Chapter 4

“Daniel,” I said softly, my voice barely a whisper, “Did you forget? I’m allergic to anesthetic.”

I quietly took half a step back, tears stinging my eyes.

My words made Daniel frown, but I distinctly saw a flicker of guilt flash in his eyes.

He took two steps forward, pulling me into his arms, his voice laced with obvious remorse when he spoke again. “Baby, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault.”

“How about we skip the surgery today? I’ll talk to the doctor later and adjust the plan. Will you wait for my call?”

I pushed him away, my voice barely a choked whisper. “Daniel, can’t we… just not do this surgery?”

“No, we can’t.”

His tone was as gentle as always, but his eyes held a rare, unyielding resolve.

“Didn’t we agree? As soon as the surgery’s done, we’re tying the knot, babe!”

“Alright, just sit in the car and wait for me, okay? I’m going to call the doctor.”

His tone was supposedly ‘negotiating,’ but Daniel didn’t wait for my answer. He simply pushed me into the car and casually shut the door.

I leaned against the car window, watching him on his phone, a strange, bitter ache coiling in my gut.

I pushed the door handle, trying to get out, but found he’d locked the doors.

As I sat there, stunned, voices suddenly filled the car. It took me a moment to realize Daniel had forgotten his phone was still connected to the car’s Bluetooth.

“What? Daniel, are you insane? You know she’s allergic to anesthetic, and you still want to go through with the surgery? Do you have any idea how painful plastic surgery is without it? Forget her, no one could stand that!”

Daniel’s indifferent voice replied, “She can just bear with it.”

“What am I supposed to do? Stop the surgery just because she’s allergic to anesthetic?”

“It’s fine. She listens to me. I’ll just sweet-talk her later. You just schedule the surgery as planned.”

I sat in the car, the heater blasting, yet I felt like I’d plummeted into an ice cavern, shivering uncontrollably.

I couldn’t believe it. The man who used to tear up if I just scraped my knee could be so utterly cold-blooded.

And there Daniel stood, just a short distance away, mouthing the most tender ‘I love you, baby’ at me while simultaneously uttering the cruelest, most heartless words.

I couldn’t even manage a fake smile. Bitterness seeped into every cell, flowing through my veins, poisoning me from the inside out.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, perfectly timed. My hand trembled as I pulled it out.

It was the wedding planner, asking if there were any last-minute adjustments or additions I wanted for the approaching wedding.

Holding my phone, I stared at the man outside the car. After a long moment, I spoke softly, “Yes, an adjustment. Please replace the bride with a scarecrow.”