After my miscarriage, I accidentally overheard Jacob Lopez, my husband, speaking to the doctor.
“Find an opportunity to drug my wife, then remove her uterus. Make sure she can never conceive again.”
He then placed his large hand on another woman’s belly and instructed, “Give her the best prenatal care plan. I want her child to become the heir of the Lopez family.”
I recognized the woman–it was a streamer from Jacob’s company.
I heard him solemnly remind the doctor again, “And make sure my wife recovers well. If this surgery leaves her with any complications, none of you will escape the consequences.”
My heart trembled. I never imagined that the man who once loved me like his very life would suddenly betray me.
Without hesitation, I left him with a divorce agreement, giving them my blessing for their “love.”
As I walked back to my ward, my mind replayed the scene I had just witnessed.
The husband who had once treated me like a precious gem, who claimed to love me with all his being, was now plotting to betray me–ordering someone to take away my ability to bear children.
And he knew better than anyone how much I longed to be a mother.
Passing by, a young nurse glanced at me with admiration and said, “Her husband is incredible. To ensure she gets proper rest, he reserved this entire floor of the hospital for her. He even hired professional nurses to take care of her every need. And that’s not all—he insists on staying by her side 24/7. Isn’t her husband just the most loving man?”
Another nurse added, “When she hemorrhaged after the miscarriage, her husband cried until his eyes were swollen. I’ve never seen a man care so much for his wife. I even heard they’ve been together since their school days. To marry her, he moved his entire family business into her name.”
If I had heard this before, I would have felt incredibly fortunate.
But now, my throat felt like it was clogged by a fly, leaving me nauseated.
At that moment, Jacob’s furious voice boomed from a nearby room, “You’re all useless! It’s just one person, yet you can’t keep an eye on her?! If anything happens to Larissa, I’ll make sure you regret it!”
Jacob rarely lost his temper. The last time he did, it was because I fell gravely ill, and no hospital could cure me. He was so desperate that he almost destroyed the hospital and even contemplated dying with me.
But now, seeing the veins bulging on his temple didn’t stir the same emotion in me. I simply said calmly, “Jacob, I’m here.”
The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up. He rushed over and enveloped me in his arms.
“Larissa, where did you go? Why didn’t you tell me? I thought something had happened to you.” His voice trembled with fear, so genuine it was hard to doubt him.
I gently pushed him away and said, “The room felt stuffy, so I went out for some air.”
Only then did he relax, though he still held my hand tightly, unwilling to let go.
Soon, he took a bowl of medicine from the nurse and brought it to my lips with a tenderness that seemed unshakable.
“Sweetheart, it’s time to take your medicine.”
Staring at the bowl of dark, brown liquid, a chill ran down my spine. The scene I had witnessed earlier flashed in my mind.
“This medicine is bitter. I don’t want to drink it,” I refused.
In the past, Jacob would never refuse my requests. But this time, he uncharacteristically insisted, “If you don’t take your medicine, you won’t recover, and you won’t be able to have a baby. Didn’t you always want to give me a child?”
He knew my desire for a child was my weakness, certain that the mention of it would sway me.
But I no longer trusted him. Without hesitation, I slapped the bowl out of his hands.
“I said I’m not drinking it.” I deadpanned.
For a moment, his gentle expression froze, and a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes.
I thought breaking the bowl would let me escape, but the next second, darkness overtook me, and I lost consciousness.
When I woke up again, it was already the next morning.
A sense of foreboding filled me. Pulling back the blanket, I saw a surgical scar on my abdomen.
My world instantly crumbled. I wanted to confront Jacob, but before I could, he explained, “Sweetheart, you fainted suddenly last night. The doctors ran some tests and found cancerous changes in your uterus, so I had them remove it.”
Afraid I wouldn’t believe him, he even showed me the medical report. Sure enough, it stated uterine cancer.
If I hadn’t witnessed his instructions to the doctor with my own eyes, I might have fallen for his lie.
Staring at the hideous scar on my belly, I felt as though my heart had been ripped apart, leaving only a gaping void of despair.
