"Polycystic ovary syndrome, difficulty conceiving." The doctor's words were like a cold blade, stabbing deeply into Emily's heart. After hanging up the phone, she felt her world collapsing, as though all the colors had drained from it in that very moment.
In just one day, she had experienced two devastating blows. First, she caught her fiancé and her closest friend betraying her with her own eyes. Then, she learned that she might never be able to conceive, while the other woman was already pregnant. The unexpected changes hit Emily so hard that even someone as strong as her needed time to digest such unimaginable turmoil.
She stood at the hotel entrance, her heart a storm of anger and sadness, crashing within her like fierce waves, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. She gripped her phone tightly, her fingers pale from the pressure. She needed time—time to adjust her emotions, to rethink her future. As she crossed the street, lost in her thoughts, an ear-piercing car horn suddenly blared, snapping her out of her daze. She jolted back to reality, realizing that she had almost stepped in front of a low-profile sedan.
The car window rolled down slowly, revealing a tall man in the driver’s seat. He wore a perfectly tailored suit, and his sunglasses covered most of his face, leaving only a cold, chiseled jaw visible. The man frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over her, taking in her disheveled state—barefoot, in a V-neck gown, standing in front of the hotel. He seemed to understand what had happened without a word. Without any emotion in his voice, he simply advised her, “Be careful where you walk. Life or death, everything else is just a scratch.”
Emily stood there stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality, mumbling an apology. She knew her current state was a mess, but the pain she felt in her heart made it impossible to care about appearances. She forced a strained smile and whispered her thanks before stepping away.
What had happened could not be undone. Emily took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She knew she could not remain in this world of betrayal and lies. A cheater only stops once or keeps going; there was no in-between. She needed to say goodbye to her past and begin anew.
Emily quickly opened the door of a recently vacated taxi, giving the driver an address before disappearing into the distance. The black sedan remained parked nearby, its driver frowning slightly as he watched her leave, a hint of a knowing smile forming at the corner of his lips.
Sitting in the backseat of the taxi, Emily watched the scenery blur past her window, but her heart remained frozen in place. She took a deep breath, then turned her phone to silent. She didn’t want to hear any more explanations, nor did she want to give Ethan any opportunity to hurt her further.
Meanwhile, Ethan had hurriedly arrived at the hotel entrance, only to find that Emily had already disappeared without a trace. When Emily had caught him with Amber, he had initially tried to run after her to explain, but Amber had clung to him, refusing to let go. He promised to sort things out with Emily, but first, he had to settle the guests and ensure the family business’s reputation remained intact.
Amber finally stopped her crocodile tears, turning around with a triumphant smile. This round, she had won.
Ethan began frantically calling Emily, dozens of calls going unanswered, with only the cold, mechanical voice informing him, “The number you have dialed is unavailable.” His anxiety turned into a sense of desperation. His fingers trembled over his phone screen as he sent message after message, but none received a response.
“Emily, where are you? Please let me explain.”
“Emily, I love you. What happened with Amber was just a mistake. Please believe me.”
“Emily, call me back. We need to talk face-to-face.”
…
But those messages seemed to disappear into a void, without any reply. A heavy sense of dread settled over Ethan. He started to realize that he might have truly lost Emily.
At that moment, Emily had returned to the home she shared with Ethan—the house that Ethan had bought for them. Located in a prime area of the city, it was conveniently close to schools and the subway. After they got serious, Ethan had purchased this house, saying he wanted to give her a home.
But now, this place that was once filled with warmth and sweetness felt foreign to her. In the living room, a wedding photo they had taken not long ago hung on the wall—both of them smiling brightly, as if nothing had happened. But everything had changed.
Her heart ached, but her mind was unusually clear. She knew she had to leave this place of lies immediately. Emily gently removed her engagement ring and placed it back in its delicate box, setting it conspicuously on the coffee table. She ran her fingers across the ring box, the pain and helplessness within her slowly transforming into a sense of determination.
