The first thing the Oscar-winning actress Melissa Lindsay did after coming back to life was march into the studio and terminate her contract. “Ms. Lindsay, the Golden Griffin Awards ceremony is just around the corner. Are you absolutely certain you want to invoke the early termination clause now?” “Once you do, the stage name ‘Melissa Lindsay’ will be permanently retired. It will vanish from public record, impossible to trace.” Without a word, Melissa pulled a black card from her purse and paid the exorbitant fee. “I’m certain.” The staffer processed the payment quickly. “The termination is successful. The paperwork will take ten days to finalize.” Ten days. Exactly the day of the Golden Griffin Awards. In her past life, she had loved her husband, Adrian Thorne, to the point of madness. But after a car crash a year later, she had watched, helpless, as he pulled her lead surgeon from her operating room to go save the life of his one true love. Given a second chance, she wanted nothing more to do with him. Leaving the office, Melissa bought a one-way ticket to America, departing in ten days. She wrapped her fur coat tighter around herself and stepped out into the biting wind. Snow swirled against the car window, the cold seeping through the glass. She rubbed her icy fingertips together, her gaze falling on the massive digital billboard in the city square. The woman on the screen was radiant, and the luxury brand ring she wore was deliberately placed on her ring finger. A week ago, that billboard had featured Melissa, the youngest actress to ever win the industry’s highest honor. It was her boss, her husband, Adrian Thorne, the CEO of Zenith Entertainment, who had personally ordered the change. He had replaced her with his beloved, Echo Towne, a social media influencer who had recently gone viral. Melissa’s eyes reddened. She looked away from the screen and opened her phone. Her last post was a photo of her hand intertwined with Adrian’s. The caption read: “To find a single heart, and never be apart.” Adrian had been the first to like it. The comments below were a sea of blessings, all gushing about their fairy-tale romance. “I knew I’d find a picture of Adrian here! His own social media is a ghost town.” “Melissa is a goddess, and Adrian is so handsome! But why is he wearing a full suit on a private island in Fiji? Isn’t he hot?” “You must be a new fan. Eight years ago, the Thorne mansion caught fire. Adrian got out, but when he realized Melissa was still inside, he ran back into the flames to save her. She was unharmed, but he suffered severe burns. He hasn’t worn a short-sleeved shirt since. Always buttons his collar to the top.” “Who doesn’t know what an incredible man Adrian Thorne is? He bought her a two-hundred-million-dollar private island just because she said she gets cold easily. I’d light incense to my ancestors if my husband were half as good…” “Other celebrity couples might fail, but not these two. Adrian is obsessed with his wife.” Reading the comments, a self-mocking smile twisted Melissa’s lips. A man who would never fail? Adrian had been cheating on her for six months. His countless nights of “working late” were all spent with Echo Towne. And she, like a fool, had believed he was working hard for their home, for their future together. Melissa’s finger paused. She scrolled past the comments, her eyes landing on the last post Adrian had liked. He would have no idea that the famous line she’d quoted was only half of the original verse. The forgotten first line was: I heard you have a divided heart, so I have come to break things off. Lost in thought, the car pulled up to their villa. The snow was coming down hard. Even with the butler holding an umbrella, flakes drifted onto Adrian’s dark eyelashes. The dusting of white couldn’t hide the smile in his eyes. “Melissa, you’re home.” He reached out to take her hand, to warm it between his. But her eyes caught sight of a woman’s hair tie on his wrist—one that wasn’t hers. A chill seeped into her heart. Before she could pull away, his hands were already covering hers, his thumb gently caressing the back of her hand. “It’s Valentine’s Day. I’ve decorated the house. Come see if you like it.” He opened the door to a scene of soft, ambient lighting and the romantic scent of candles. Melissa walked to the dining table. Instead of her usual red wine, she asked the butler for a glass of sparkling water. Adrian looked puzzled. “A sudden change of taste?” Melissa