Jacob pulled me into his arms, his voice filled with pity as he tried to comfort me. “Sweetheart, I know how much you’ve always wanted a child, but your health is what matters most to me. I can’t bear the thought of losing you. If it comes to it, we can always adopt a child.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could speak, the door creaked open.
Daisy entered with a fruit basket in hand. “Sorry to interrupt. I’m here on behalf of the company to check on Mrs. Lopez.”
Daisy was a new streamer signed to Cosmic Entertainment. Beautiful, with a perfect figure and a captivating personality, her live streams brought in millions for the company.
It wasn’t hard to see why Jacob would favor her.
Jacob’s expression didn’t change. He nodded at her indifferently, then turned his attention back to me.
But I knew, beneath this facade of calm, turbulent waters brewed.
I turned my back to them, suppressing my emotions, and said, “I’m tired. I’d like to rest.”
I thought Daisy would leave, but to my surprise, she stayed. She sat quietly nearby, keeping Jacob company.
Jacob remained by my bedside, thoughtfully massaging my shoulders.
Daisy, on the other hand, sat demurely, seemingly embodying the perfect image of a harmonious family.
Yet beneath the surface, under the bed where no one could see, Daisy was subtly rubbing her leg against Jacob’s.
He didn’t stop her, allowing her actions to continue until she became bolder. Only then did he reach out, gripping her thigh firmly to put an end to her teasing.
But Daisy was undeterred. She slid behind him and hugged him from the back, nuzzling against him like a playful kitten.
Jacob glanced at me, ensuring my eyes were closed and my breathing steady, as though I were deeply asleep. Emboldened, he turned and pinned Daisy against the nearby table, gripping her neck as he kissed her.
He quickly pulled back, his cold gaze warning her to behave.
But Daisy was fearless. She clung to him once more, wrapping herself around him.
This time, Jacob couldn’t resist. After one last glance in my direction, he took her hand and led her out of the room.
As the door clicked shut behind them, I opened my eyes. Jacob would never imagine that every detail of his interaction with Daisy had been reflected in the glass, allowing me to see everything with startling clarity.
I quietly followed them to a secluded corner. Hiding behind a column, I peeked out to see Jacob gripping Daisy’s neck, his teeth clenched as he hissed, “Didn’t I warn you to behave yourself in front of Larissa?”
Daisy wasn’t intimidated. She leaned coyly against his arm and pouted. “It’s just that you’ve been so busy with her these past two days. The baby and I miss you.”
She trailed her fingers along his chest, her voice dripping with seduction, “Mr. Lopez, haven’t you always wanted to try something more exciting? Let’s do it. There’s no surveillance on this floor, and your wife is fast asleep. No one will ever find out.”
Before Jacob could respond, she tiptoed and pressed her lips to his.
Jacob froze for a moment but quickly cupped the back of Daisy’s head, deepening the kiss.
“Jacob, be gentle. I’m worried the baby can’t handle it…” she murmured.
“Shut up. I know what I’m doing.”
I couldn’t bear to watch what happened next. As I fled, their whispered words of intimacy echoed in my ears, stabbing into my heart like shards of glass.
The man who once vowed to love and cherish me forever was now secretly meeting another woman behind my back.
It felt as though an invisible hand had slapped me across the face. The humiliation was unbearable, consuming me like quicksand. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground in a pathetic and laughable heap.
A passing nurse hurried over to help me up. Seeing the tears streaming down my face, she assumed I had hurt myself and comforted me, “Madam, don’t cry. If Mr. Lopez sees you like this, he’ll be devastated.”
Looking at the nurses’ worried expressions, I could no longer suppress my emotions. I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
After crying until I was utterly exhausted, I returned to my room and collapsed into bed.
When I woke up, Jacob was still nowhere to be seen. Instead, Daisy stood at the foot of my bed, her expression dark.
There wasn’t a shred of respect in her gaze. Instead, she looked at me with disdain and mocked, “You saw what happened earlier, didn’t you? Jacob loves me. I’m carrying his child.”
