Not long ago, Nichs had carried me into the Hawk manor, with lights guiding our way even in the dead. of night.


    But now, I was leaving alone. No one paid attention to my actions. Yet, something in my heart felt off.


    The cool night air filled my lungs na I took deep breaths, but it didn''t taste like freedom. I had prepared for a long, drawn-out battle with him. I was even ready to fight as long as it took, even it meant wasting half of my life. But now, everything felt so abrupt. Even so, my efforts had paid off. Nichs was finally tired of me.


    It felt like I had been pushing hard against a door, only to find out it was never locked. The momentum had thrown me against a wall, leaving me dazed and hurting.


    My little apartment had been gathering dust for ages. Standing at the entrance, it felt like there was no space for me anymore. I realized I had nowhere to go if I were to leave my apartment.


    I stood there, nkly staring at the floor. I wasn''t sure how long had passed until the coldness seeped through my entire body.


    On the outskirts of Radiant City, a lonely white building stood against the night, shrouded in the ck cloak of darkness. In one room, the curtains were drawn tight, not even a sliver of moonlight could prate. Yet th


    the sounds of a man groaning in pain and a woman crying were all too clear.


    The room was neat. The only thing out of ce was a shattered vase on the floor, standing out starkly.


    Nichs was the one who had smashed it. After hanging up the phone, he couldn''t calm down. In his frustration, he had pressed one of the shards deep into his arm.


    Hurting himself usually brought him some relief from these uncontroble emotions, but not this time. His arm was a bloody mess, yet it didn''t help at all. He was sick.


    He realized it the moment my cold words from the hospital visits began echoing in his mind, urging him toward the edge of a tall building. That was when he knew his condition was getting worse. Nichs wanted to let me go. In his lucid moments, he understood that our separation was the right choice.


    But the moment he pictured me smiling radiantly and fantasizing about their impending divorce, his heart ached unbearably


    +


    Once we were divorced, he thought I would end up with someone else. Perhaps I would be with Pete.


    No! Pete was married! Nichs had shown me the video of Pete kissing his wife. He knew I wouldn''t go for someone like him. But even if it were not Pete, there would be someone else. His face turned pale. No! That couldn''t happen!


    He murmured, "udia, pack up. We''re going back. She can''t leave!"


    "Nick, you''ve lost your mind! What''s the point of her staying? Hasn''t she hurt you enough? You gave her everything, and what did she do?N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    ''She couldn''t even be loyal to you!


    Stop thinking about her. I''m here Let''s get your illness under control first, then you can do whatever you want," udia pleaded.


    Nichs didn''t understand why his family was leaving him, one by one.


    "No! I have to go back!"


    He forcefully broke free from udia''s grip. He didn''t feel a thing even when his wound was touched.


    "Nick! Stop hurting yourself! You''re bleeding so much!" udia cried as she rushed out of the room, screaming for help.


    "Doctor! Doctor! Someone help Nick!"


    Several doctors rushed in and pinned him down. The needle went into his vein.


    The initial coldness was followed by a wave of calm. Slowly, Nichs settled down with his eyes closed.


    One of the doctors turned to


    udia. We can''t let Mr. Hawk


    gef


    agitated like this again. Otherwise, moving him here will have been pointless..."