lowered her eyes, her gaze briefly flickering towards her stomach before she looked up again. “Nothing. Just wanted to try something new.” Suddenly, Adrian’s phone buzzed. He glanced at Melissa, then quickly declined the call. But the phone immediately began vibrating again, insistent. He shot another look at Melissa before finally answering. His face changed. “I’m so sorry, Melissa,” he said, his voice laced with apology. “It’s an emergency at the office.” Melissa took a sip of the sparkling water. It tasted of nothing but bitterness. “It’s fine. You go handle it.” Adrian leaned in and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. “I’ll finish up as quickly as I can.” Melissa’s eyelashes fluttered. She watched him walk into his study. Some emergency. In her past life, she had caught a glimpse of his phone. It was a photo from Echo Towne, posing in a nurse’s uniform. 2 Melissa silently opened her phone and tuned into Echo Towne’s live stream. A comment flashed across the screen: “It’s been ages and he hasn’t called. Is your boyfriend with someone else?” Echo Towne touched up her lipstick, then stood to show off the curves accentuated by the tight nurse’s uniform. A sly smile played on her lips. “He’s probably just held up by some stray dog on the road. What can I do? He has such a big heart.” A moment later, an account named “For_Towne” flooded the chat with 100 “virtual castles.” The user sent a message: “Baby, don’t wear that on stream.” The word “baby” felt like a boulder crushing Melissa’s chest, making it hard to breathe. Echo Towne’s eyes lit up with delight, and she pouted playfully. “I just wanted to make you jealous.” “Besides, you didn’t even spend Valentine’s Day with me. Can’t I have a little bit of revenge?” Adrian said nothing more. Instead, he gifted her 9,999 of the stream’s most expensive gift: the “Cosmic Heart.” Then another message: “One more gift. Look outside your window.” A series of loud booms echoed through the night. The sky outside Echo Towne’s window erupted in a dazzling display of fireworks. Her delighted smile was one of a person who is so thoroughly cherished, they fear nothing. “Well, viewers,” she cooed, “it seems my boyfriend is a little possessive. I have to go for now.” Meanwhile, in the dining room, the steak on the table grew cold. The scented candles had burned down to stubs. As Melissa swallowed the last of her sparkling water, Adrian finally emerged from his study. “That was Director Evans. I’ve secured the role for you in his new film. You’re the lead.” Director Evans was a legend, having won numerous international awards at a young age. A role in his film was a near-guaranteed path to an award. If she hadn’t just watched the live stream, Melissa might have actually believed him. She was silent for a moment before replying. “Most of Evans’s films are art-house pictures. They often have nude scenes. You don’t mind?” Adrian was taken aback. “Why would I be so petty?” Because all of your possessiveness is reserved for Echo Towne, she thought. The end of love always begins with the end of jealousy. Melissa lowered her gaze to hide her expression. “Tell him I’m passing. I want to take a break for a while.” Adrian’s response was gentle. “Alright. I’ll look for another one for you.” There would be no next time. In ten days, she would be gone forever. That night, Adrian held her as he always did, his body warming her cold hands and feet. The image of the billboard flashed in her mind again. Melissa feigned casualness. “Echo Towne has only had a couple of cameo roles. She’s not even a proper actress yet. How is she landing so many major endorsements?” Adrian’s body tensed for a second. “I imagine her boyfriend is backing her.” The words “her boyfriend” were a sharp, physical pain in Melissa’s heart. She tightened her grip on the corner of the duvet, her voice strained. “Is it really a good idea for Zenith to sign her? What if she wants to get married, or pregnant? Can she afford the contract termination fee?” Without a moment’s hesitation, Adrian replied, “Her boyfriend loves her so much, he would definitely pay the fee for her. He’d marry her in a heartbeat.” Perhaps realizing how final his words sounded, he paused, then added, “I’ve met him.” So that was it. That was his real plan. All Echo Towne had to do was say the word, and he would abandon everything to be with her. What did that make their past? A ten-year dream? Melissa said nothing more. Tears welled in her eyes, silently