn’t get treatment in time. She lost too much blood… I know this is hard, but Miss Bella was already in the late stage of stomach cancer…”

“Don’t tell me this!” The man interrupted the doctor and then shouted to someone nearby, “You still haven’t reached Nathan? Is he dead or something?”

“Mr. Michael, Mr. Quinn… He’s at a candlelight dinner with Julia. Julia’s injuries are minor…”

“Damn it!” The man cursed, followed by the sound of a trash can being kicked over, and then the door opening.

Someone sat beside her. Bella tried to open her eyes, but it was no use. She could hear everything, but she couldn’t move.

“I don’t even know what to say to you… You were so smart when you were younger. I’ve been gone for just a few years, and you’ve ended up like this… It’s my fault. You said I was picking a fight with you. You stubborn girl, it’s been four years, and you didn’t even give me a call. Am I that forgettable to you? If I hadn’t come back to find you, would there be no one to even collect your body… Wake up soon. I remember you loved Riverside Town, I’ll take you there…” Michael whispered in her ear, his voice thick with emotion.

Bella remembered Michael. They had grown up together, but why had they gone their separate ways? Now she remembered. Because she insisted on marrying Nathan, even though everyone told her Nathan didn’t love her, she still fell for him. Michael didn’t even attend the wedding… She never expected him to be the one to send her off on her final journey…

Her consciousness faded again, this time pulling her under. Her heart stopped beating completely.

This time, she had no awareness, and she didn’t know how crazy Nathan went afterward. She also didn’t know that Michael stayed single for the rest of his life.