Saying goodbye to the past required both time and courage. Emily took a deep breath, walked into the bedroom, and began packing her belongings. She packed only the essentials, filling the same suitcase she had brought with her when she first moved in.
As she walked out of the door, a cold gust of wind hit her face. She let out a long breath, as if exhaling all the memories she wanted to leave behind. She whispered to herself, “Emily, from now on, you live for yourself.”
She pulled out her phone and booked a short-term rental for a month. She knew she had to start over, to find her own future. When Ethan opened the door to the house, the first thing he noticed was the engagement ring sitting on the coffee table. His face immediately turned solemn, and a sense of foreboding loomed over him.
He walked into the living room, glancing around. He checked the bedrooms, the bathrooms—all empty. He opened the closet, only to find that Emily’s clothes were gone. She had taken her belongings and left.
His feelings shifted from anxiety to regret, then to a sense of unwillingness. He had always been the one to decide when things ended. He had never been the one left behind. His voice was cold and resolute as he muttered to himself, “Emily, I won’t let you leave me like this.”
Emily settled into her temporary apartment, arranging her things in the small space. She sat at the edge of her bed, staring out at the countless lights twinkling in the city, her heart filled with uncertainty. She sent a text to Ethan: “Ethan, don’t try to find me right now. We both need some space.” Then, she laid down, exhaustion finally overtaking her.
The city was bustling outside, but in the small room, everything was still. Emily felt a sense of emptiness settle in her chest, yet beneath it was a flicker of something new—a sense of hope that maybe, just maybe, she could start again. As her eyes closed, she let herself drift into a dreamless sleep, determined to face whatever came next on her own terms.
The peaceful morning was suddenly pierced by the shrill ring of a phone. Emily, groggy from sleep, fumbled to answer it. The news on the other end made her instantly alert."Emily, where have you been? I've been calling you for ages. Your grandma had a sudden heart attack yesterday. I called an ambulance and she’s now in the People's Hospital. She needs surgery urgently, please come back soon," her mother’s voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness. Every word seemed to slam into Emily’s heart.Emily had been raised by her grandmother and mother. She knew firsthand the hardships they endured. Without a father, it had always been just the three of them, leaning on each other to get through the toughest of times. Now, hearing that her grandmother's life was hanging by a thread, Emily was overwhelmed by helplessness and fear. She quickly requested leave from work, packed her bags, and booked the earliest flight, desperate to be by her grandmother’s side.As the plane flew high above
Ethan sat in his dark leather ergonomic chair, sunlight streaming through the blinds, casting a dappled pattern across his desk. It was a warm autumn afternoon, yet his mood was anything but bright—a cloud of unease seemed to hang over him, keeping him restless. His fingers drummed against the table unconsciously, making a soft rhythm as if trying to beat away the thoughts cluttering his mind. Documents lay scattered across the polished surface, but he couldn't focus on them—his mind was elsewhere, somewhere that kept slipping from his grasp, and he had no power to bring it back.Ever since Emily had walked out of their engagement party, Ethan had been in a perpetual state of turmoil. Days had gone by without a single word from her, and the emptiness gnawed at him. He thought he'd be able to carry on with his life, to return to normal, to be the same old Ethan he always was. But whenever the world went quiet, his mind filled the silence with thoughts of her. He remembered the warmth of
The impending surgery loomed like a storm on the horizon—unknown and fraught with uncertainty. Emily’s mother was not in the best of health, and Emily herself could not afford to collapse, not now. The hospital lights continued to burn brightly as night fell. By ten in the evening, exhaustion and the necessity to rest finally made Emily relent. She agreed to Ethan’s suggestion of staying at the nearby hotel. It went without saying that they booked separate rooms.Emily returned to her room, taking a quick, hot shower before changing into fresh pajamas. Despite two days of relentless fatigue weighing on her body, she found herself unable to sleep. She lay in bed, twisting and turning, her mind wandering restlessly. Her thoughts inevitably drifted back to the memories she shared with Ethan. Those three years, though short, had occupied some of the most beautiful moments of her life.She remembered her early days at the luxury hotel, working as a front desk receptionist. It had been chao