tracing paths down her temples in the darkness. Once Adrian’s breathing became deep and even, Melissa slipped out of his embrace and went to the study. The moonlight cast a lonely glow on her frail figure. She looked at a photo of them from college on the desk and smiled a bitter, self-deprecating smile, tears once again blurring her vision. Since she was a child, her goal had been singular: to become the most famous actress in the country. She had to be beautiful, talented, and in perfect shape. No scandals, no boyfriends. For eighteen years, she had been ruthlessly disciplined, believing she would dedicate her life to her art. But for Adrian, she had broken all her own rules. The day they got together, he had told her, “Melissa, I’ll never make you regret this. I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.” It turned out that promise had a ten-year expiration date. Pulling her gaze away, Melissa took out the divorce agreement she had prepared and signed her name with slow, deliberate strokes. Adrian, she thought, if you knew that in ten days, you would never be able to find me again, would you feel even a flicker of regret? 3 The next morning, Melissa went to the most exclusive private hospital in the city. Adrian called her. “The driver said you went to the hospital. Are you not feeling well?” “It’s nothing… just an irregular cycle. It’s an old problem.” As she spoke, Melissa closed her eyes, tore the paper in her hand to shreds, and dropped it into the trash can. As the pieces fluttered down, the red letters on one fragment stood out starkly. [PREGNANCY CONFIRMED] After hanging up, Melissa’s hand instinctively went to her abdomen. Memories flooded back. When they were young and struggling, Adrian had acted as her agent, drinking with investors until he was vomiting blood, all to secure her a role with ten minutes of screen time. Melissa had soaked in freezing water for three days straight on that set, her body aching with cold, refusing to give up the opportunity he had fought so hard for. That night, in their tiny, cramped apartment, Adrian had shaken her awake, his face filled with panic. “Melissa, you’re bleeding.” She had faced down demanding investors and the fury of her own family, but she had never seen that look of terror on his face before. She had believed that as long as they loved each other, they were invincible. But the doctor had told them the baby had already started to form. It was their own neglect that had cost them their child. The tears had fallen instantly. Adrian had held her, his voice choked with sobs. “I’m sorry, Melissa. It’s all my fault.” “I promise it will never happen again.” The second time she got pregnant, she had shared the good news with him, only to be met with two cold, emotionless words. “Get rid of it.” Perhaps sensing his own cruelty, he had added, “Melissa, you’re at the peak of your career right now. We can have one next time.” But “next time” never came. “Ms. Lindsay, are you sure you want to terminate?” The doctor’s voice pulled Melissa back to the present. He held the test results, his brow furrowed. “The fetus is developing perfectly. But your body is very weak. If you go through with this, you may never be able to conceive again.” Melissa’s heart trembled. In her past life, when Adrian had brought her here, he had told her the fetus wasn’t healthy. The doctor had recommended the procedure. From that day until the day she died, she had never gotten pregnant again. The lack of a child had become the greatest regret of her life. She lowered her gaze, her hand gently resting on her still-flat stomach. She could feel it. A life was growing there. Heaven had given her a second chance, and with it, this child. This time, she wouldn’t let go. She wanted this child to see the world. The snow outside had stopped. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, but it did nothing to warm the desolation in her eyes. “Thank you, Doctor. I’m keeping it.” America, she thought. There must be plenty of single mothers there. The next day at the office, her agent, Carla, rushed over with a contract, her face beaming. “Melissa, Adrian got us the endorsement for Olympia Sportswear!” Olympia was a high-end athletic brand. Their commercials always involved intense physical activity. Melissa’s face paled. She walked straight to the top floor, to Adrian’s office. She stopped at the door. Echo Towne was just coming out. “Melissa,” she cooed softly. On her neck were a series of small, red marks. “Melissa, what are you doing here?” Adrian looked flustered. He buttoned his collar, his voice holding a hint of reproach. Melissa’s breath caught. She walked past Echo Towne and into the office. “Turn down the Olympia endorsement. I’m not taking any new jobs for a while.” Adrian frowned. Melissa was a notorious workaholic. Even when she was “resting,” she only stopped making films, not other work. A thought struck him. He stared at her intently. “Melissa, are you sure it’s just an irregular cycle?” “Are you hiding something else from me?” Melissa froze. She opened her mouth, but managed to keep her voice steady. “It’s just an irregular cycle.” Adrian’s brow finally relaxed. He took her hand. “You should stop taking those birth control pills. Let your body recover.” “If you get pregnant, we’ll have it. I’ll take good care of you both.” Melissa nodded silently. He had said the same thing in her past life. But when she had actually gotten pregnant, he had dragged her to the hospital without a second thought. Adrian, do you have any idea? Last year alone, I took eleven bottles of birth control pills for you. You were the one who made me kill our child. You don’t deserve to be a father. 4 Just then, there was a knock on the door. Echo Towne’s agent came in with a folder, looking rushed. “Mr. Thorne, Echo Towne’s schedule needs your signature.” Melissa spoke up. “You handle your work. I’m going home.” Halfway out of the building, she realized her left earring was gone. She retraced her steps, and as she neared the CEO’s office, she heard Adrian’s impatient voice from within. “I told you, don’t come to me when Melissa is here.” Echo Towne was sitting on his lap, purring. “Adrian, don’t be so mean to me. She’s the one who ruined our fun.” She took his hand and placed it on her waist, her voice seductive. “I wore this especially for you. Don’t you want to see?” Adrian hesitated for a fraction of a second, then pulled her closer, his mouth crushing hers. The sounds of their passion seeped through the heavy wooden door. The cold of the metal doorknob traveled up Melissa’s arm and into her heart. Even though she was long past disappointed in him, hearing them together was still like a knife to the gut. Her fingers turned white as she pulled out her phone and dialed his number. The phone inside the office rang for half a second before it was silenced. No hesitation. A cold numbness spread through Melissa. She turned and walked away. Two hours later, he called back. “I was in a meeting. What’s up?” By then, Melissa had composed herself. Listening to his lie was just another bitter irony. “Nothing. I dropped an earring, but I found it.” Adrian, she thought, with an acting performance like that, you’re the one who deserves the award. Two days later, at the five-star hotel for a family dinner. Melissa reached for a piece of fish, but Adrian’s mother spun the lazy Susan away from her. “After all this time, still haven’t produced a single child. Even a dog would have had a litter in ten years.” Melissa’s silence only further enraged Adrian’s father. His disdain was palpable. “Do you know what they used to call people like you in the old days? Performers! Toys to keep people entertained. I don’t know why anyone bothers with you.” “Your priority now should be quitting your job and giving the Thorne family an heir!” Melissa finally spoke. “I understand. I will retire.” Not just retire, she thought. In five days, I’ll be gone, with my baby. Adrian squeezed her hand under the table. “Dad, Mom, don’t give Melissa a hard time. We’ll handle the matter of children ourselves.” As they were speaking, there was a knock on the door of the private room. Echo Towne appeared, holding a bottle of expensive ginseng wine, a brilliant smile on her face. “Mr. Thorne, I heard your voice and had to come say hello. This is for you.” Though she was polite, after giving him the wine, she made no move to leave. She poured herself a cup of tea from the table. “Mr. and Mrs. Thorne,” she said sweetly, “I feel such a connection to you both. If you don’t mind, I’d love to be your goddaughter!” “My sister, Melissa, is so busy. Unlike me. All I want to do is spend time with you.” Adrian’s eyes turned cold. He was about to speak when his father cut him off with a laugh. “If only I had a daughter-in-law as thoughtful as you! Unlike some people, who can’t even read a room!” His mother looked equally pleased and gestured to the empty seat