I clenched my fists and trembled as I asked, “How long have you been together?”
Daisy smirked, holding up three fingers with a triumphant air.
“Three years. Three years ago, he met me at a dinner party and fell in love with me at first sight. That very night, he spent the entire evening with me. When he got back, he felt guilty about you, so he transferred all his assets to your name. But those things were supposed to be mine and my baby’s. You stole what rightfully belongs to us!”
I bit my lip hard, suppressing the urge to slap her.
Seeing my restraint only made Daisy more brazen. She added smugly, “Do you think he really loves you? Every night after you fall asleep, he comes to me. Even now, with me pregnant, he can’t stay away. And just so you know, on the day you had your miscarriage, he wasn’t at some business meeting–he was in my bed, enjoying himself. He can’t live without me anymore. If you’re smart, you’ll give him a divorce willingly.”
Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. I thought back to that day–the excruciating pain that made me pass out multiple times, the near-death experience from blood loss.
The doctors called Jacob ten times, but he didn’t answer. Eventually, his phone was turned off.
The next day, he came back and knelt by my bedside, claiming he had been stuck at a business meeting. He hated himself for not being there and even slapped himself repeatedly to punish himself.
But in truth, while I was writhing in pain and gasping for life, he was indulging in pleasure with another woman.
The last shred of hope I had for him shattered completely. My heart turned cold, lifeless.
Daisy, noticing my defeated state, became even more arrogant. Hands on her hips, she sneered, “Oh, and tomorrow, Jacob will be marrying me. It’s going to be even grander than the wedding he gave you. Don’t forget to come celebrate with us!”
With that, she strutted out of the room like a victorious rooster, her head held high.
As I watched her retreating figure, pain throbbed in my chest. The next moment, darkness consumed me, and I fainted.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already the next morning. The first thing I saw was Jacob, his eyes red as he sat beside me, keeping watch.
The moment he noticed I was awake, he pulled me into his arms, his voice choked with emotion.
“Larissa, you’re finally awake. You scared me to death just now.”
The memory of what I saw in the storage room flashed through my mind, filling me with disgust. I pushed him away.
“I’m fine,” I spat coldly.
Jacob froze for a moment, stunned by my rejection. A flicker of hurt flashed in his eyes.
I looked into Jacob’s tearful eyes and finally asked the question that had been weighing on my heart for days.
“Do you remember what I told you before we got married?”
Before our wedding, I made it clear to him: if he ever fell in love with someone else, he should tell me, and I would willingly step aside. But if he deceived me, I would disappear from his life forever.
Without hesitation, Jacob nodded.
“Why are you suddenly bringing this up? Did I do something wrong to upset you?”
He stood up abruptly, his expression turning serious, and commanded the nurse behind him, “Call every woman who has interacted with me recently!”
In just a few moments, my room was filled with over ten women—nurses, housemaids, and even Daisy, who stood among them with her hand resting smugly on her belly.
Jacob clasped his hands behind his back and sternly ordered, “Tell my wife exactly how you’ve interacted with me recently. Be as detailed as possible!”
One by one, the women reported their interactions.
“Madam, the last time I interacted with Mr. Lopez was to submit your latest meal plan.”
“Madam, I only saw him when he asked me to bring calming incense to the hospital for you.”
“Madam, I interacted with him when he noticed your IV was running low and asked me to replace it.”
Each woman recounted their encounters, all related to my care. Some couldn’t hide their admiration for how attentive he was to me.
When it was Daisy’s turn, she said lightly, “I haven’t interacted with Mr. Lopez since delivering the fruit basket yesterday. Madam, you can rest assured—Mr. Lopez’s heart is entirely with you.”
Though her words seemed flattering, they dripped with sarcasm.
I chuckled bitterly, waving my hand to dismiss everyone.
After proving his innocence, Jacob seemed visibly more at ease. He sat beside my bed, held my hand, and said sincerely, “Larissa, you know I’ve only ever loved you. I would never have feelings for another woman.”
I gave a faint “Mm” and withdrew my hand, ignoring the disappointment in his eyes.
