Chapter 3

As I walked near the park lake, I saw them.

Ryan was supporting Chloe, half her body leaning into his embrace.

Her right hand was resting on Ryan's shoulder, her left pressed against his waist.

Her fingertips traced along the top edge of his belt buckle, stroking it repeatedly.

Ryan's free hand tried to pull away.

But Chloe was quicker; her fingers slipped into his palm, lacing them together.

He stiffened but didn't pull away.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Suddenly, Chloe seemed to sense something and turned her head.

She whispered something into Ryan's ear. Ryan nodded, released her hand, and turned to walk towards the outpatient building.

Chloe stood there, waiting until he was far away before she walked towards me.

"Oh, you're out of the hospital? Why didn't you ask Dr. Miller to take you home?"

I ignored her.

She followed me.

I glanced at the ankle she had just pretended to twist.

She shrugged fearlessly.

"Do you know? He held me all the way here, and his hand never let go. How do you think a surgeon like him wouldn't be able to tell if I was really sprained?"

She tilted her head, her eyes curving into a smile.

"But I also understand you."

She sighed, feigning sympathy.

"After all, you two haven't had any passion for so many years, just habit, right?"

"Are you done talking?"

I stopped walking.

"Oh dear, are you angry?"

She covered her mouth, letting out a delicate giggle.

"There isn't a man in the world who doesn't cheat. You can't expect him to stay faithful to you for life. But I do admire you, being able to turn a blind eye to all this..."

"Chloe."

I cut her off.

"Do you know what the most pathetic thing about you is?"

Her smile froze.

"You need to use such despicable methods to try and steal a man who doesn't love you."

She suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

I shook her off.

"Let go."

I yanked my hand back forcefully, making her stumble.

She instinctively shoved me.

I fell backward towards the artificial lake.

I desperately pulled her with me, and the inertia made us both tumble in.

The water surface was covered with a layer of ice, and there was a loud crash when we fell in.

It attracted a lot of attention.

Including Ryan, who had just returned.

He hadn't seen Chloe push me.

So from his perspective, I was trying to push Chloe in, but she pulled me in with her.

Ryan quickly pulled her out.

Chloe was drenched, her nurse's uniform clinging to her body, shivering uncontrollably from the cold.

She threw herself into Ryan's arms, sobbing breathlessly.

"Dr. Miller..."

She desperately burrowed into Ryan's embrace.

Even his shirt buttons came undone.

Ryan didn't speak, his eyes fixed on me.

I'd seen that look before.

That's how he looked at me every time I caused a scene over the past two years.

Cold, disappointed, and a hint of impatience.

"Lily."

His voice was heavy.

"This is a human life. If you have any grievances, take them out on me, don't take it out on someone else."

I couldn't be bothered to argue, so I reached out, bracing myself on the muddy bank, trying to stand up.

But Chloe suddenly 'fainted,' her foot slipped, and she deliberately kicked me hard on the side of my knee.

Right on the wound.

My hand slipped, and I fell backward into the lake again.

But Ryan frantically picked up Chloe and strode towards the outpatient clinic.

This fall was even worse.

The back of my head hit the ice, and my vision went black for a few seconds.

I inhaled the icy lake water, choking and unable to cough.

I struggled to surface, but he never once looked back.

The water wasn't actually deep; standing up, it only reached my chest.

But I tried twice, and my right leg completely gave out.

Every movement made my vision go black from the pain.

Finally, the cleaning lady found me.

When she pulled me out with a mop handle, I was already too frozen to speak.

My lips were purple, my fingers so stiff I couldn't close them.

The lady draped her jacket over me.

"How did you fall in? Where's your family?"

I shook my head.

The moment I stood up, a sudden, searing pain twisted in my lower abdomen.

My vision went black, and I passed out.