beside her. “Such a good girl. Come, sit with us.” In ten years of marriage, Adrian’s parents had never once let her sit beside them. Adrian’s expression grew colder. He looked at Echo Towne. “This is a family dinner. You shouldn’t be sitting there.” Tears instantly welled in Echo Towne’s eyes. She shot a resentful glare at Melissa, then stood and left. Adrian’s expression shifted. He started to rise, but then he looked back at Melissa, who was still silently eating her food. He sat back down, his mind clearly elsewhere. His mother’s passive-aggressive comments and his father’s accusations rained down on Melissa once more. She finally stood up. “I’m not feeling well. I’m going to head home. You all enjoy.” She left so quickly that Adrian didn’t have time to see the look on her face. It wasn’t until she had locked herself in a bathroom stall that her strength gave out. She sank to the floor, and the tears she had been holding back finally broke free. She dug her nails into her palms, telling herself: Don’t listen. Don’t look. Don’t care. The doctor said emotional turmoil will affect the baby. The Thornes don’t need me. The baby is my only family now. Suddenly, a notification popped up on her phone. Echo Towne had posted a photo from the dinner, and she had tagged Melissa. The caption read: “Having dinner with my boyfriend’s family and ran into my big sister, Melissa! What a coincidence.” Even though no faces were fully visible, Melissa instantly recognized the Thorne family. 5 A comment was immediately pushed to the top. [TowneTowne, you and your boyfriend have to last forever!] The nausea that had just subsided came rushing back. Her eyes red, she forced herself to read through the comments, one by one. Among the sea of well-wishes, an account named “For_Towne” had replied with two simple words: We will. It was the same account Adrian used to send gifts to Echo Towne’s live stream. The blood drained from Melissa’s face. She took several deep breaths before her trembling hand tapped on the profile. It was blank. He had set it to private. Melissa stared at the screen for a long time before a bitter, self-mocking laugh escaped her lips. A moment later, tears fell like broken pearls, rolling past the corners of her forced smile and splashing onto the floor. Adrian called. “You said you weren’t feeling well. Are you better now?” Melissa wiped her tears, forcing her voice to be steady. “I’m fine now.” Adrian’s brow remained furrowed. “I’m on my way back…” Just then, Echo Towne, who had just finished pouring tea for his parents, saw Melissa’s name on his phone screen. She bit her lip, then slipped off her shoe. Her foot, clad in black silk, deliberately brushed against Adrian’s thigh under the table. Adrian’s breathing hitched. “Something came up at the office,” he said into the phone. “If you’re really not well, go to the hospital.” He hung up. The city lights shone through the window, illuminating Melissa’s face. The winter night was alive with a million lights, but none of them were for her. On the way home, the driver noticed her pale face. “Mrs. Thorne, you look terribly unwell. Should we go to the hospital?” Melissa gently shook her head. The driver said no more, delivering her home in silence. As she was about to open the car door, her wedding ring slipped from her finger and fell onto the floor mat. Melissa froze. Have I lost that much weight in just a few days? The driver offered to help her find it, but she refused. She fumbled in the dark for a long time before she finally found it. But as she held the ring, she hesitated to put it back on. After a long moment, she opened the glove compartment. “Things that don’t belong to me shouldn’t be taken by me.” With a soft click, the compartment opened, revealing dozens of condoms. In an instant, all the air was sucked out of the car. She had never been with Adrian in the car. Melissa’s chest heaved. Her hand recoiled as if from an electric shock. She scrambled to open the door. But just as she stepped out, some strange impulse made her pause. She took a photo, then slammed the glove compartment shut and got out of the car. That night, Melissa’s sleep was fitful. A wave of nausea washed over her. She mumbled, reaching for the space beside her. “Adrian…” The cold, empty sheets brought her instantly awake. She threw on a robe and let out a bitter laugh. The habits of the body are a terrifying thing. Adrian didn’t come home until noon the next day. The sun was melting the