Chapter 5

That evening.

Chloe sent me a message.

"I'm moving out right now, and I'm not keeping the baby either."

"You and Liam have five years of history, it can't be ruined because of me. I would feel guilty my whole life."

I stared at the screen and sneered. If she wanted to make a scene, she could go talk to her brother. Why bother me?

I replied: "Do what you want."

Then, I swiftly blocked her.

After doing all that, I leaned against the floor-toceiling window, lost in thought, a lingering sense of melancholy in my heart.

My phone suddenly vibrated. Ryan's FaceTime invitation popped up.

"Ava," his eyes sparkled on the screen, "give me a heart sign."

I was stunned. "Why so sudden…?"

"I don't care," he insisted, pulling his face closer to the camera. "Right now."

Amused by his childish expression, I quickly made a heart sign, feeling goosebumps rise on my own arms.

He immediately clutched his chest, closed his eyes, and made an exaggerated, blissful expression.

When he opened his eyes again, he suddenly winked at me with his right eye.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Look outside, my return gift for you."

He chuckled softly, and the FaceTime call ended abruptly.

Outside, the night sky suddenly lit up.

Hundreds of drones formed a twinkling heart, then transformed into a line of words: "Happy Birthday, Ava."

Tears instantly blurred my vision.

Today's chaotic drama had made me forget my own birthday.

But he remembered.

As for Liam, every year on my birthday, he would only send me a music video of a "Happy Birthday" violin piece he had once performed.

"My music videos are very precious," he would always explain. "It's an honor for you to hear it."

This year, he flat out said, "Planning the wedding is too busy, no time to send you a MV."

But the "wedding planning."

I tried on wedding dresses alone at over twenty stores.

I compared over thirty quotes to book the hotel.

I stayed up late writing over three hundred handwritten invitations.

The only time he participated was when I tried on my main gown; he grudgingly spared five minutes, but spent the entire time checking his watch.

Turns out, he never loved me. It had always been obvious.

Later, as I was sleeping, my phone vibrated. Groggily, I pressed the answer button.

Liam's voice roared through the phone, "Ava, get to the hospital immediately! Chloe's in trouble!"

I instantly woke up. Was her message serious after all?

When I rushed to the hospital room, I saw Chloe resting comfortably against the headboard, Liam gently peeling an apple for her.

They looked like a picture of serene domesticity, while I stood there in slippers, half my foot slipping outside the door, feeling like a clown.

Seeing me, Liam suddenly erupted, dragging me to the bedside. "Kneel before Chloe!"

I looked up in shock. Before I could even react, my knee was hit hard.

My kneecap slammed against the floor, the excruciating pain making me unable to move for a moment.

"Liam! Are you insane?!" I glared at him fiercely.

His eyes blazed with terrifying fury. "Chloe slit her wrists!"

Chloe began to sob on cue. "I sent Ava a message to apologize, but she blocked me. She must hate me so much, she doesn't want to see me anymore. What's the point of me living…?"

Though I detested her, I didn't want to be responsible for someone's death.

I quickly looked at her. There was a half-centimeter long cut on her wrist, covered in antiseptic, already scarred over.

This was a suicide attempt?

I quirked my lips.

"Liam, if I had come tomorrow, would her wound have already healed?"

He instantly exploded.

"Ava! How can you be so malicious? If I hadn't found her in time… do you know the consequences of a pregnant woman losing too much blood?"

His concern must have clouded his judgment.

A tiny scratch made him panic so much, yet he completely ignored the blood flowing from my forehead.

He must really love Chloe, truly.

I frowned, silent.

This seemed to completely enrage him. He threw the fruit knife at me, snarling.

"Since you think it's no big deal, then cut yourself in the same spot, and taste the pain yourself! This is what you owe Chloe!"

I stared at him incredulously. This was the man I had loved devotedly for five years.

In that instant, my heart turned completely cold.

It was just a cut, wasn't it? I'll give it back to her, then.

Lowering my gaze to hide the tears in my eyes, I picked up the knife and lightly drew it across my wrist.

Chloe shrieked in terror.

I struggled to stand up, holding my bleeding wrist out to Liam. "Is that enough?"

Blood dripped continuously.

His eyelashes fluttered rapidly. He gave a look of disdain.

Then he turned to comfort a startled Chloe, muttering curses under his breath.

"Why would you cut so deep? You're hopelessly clumsy."

I smiled soundlessly, stumbling towards the door.

He suddenly called out, "Ava, go home and reflect on your actions! In three days, I'll come pick you up."

I laughed, tears streaming down my face.

Liam, we'll never see each other again.