chapter 4

"But do not worry, sweetheart. You are the only one I have ever loved…"

The rest of the footage was unbearable to watch.

I closed my eyes. The tears I thought had dried came back.

Zara kept talking, "If you hadn't shielded him back then, he would have left you ages ago. You got ten good years. Isn't that enough?

"Do yourself a favor and leave. Stop clinging to him like a pathetic fool."

I wasn't in a position to argue with her.

Whatever had kept Kieran and me together wasn't even love.

All those warm memories had turned hateful and fake.

I remembered that not long after the accident, I was told I could never have children. Kieran's parents came to me several times, trying to make me leave him. They even handed me a check and told me to fill in whatever amount I wanted.

Kieran walked in, grabbed the check, and tore it to pieces. He glared at his parents and said, "If you ever make things hard for Esme again, we're done."

Later, when my dream of dancing was shattered, I developed anxiety and started losing control of my temper.

Most of the time, I couldn't even stand myself. My parents stopped visiting because they were too upset with me.

But Kieran stayed. He spoiled me, stayed patient no matter how difficult I got, never gave up on me, and helped me get through it.

That was why I loved him so deeply.

So the pain now was tearing me apart.

I couldn't think straight anymore. I left the hospital, leaning on my crutch, and went home to pack my things. I planned to stay with my parents for a while.

"Are you sure you want to come back?" my parents asked, confused.

"Kieran's company is in Bunlone. He can't possibly go with you..."

I cut them off, "I already bought the ticket. And we're divorced."

My hometown, Steenhout, had a dance studio that once trained dancers with prosthetics. I had thought about , unwilling to give up on my dream, but it would have meant living apart from Kieran.

I could not bear to leave him, and he did not feel comfortable leaving me on my own, so I gave it up.

But now, all I wanted was to get as far away from him as possible.

Dragging my suitcase, I stepped outside and saw Kieran at Zara's door.

His phone screen was still lit with a message he had sent me less than a minute ago.

"Busy with work. Rest well at the hospital. I will visit in the morning."

Our eyes met. He froze for a few seconds, then strode over.

"Esme, why are you not at the hospital waiting for the new prosthetic?"

He said he only came to hand Zara some work so he could free up time to look after me.

My left leg, where the prosthetic attached, was still swollen and sore. He helped me sit in the hallway and started to massage it. Anyone walking by would have called him a good husband.

"The new prosthetic will be ready soon. You will not be in the hospital for long, so you do not need all this luggage."

He looked up at me with a gentle smile.

"Put your things back, and I will take you back to the hospital, okay?"

I shook my head and said quietly, "No. I am not going back."

His hands stopped.

"Then where are you going?"

Before I could answer, Zara opened her door and drew our eyes to her.

Her eyes were red and she wore a guilty look.

"Kieran, go talk to Esme. I told her you would stay with me for a few days, and she must have gotten upset. She is probably trying to run away from home."