As if remembering something, he added, “Larissa, I have to go on a business trip tomorrow, so I can’t stay with you. But my phone will be on 24/7. Call me if you miss me.”
His words were full of affection, with no trace of pretense.
Suppressing my discomfort, I nodded. “Take care while traveling.”
For a fleeting moment, I caught a glimmer of guilt in his eyes. Then he spoke again, his voice tinged with reluctance.
“But I’ll miss you so much. Even though it’s just for a day, I hate being apart from you for even a second.”
He sighed dramatically before adding, “When we adopt a child, let’s hand over the company to them. That way, I won’t have to travel so much, and we can always be together.”
If I didn’t already know he was leaving to marry Daisy in seven days, I might have been moved by his words.
Finally, he kissed my forehead with evident reluctance and left the room.
The moment he stepped out, I left the hospital. At home, I packed my belongings and left a signed divorce agreement on the living room table. Without looking back, I boarded a flight to Switzerland.
Before takeoff, I deleted and blocked all of Jacob’s contact information, severing all ties with him.
As the plane soared into the sky, I looked out the window at the city I had lived in for over thirty years, now shrinking in the distance. The heavy weight on my chest lifted at last.
Jacob, goodbye forever.
The next morning, I arrived in Switzerland. After researching online, I chose a cozy bed-and-breakfast to settle in.
Meanwhile, Jacob was hosting his wedding with Daisy.
Just before stepping into the church, Jacob couldn’t shake the concern about Larissa’s condition, so he turned to the doctor one last time.
The doctor reassured him, “Since you left, Madam has been resting. We’ve made sure no one disturbs her. We’ll inform her when she wakes up.”
Only then did Jacob enter the church, feeling a slight sense of relief. But despite the reassurance, his mind remained preoccupied with thoughts of Larissa.
The night before, he had woken from a nightmare where she handed him divorce papers. The shock of the dream had jolted him awake, and he immediately called the doctor to confirm that she was still asleep. Only then did he feel a little calmer. Still, a lingering unease gnawed at him, growing stronger by the second.
His focus began to falter. When the officiant asked if he took the bride as his wife, Jacob didn’t hear a word.
It wasn’t until Daisy gently shook his hand that he snapped back to reality. But instead of meeting her warm gaze, his mind was consumed by the image of Larissa’s disappointed face staring back at him.
Startled, he instinctively pulled his hand away from Daisy’s grasp and turned, bolting out of the church.
“Mr. Lopez, the ceremony isn’t over! Where are you going?” a voice called after him.
It was too late. Jacob finally realized how much Larissa meant to him. How could he betray her like this and marry another woman?
‘Larissa, please wait for me,’ he whispered internally.
Jacob rushed back to the hospital, his heart pounding in his chest. As soon as he arrived, he ran straight to her room, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw her lying in bed under the covers.
He opened the door softly, a smile on his face as he called out, “Wife, I’m back!”
But there was no response.
He carefully lifted the blanket, only to find a pillow underneath, not Larissa.
“Where’s Larissa?” he shouted.
Panic swept over him as he searched the room frantically.
“Larissa! Larissa, where are you?” he called out, his voice shaking.
The room was empty. Desperate, he pulled out his phone and tried calling, only to hear the cold message, “This number has blocked you.”
Shocked, he quickly switched to text, but every message failed to send. Larissa had deleted and blocked him from all platforms.
The nightmare from the night before returned with vivid clarity, and his face turned pale. Jacob immediately summoned the doctor.
The doctor, just as confused, explained, “We have no idea. Last night, Madam instructed us not to disturb her rest. No one has entered the room since then.”
After reviewing the surveillance footage, the truth became clear—Larissa had quietly left the hospital less than an hour after Jacob departed.
Now in full-blown panic, Jacob called the police and sped home.
Upon arriving, he rushed inside and grabbed a passing housekeeper.
“Where’s Madam? Did she come back here?” he demanded.