snow, making the air feel even colder. As soon as he stepped into the living room, Melissa caught the scent of gardenia perfume—Echo Towne’s signature scent—clinging to him. Melissa froze, looking at him. “Last night…” Adrian met her gaze, and for a split second, his heart seemed to stop. He pulled her into an embrace. “What’s wrong?” The scent of gardenia was overwhelming now. It was like a slow-acting poison, seeping into her organs. Melissa stared at him, searching his face for any sign of a lie. But his eyes were filled with nothing but soft, starlit affection. It turned out that even a look like that could be a lie. She stepped out of his embrace, changing the subject. “Nothing. I just didn’t sleep well.” After dinner, Adrian took Melissa for a fitting for her red carpet gown. The Golden Griffin Awards were approaching, and every celebrity was pulling out all the stops to make a statement. Melissa looked at the gown sent over by Venus, the designer they had worked with for years, and felt a pang of nostalgia. For ten years, she and Adrian had worn matching Venus ensembles. They were always a pair. Now, this would be the last time. Suddenly, Echo Towne’s triumphant voice cut through the air. “Melissa, do you like my gown that much?” 6 Melissa’s eyes widened in disbelief. She turned to Adrian. In her past life, this was her gown! She and Adrian were the official faces of Venus in their country. The gowns were always custom-made to their measurements. Adrian frowned. “What are you talking about?” Echo Towne looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. “But you said I could choose any gown I wanted this time.” “Besides,” she added, placing a hand on her stomach, “I’m pregnant. If I don’t wear it now, I won’t get another chance.” The words struck Melissa like a bolt of lightning. She froze. No wonder he had insisted she get an abortion in her past life. She had actually believed it was for her career. It turned out he just didn’t want her child getting in the way of Echo Towne’s. Adrian’s expression shifted. He turned to Melissa. “Melissa, just pick another one.” In the past, Melissa would have fought for the dress. But this time, it suddenly didn’t seem so important. She knew Adrian would arrange for another, equally beautiful gown. But she had never wanted his guilt or his compensation. She had wanted his devotion. To be his one and only. Melissa forced a smile. “Fine. A brand that can’t make up its mind isn’t worth my time anyway.” She was talking about the brand, Venus, but Adrian’s heart felt strangely heavy. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over her. The last thing she saw before she lost consciousness was Adrian’s panicked face. When she woke up, she was in the hospital. Adrian’s face was a complex mask of emotions. “…Melissa, you’re pregnant?” It wasn’t a joyful exclamation. It was a question. An accusation. Melissa didn’t know what hurt more, her swollen ankle from the fall, or her heart. Her eyelashes trembled. A bitter smile touched her lips. “You think this baby came at a bad time, don’t you?” Seeing his silence, the bitterness in her heart deepened. She closed her eyes, her voice flat, almost hopeless. “Then let’s get rid of it.” No arguments. No resistance. The lesson from her past life was enough to keep her silent. This child, she was destined to lose. A flicker of guilt crossed Adrian’s face. He seemed to remember something, and let out a long sigh. “Keep it.” Melissa’s eyes snapped open. The dead ashes in her soul were suddenly rekindled with a tiny spark of hope. Adrian squeezed her hand. “What parent wouldn’t want to keep their child?” A lump formed in Melissa’s throat. She nearly burst into tears. What parent wouldn’t want their child? What couple would keep up an act for ten years? But Adrian, why did it have to be you? Adrian went to buy her dinner. Echo Towne came in, carrying a fruit basket. “Congratulations, Melissa!” The words were celebratory, but there was no smile in her eyes. Instead, they glinted with a cold, venomous light. She looked around, and seeing that Adrian was gone, her smile vanished. “You know, don’t you? My boyfriend is Adrian.” “Melissa, you’re so pathetic. Only a woman who can’t win her husband’s love would use a child to tie him down.” Melissa looked her straight in the eye. “Are you talking about yourself, Echo Towne?” “No matter how many people envy you on your live stream, you’ll never be anything more than a mistress who can’t be