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He hung up, trembling and reaching for my hand.
I pulled away, staring emptily.
He bowed his head, feigning remorse. "I didn't know. I'm sorry, Sarah, I didn't know…"
"If I'd received the message, I wouldn't have neglected her."
I scoffed inwardly, recalling the doctor's words days ago.
When my grandmother was in critical condition, they called Nathan.
He was at an auction with Claire, using her life savings for that necklace.
He ignored the hospital's calls.
I closed my eyes, finished with him.
He leaned closer, muttering his apologies.
"Sorry, Sarah…I didn't mean for this to happen"
I grabbed him and mouthed silently, "Leave."
Before going, he left behind my old phone.
"Sarah, call me if you need anything."
"When you're discharged from the hospital, I'll take you home."
"I won't let you be alone out there again."
I ignored him, blocked and deleted all his contacts the moment I had my phone. The next day, I discharged myself.
As I was leaving, someone called out.
"Sarah Collins, do you remember me?"
Panting, my diagnosing doctor stood there—my old college classmate, Daniel Reed.
I smiled, typing on my phone.
"I haven't forgotten, Daniel."
Beyond being classmates, the Reed family was prominent in Bay City. I'd seen Daniel at galas with my parents.
His eyes sparkled. "This might seem forward, but if you're okay with it, I'd like to help with your speech therapy."
I looked at him, surprised. We weren't close, so his offer puzzled me.
Noticing my confusion, he rubbed his nose. "I just want to be friends with Ms. Collins, no ulterior motives."
I nodded hesitantly. He looked thrilled.
In the following days, I hunted for jobs. Every Friday, Daniel came to my grandmother's house for therapy. Nathan made countless numbers to reach me, but I blocked them all.
With my phone, I started taking food delivery jobs.
It was grueling, but watching my savings grow felt fulfilling.
Life seemed to be returning to normal.
Until Nathan found me again.
It wasn't surprising he found my grandmother's house—his family had resources.
After returning from a delivery, I saw him at my door.
He looked disheveled—messy hair, wrinkled clothes, exhaustion evident in his eyes.
Under the dim streetlight, he seemed lonely.
Upon seeing me, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over.
He opened his arms to hug me, but I dodged coldly.
I stared expressionlessly.
His face fell, showing hurt.
"Sarah, do we have to act this way?"
"I was wrong. Come back, let's start over. I'll arrange your grandma's funeral properly."
I scoffed and typed on my phone.
"Nathan, when did we ever start?"
As the heiress of the Collins family, I chased him for seven years, but he was ice-cold, ignoring my affection.
After my family's bankruptcy, I made a deal—humiliating myself as his secret lover to save my grandmother, even becoming a laughingstock. I still held hope.
But he abandoned me for Claire and let her actions kill my grandmother.
I saw clearly:Nathan wanted to break me, crush my pride, and keep me caged.
He never loved me and never would he.
My heart felt dead, all hopes for him gone.
We never had a real beginning.
I sneered and moved to unlock my door.
He grabbed me, voice trembling. "Sarah, we can still start over."
"If you want, I'll announce you as my fiancée. No one will look down upon you…"
"I won't force you into doing anything. Just be yourself, okay?"
I raised an eyebrow at his pleading eyes.
Are you regret?
It's too late.
I gave him countless chances, held endless hopes. He shattered them himself.
I no longer love him anymore, and he didn't deserve my love.
I stepped closer. In his hopeful gaze, I slapped him hard.
In the faint light, I rolled up my sleeve, revealing countless gruesome scars. Nathan froze.
He stared, voice cracking. "What are these?Who did this?"
I pointed at him, then at my throat.
The doctor said trauma had caused my silence, and Nathan thought it was my grandmother's death.
But it started earlier, during those three months of being away—the darkest, most painful time of my life.
Nathan paled and shook his head. "No, it can't be…"
"Claire said you were managing well, that she was helping you…"
I typed rapidly.
"Nathan, as you wanted, we're done."
"I ate the cake. You said you'd let me go. Keep your promise."
He stood there, dazed, lost in the shock of my scars, not responding.
I didn't care and entered the house alone.