“Yes... Madam returned briefly yesterday, but she left shortly after. She said she was just picking up some things before heading back to the hospital,” the housekeeper stammered, fear evident in their voice.
Just as the housekeeper was about to say more, Jacob’s eyes landed on a document on the coffee table.
Releasing the housekeeper, he walked over and picked up the papers with trembling hands.
It was a divorce agreement.
His eyes fell on the final page, where Larissa’s signature was clearly visible. It felt as though the ground beneath him had disappeared.
“Impossible. This is impossible. Larissa would never divorce me. This must be some misunderstanding!” he muttered to himself.
Overcome with rage and disbelief, Jacob ripped the agreement in half, throwing the pieces into the air.
“Mobilize everyone immediately! I don’t care how, but find Larissa right now!” he barked at the housekeeper before storming out of the house.
No matter where Larissa had gone, he was determined to find her.
Meanwhile, Larissa had settled into a peaceful seaside bed-and-breakfast.
The view was nothing short of breathtaking. Each morning, she would open the curtains to the sight of azure skies and the vast, sparkling ocean. Seagulls soared gracefully above, diving into the water to catch their prey. The tranquility and beauty of the place were unlike anything she had ever known.
From childhood to adulthood, I have always liked the sea, but when I was young, my family was poor and I never had the opportunity to see it.
Back then, my father was addicted to gambling, drowning the family in debt while also turning to alcohol. Every time he got drunk, he would beat my mother. If I hadn’t called the police on multiple occasions, my mother’s life would have ended far sooner.
But luck didn’t last forever.
One evening, after finishing self-study at school, I returned home to find my mother lying on the floor, barely breathing. Blood pooled around her motionless body. My father was nowhere to be found.
I reported him to the police, but it was as if he vanished off the face of the earth. He was never seen again.
The trauma of my upbringing left scars so deep they felt like brands, haunting me for the next ten years. Night after night, those memories kept replaying in my mind, unable to disappear. I hated myself for not having the ability to take my mother away, to protect her. But I hated my mother even more—for loving my father so deeply, for staying by his side despite the abuse, until it ultimately cost her life.
These experiences left me distrustful of love, terrified of forming close relationships with anyone.
That was, until Jacob came into my life and changed everything.
When he inherited the Lopez family empire, he fell for me at first sight and began a five-year pursuit to win my heart.
He was always there when I needed help, solving every problem I faced and fulfilling all my material needs. He often surprised me with thoughtful gestures and lavish gifts.
Every year on my birthday, he would celebrate with me in style, presenting me with the most exquisite jewelry in the city. If I even remotely liked one, his joy would be akin to a loyal servant being rewarded by the emperor.
Knowing my love for the ocean, he took me to the seaside every month without fail until we got married. Only after much persuasion did he reluctantly stop, teasing me about “canceling the tradition.”
Jacob was like a beacon of light in the darkness of my life, giving me hope and a reason to live.
But he also dealt me the cruelest blow. He showed me the complexity of human nature—how someone who loved you to their core could still betray you.
He didn’t just cheat on me. He made the heartless decision to have my uterus removed to secure another woman’s child as the heir.
I confirmed it in the hospital that afternoon. My uterus was gone.
Even though I already knew the truth, seeing the test results crushed me. My heart twisted in pain.
On the first day of our marriage, I told Jacob how much I loved children and how I dreamed of having one of our own. He had smiled warmly, holding me close, and said he had always wanted a child with me but hadn’t mentioned it earlier, fearing I wasn’t ready.
But fate had other plans. I was diagnosed with infertility.
For the first four years of our marriage, no matter how hard we tried or how many treatments I underwent, I couldn’t conceive. I was consumed by guilt, crying often in the middle of the night.
Jacob would always hold me, comforting me with words full of sincerity. He would tell me that having a child didn’t matter, that my happiness and companionship were all he needed.
He spoke as if he truly didn’t care, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He wanted a child more than I did.
Our persistence eventually paid off. This June, I discovered I was pregnant with our first baby.
The moment I saw the positive result, it was as if fireworks exploded in my heart. I was overjoyed, desperate to share the news with Jacob.