The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, painting warm, golden streaks across Emily's face. She slowly opened her eyes, letting the gentle light coax her awake. The peace and harmony of the early dawn wrapped around her, making her feel momentarily calm and refreshed, as if the troubles of the past few days were nothing more than an evanescent dream. Though the memories of last night's vivid dream lingered, she knew well that no matter how real the dream felt, it could not change her reality. She had to stay strong—for her grandmother, her mother, and most importantly, for herself.Emily quickly dressed, donning her most comfortable clothes, and set off for the hospital. She walked briskly through the hallways, her heart already at her grandmother's side. As she turned the corner to approach the room, she suddenly saw Ethan coming down the hallway from the other direction. He was here to visit her grandmother, just as she was. His eyes locked on hers, filled with concern
Emily stood at the hotel front desk, her smile warm and professional. As a front desk receptionist, she always greeted every guest with enthusiasm, giving her all no matter what. Her eyes were focused and determined, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she handled various tasks. Despite the deep pain she carried within, she never allowed her personal emotions to interfere with her work. She knew that this job was a symbol of her independence and the foundation for rebuilding her life.Today, like any other day, she worked diligently, managing her duties in an organized manner. She constantly reminded herself that no matter what happened in her life, she had to remain focused and keep moving forward.The phone ringing interrupted Emily’s work. She glanced at the caller ID—it was Ethan’s mother. She took a deep breath and picked up the phone."Emily, do you have time this weekend? It's my birthday, and you absolutely must come over to the house," the familiar, gentle voice came th
Chapter 008: The Inspection IncidentWith the year coming to an end, the hotel group’s headquarters had decided to send upper management for random inspections, ensuring that the quality of service and operational standards of their hotels were upheld. The hotel where Emily worked was among those chosen for inspection. Today was the day of the inspection, and a sense of tension and anticipation filled the entire building.Emily stood at the front desk, her smile brighter than usual. She knew that today was not just a test for the hotel, but also a personal challenge. She had to be on her very best behavior, showing the highest level of professionalism to handle anything that might happen.Her uniform was ironed to perfection, with not a wrinkle in sight. Her hair was neatly pinned back, and every detail of her appearance spoke of her dedication to her job and how seriously she took this inspection. Determination glimmered in her eyes as if telling everyone that no matter what happened
Emily followed Ethan’s mother into the café. The atmosphere here was a stark contrast to the tension of the hotel, with the rich aroma of coffee and the soft music filling the air. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the cozy tables and chairs, adding a touch of warmth to the winter day.They chose a table by the window, and Ethan’s mother took off her coat, revealing her elegant outfit. Her graceful demeanor and every movement reflected her pursuit of quality in life. Even the way she folded her coat, with meticulous care, showed her attention to detail.The waiter approached them, smiling as he asked what they would like. Ethan’s mother ordered two lattes and then turned to Emily.“Emily, what kind of coffee do you usually like?” Her voice was gentle, tinged with care.“A cappuccino, thank you,” Emily replied, her voice calm, though her heart was a bit uneasy. She wasn't sure what this conversation would lead to, and the uncertainty gnawed at her
The Saturday morning sun peeked through the gaps in Emily's curtains, casting mottled patches of light across her bed. The quiet hum of her phone vibrating on the nightstand broke the peaceful silence, and Emily rubbed her eyes before glancing at the screen. Ethan’s name flashed across it, and she hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to answer.“Emily, can we talk? I’m waiting for you at the usual place.” Ethan’s voice came through the phone, laced with a hint of hope.Emily paused, considering for a few seconds before agreeing. She knew that they needed to talk, that she needed to hear him out. She needed to understand his side of the story, but more importantly, she needed to express her own feelings and gain some closure.She slipped into a simple dress and applied light makeup before heading out of her apartment. Her heart felt heavy with a mixture of emotions—she was uncertain of what this conversation would bring, but she knew it was something she had to face.Ethan wa