seen in public.” Echo Towne was stunned. The few times she had seen Melissa, she had been so quiet and submissive, it had given Echo Towne the mistaken impression that she was a pushover. She dug her nails into her palms, her face twisting with rage. Just then, the sound of Adrian’s footsteps approached. “Melissa, I bought you some porridge. It’s easy to digest.” A vicious glint appeared in Echo Towne’s eyes. She grabbed Melissa by the collar. A powerful force pulled Melissa forward, and they both crashed to the floor. Echo Towne’s venomous words wrapped around Melissa’s ear. “Let’s see who he chooses. You, or me?” 7 A cry of alarm rang out. Adrian quickened his pace, bursting through the door. Echo Towne was already sobbing, a tragic heroine. “I brought a fruit basket to see Melissa, but she started screaming at me, accusing me of seducing you and stealing her gown.” “I didn’t…” Before Melissa could finish, Echo Towne shrieked. “Blood! Adrian, my stomach hurts so much! The baby…” Her cries immediately captured Adrian’s full attention. He shot a cold, dagger-like glare at Melissa, then scooped Echo Towne into his arms and rushed away. Watching them go, the last vestiges of warmth left Melissa’s body. A sharp, cramping pain seized her abdomen. A warm liquid trickled down her legs. Melissa forced herself to her feet and called for a nurse. She was wheeled into the hallway, where she heard another nurse speaking in a troubled voice. “Dr. Campbell is the only one on duty in Obstetrics right now, but the patient from the VIP room, Ms. Lindsay, is also showing signs of a miscarriage.” Adrian froze. He was about to speak when Echo Towne looked up, her eyes brimming with pitiful tears. “I’m fine. Let Melissa go first. An A-list star like her, taking out her temper on a small-time influencer like me… I’m used to it.” Feeling the life of her own child slipping away, Melissa’s vision turned red. She grabbed the nurse’s arm, her voice a desperate plea. “Please, save my baby!” At her words, Adrian’s face twisted in disgust. “Her child isn’t important. Save Echo Towne’s.” The nurses quickly wheeled Echo Towne into the operating room. The hospital’s smell of antiseptic and blood filled Melissa’s lungs, stinging her nose. By the time it was her turn, Dr. Campbell sighed deeply. “If you had come in ten minutes earlier, we could have saved it. It’s too late.” An icy chill crept up Melissa’s spine, freezing her heart. Her baby… was gone, just like that? Her body trembling, Melissa placed a hand on her stomach. Tears she had held back for so long finally fell, tracing paths down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, my baby. I couldn’t protect you this time, either.” As the anesthesia wore off, a bone-deep pain wracked her body, but it was nothing compared to the agony in her heart. That was her flesh and blood, a part of her body. She had never even had the chance to let her baby see the world. In a daze, Melissa was wheeled out of the operating room. Adrian was still holding Echo Towne. Echo Towne looked at him with tear-filled eyes. “Adrian, can you stay with me tonight?” Her voice was choked with sobs, but the look she shot at Melissa was one of pure, triumphant provocation. Adrian was silent for a moment, then his voice was gentle. “Okay.” Seeing Melissa, he made no move to let Echo Towne go. A fire of anger burned in his eyes. “Apologize to Towne.” The storm of emotions churning inside Melissa suddenly ceased. With the death of her child, a part of her had died, too. “I was wrong. You go take care of her. I’m going home.” Adrian was stunned. He saw that the light in Melissa’s eyes had been extinguished, leaving nothing but dead, gray ash. His throat worked, and he was about to say something, but a doctor called him over to pay the bill. When he looked back, Melissa was gone. On the way home, Melissa’s grief fermented in her heart, turning to a bitter hatred. She hated her own weakness, her inability to let go, which had cost her another child. If she had just left earlier, would her baby have been saved? Suddenly, a message popped up on her phone. It was from Echo Towne. She had sent a username and password. “Log in. You’ll see a surprise.” With fingers as white as bone, Melissa logged into Adrian’s secret account: For_Towne. The latest post was a photo of Echo Towne’s flat stomach. The caption read: “Towne is pregnant. Today is the happiest day of my life.”
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