But his reaction wasn’t what I had expected. He didn’t share my excitement; in fact, he seemed sorrowful.
At the time, I didn’t understand. I thought perhaps he was facing some troubles at work.
It wasn’t until now that I realized the truth—he was afraid. Afraid my child’s arrival would threaten the inheritance of Daisy’s unborn baby.
Later, I suffered a miscarriage. The child I had longed for was gone.
During that time, I cried so much that I fainted more than once. Jacob, on the other hand, seemed relieved. Looking back now, he was probably praying for this outcome all along.
Oddly, I felt a sliver of relief too. Perhaps it was for the best. A child growing up in a loveless family would have faced an unbearable life.
Switzerland’s scenery was breathtaking, and I decided to settle here. After obtaining a residence permit, I purchased a small villa nearby. It wasn’t large, but it was cozy and perfect for someone living alone.
Life here was peaceful yet fulfilling. To make my home livelier, I adopted a kitten and a puppy.
The kitten, with its odd habit of drinking my foot soak water, was aptly named Water. The puppy, who loved carrying small stones in its mouth, earned the name Pebble.
With them around, my once-calm life took on a new rhythm. Their mischief kept me busy, constantly cleaning up the chaos they caused.
But I never expected Jacob to find me here.
It happened on a day I had planned to join a tour group for skiing in the Swiss Alps.
Just as I stepped out of my door, Jacob appeared, blocking my path.
“Larissa, you’re really here!” he beamed.
At first, I didn’t recognize him. It had been a month since I last saw him, and he looked dramatically different—thin, haggard, and nothing like the confident and composed CEO I once knew.
The moment he saw me, his dull eyes lit up. He strode towards me, arms outstretched as if to embrace me. But I stepped back, avoiding his touch.
I put more distance between us, looking at him with a guarded expression. “Stay away from me.”
Jacob froze, a flicker of hurt flashing in his eyes.
“Larissa, what did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?” His voice was tinged with anguish, as if he were the one wronged.
“I was only gone for a day on a business trip, and you disappeared without a word. You even left me a divorce agreement. Don’t you love me anymore?”
His voice carried a sorrow that seemed almost genuine, as though he had suffered a great injustice.
It was clear he still didn’t know I had discovered his affair with Daisy.
I pulled out my phone and played a recording of Daisy’s words in my hospital room.
“Do you really think he loves you? Every night after you fall asleep, he comes to see me. Even when I was pregnant, he couldn’t stay away. And just so you know, on the day you had your miscarriage, he wasn’t at some business meeting—he was in my bed, enjoying himself. He can’t live without me anymore. If you’re smart, you’ll give him a divorce willingly.”
“Oh, and tomorrow, Jacob will be marrying me. It’s going to be even grander than the wedding he gave you. Don’t forget to come celebrate with us!”
Jacob’s face turned ghastly pale. He stared at me in disbelief.
“She… she told you all of this?” he stuttered.
I put my phone away and said calmly, “Now you understand why I left you. For the sake of our past as husband and wife, I won’t pursue this matter further. I hope you’ll do the same and stop interfering in my life.”
With that, I turned to leave. But he grabbed my hand, shaking his head desperately.
“Larissa, please listen to me. I didn’t marry her. You’re the only wife I’ve ever had, and the only one I’ll ever have.”
His explanation felt like a cruel joke. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
“We’re already divorced. Whoever you choose to marry is none of my concern. You should go back to Daisy now. I’m sure the child she’s carrying is waiting for you.”
Jacob shook his head, continuing to explain, “We’re not divorced. I didn’t sign the divorce agreement. You’re still my wife. As for Daisy, I can explain. What I had with her was just a fleeting attraction. But I promise, the one I’ve always loved is you, and my love for you has never wavered.”
“You know how it is for someone like me. Women are always trying to get close to me. At first, I was able to resist, but I’m only human. I couldn’t control my physical desires, so…”
Every word he said was like a dagger stabbing deep into my heart, mocking the love and trust I had poured into this relationship over the years.
