002 Moving Out

"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.