I couldn’t hold back anymore and slapped him hard across the face.
“That is not an excuse for cheating!” I said, my voice trembling with fury. “I told you long ago: if you ever fell in love with someone else or got involved with another woman, you should tell me. But you? You’ve been entangled with her for three years. Three years! You had countless chances to confess, but you chose to lie. You even went so far as to have my uterus removed, just to make way for her child!”
The anger I’d been suppressing for so long finally erupted, my voice rising uncontrollably.
Jacob was stunned, rendered speechless by my words. But he didn’t have the chance to respond because the tour group bus had already pulled up in front of my house, and the guide was urging me to hurry.
I had no intention of wasting more time on him. I walked around him and got on the bus.
Through the window, I saw him standing there motionless, like a soulless shell. He had his back to me, so I couldn’t see his expression—nor did I want to.
Our guide was a young man named Peter Shao, a Chinese-American with striking features. Most of the women in the group had signed up purely because of his looks.
However, Peter was aloof and only responded to work-related questions, ignoring anything else.
Before we began climbing the snow mountain, he meticulously checked everyone’s safety gear. When it was my turn, he gave me a deep, lingering look.
There was something strange about his gaze, as if we had met before.
But he didn’t say anything, simply ensuring my gear was secure before leading us on our way.
When I was with Jacob, he never allowed me to participate in extreme sports, worrying that my body couldn’t handle it.
What he didn’t know was that I had always been a thrill-seeker. The more adrenaline-pumping the activity, the more I loved it.
After we got married, I stopped engaging in these activities to avoid worrying him.
Skiing had always been my favorite. Over the years, seeing others ski on TV often made me itch to join them.
I hadn’t expected to get another chance to ski. The moment I stepped onto the skis and glided over the snow, it felt like my soul was set free. A wave of exhilaration washed over me, making me feel completely at ease.
But just as I was nearing the finish line, an out-of-control skier suddenly appeared. Unable to stop, he collided directly with me.
I was knocked to the ground, the impact sending me rolling uncontrollably down the slope until I crashed heavily at the bottom. Pain shot through my body as I let out a cry, my mouth filling with snow.
The others rushed over to check on me, Peter at the forefront. He scooped me up effortlessly, carrying me to a nearby cabin.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his clear eyes tinged with concern.
I rubbed my sore back and shook my head. “I’m fine, just a bit of pain in my back. It’ll probably go away soon.”
But Peter frowned and said sternly, “No, we need to get you checked at the hospital. Some internal injuries aren’t immediately noticeable.”
Without waiting for my response, Peter took me straight to the hospital. Only after the X-rays showed no significant injuries did he finally relax.
Watching his tense expression ease, I offered my sincere gratitude, “Thank you so much for today, Mr. Shao.”
“Taking care of you all is my job,” he replied stoically, giving a small nod. “It’s almost six o’clock. Let me take you back to rest.”
Following Peter’s lead, I returned to my accommodations. After a simple dinner, I collapsed onto my bed and fell asleep.
It seemed that the incident had made Peter even more cautious. Over the following days, he monitored our every move meticulously, as though trying to prevent any further accidents. By the end of the trip, everything had gone smoothly without any mishaps.
As the tour came to a close, and everyone prepared to part ways, Peter suddenly called out to me.
“If you ever want to join another tour, contact me directly—I can give you a discount.”
I hadn’t expected someone as aloof as Peter to care about securing business. His offer caught me off guard, but I nodded and added him to my friend list on social media.
Just as I was about to leave, he stopped me again. “Are you free this weekend? I’d like to take you out to dinner.”
His invitation surprised me. I hadn’t expected Peter, of all people, to ask me out. I was about to refuse, but when I spotted Jacob walking toward us from a distance, I changed my mind.
“Sure, send me the address, and I’ll meet you there.”
A flash of delight appeared in Peter’s eyes as he nodded and walked away.
As soon as Peter left, Jacob stepped in, blocking my path.
“Who was that man? Why did you agree to have dinner with him?”
I thought Jacob would have left after our last encounter, but apparently, he had stayed nearby, waiting for me to return. Seeing me talk to Peter seemed to have triggered his possessiveness, and he now stood before me, demanding answers in a cold tone.
I frowned and replied indifferently, “It’s none of your business.”
“How is it none of my business? We’re still married. I won’t allow you to meet other men!” he clapped back.
For the first time, Jacob raised his voice at me, his bloodshot eyes glaring as if he were about to devour me whole. His sudden outburst startled me, and I instinctively stepped back.
Realizing his lapse in composure, Jacob quickly softened his tone, guilt flashing across his face.
“Sorry, I got carried away. But I can’t accept the idea of you seeing someone else.”
He then handed me a report, his voice earnest as he explained, “This is from the most authoritative medical institution. Your uterus truly had cancerous changes. I wasn’t lying to you back then. The removal was necessary to save your life. As for Daisy’s child, I only wanted her to have it because I thought it might ease the pain of you not being able to conceive.”
I glanced at the report. It bore the seal of a highly reputable institution, making it unlikely to be fabricated.
This revelation caught me off guard—I hadn’t expected that my uterus really had undergone cancerous changes. Jacob hadn’t lied to me after all.
“Larissa, you’re the person I love most in this world. I would never hurt you,” he continued, his tone full of emotion.
“Daisy was just a mistake. I’ve already cut ties with her. She won’t interfere in our lives again. Please come back. I can’t live without you.”
As he spoke, he reached out to grab my hand, but I pulled away and put more distance between us.
“You’ve heard the saying, ‘Once unfaithful, always untrustworthy.’ You betrayed me, and I will never forgive you. Whether or not you sign the divorce papers is up to you, but stop disturbing my life.”
With that, I turned and walked away, leaving him frozen in place.
But it seemed Jacob didn’t understand rejection. He shook his head and said, “No, I can’t let you go. We’ve been together for so many years. Don’t those beautiful memories mean anything to you? You once said you’d love me for the rest of your life. Why are you leaving me now?”
Looking at his wounded expression, I felt nothing. Without hesitation, I called the police and had him taken away.
Afterward, I sent Daisy a message, telling her to take control of Jacob.
From that point on, Jacob truly disappeared from my life.
During this time, Peter continued to meet me, intentionally or otherwise. Though he was subtle, it wasn’t hard to see his growing interest in me.
I decided to be upfront, telling him directly that I had just ended a relationship that spanned over a decade and wasn’t ready to enter another one.
But Peter wasn’t discouraged. Instead, he said he was willing to wait, as he had already been waiting for ten years.
Only then did I learn that we had met before. It was years ago, just after I had started working and earned enough money to take skiing lessons. That was when I first encountered Peter. Back then, he was overwhelmed by the responsibilities of his family business and had come to the ski resort to relieve stress. However, in his haste, he had taken a dangerous path, falling and injuring his leg in an unmonitored area where no one noticed his accident.
I happened to see it unfold and quickly called for staff, who rescued him.
After that incident, I never saw him again. He told me he had been looking for me ever since, wanting to thank me in person. But I had seemingly disappeared, and no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t find me.
Years later, he finally saw me again—on the big screen at my wedding with Jacob. Not wanting to disrupt my life, he kept his distance.
Hearing his story, I was surprised by the serendipity of our connection.
Even after my rejection, Peter didn’t retreat. Instead, he became a steadfast friend, often accompanying me on outdoor adventures. His warmth and presence brought comfort and made him an important part of my life.
The next time I heard about Jacob was two years later. After being arrested that day, it was Daisy who personally bailed him out.
However, the incident sparked a huge argument between them. In a fit of rage, Jacob pushed Daisy, causing her to miscarry.
Having lost both her lover and her child, Daisy couldn’t handle the blow. In her madness, she drove her car into Jacob, leaving him in a vegetative state.
Daisy was later admitted to a mental institution, where she spent the rest of her life.
When I heard about their tragic fates, I felt nothing. To me, they were merely passersby in my life—people who left traces but could never truly remain.
The End.
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