Chapter 4

The cheers of our friends had drowned us out. I foolishly believed that that moment would last forever.

But the vow was still fresh in my mind, while the man who made it had already rotted.

Ethan's patience ran out. He snapped:

"Vivian, is this fun for you? Can you stop with the attitude? Nobody wants to look at your miserable face all day!"

I ignored him, not letting his words touch me.

Chloe pretended to wake up and patted Ethan’s arm to calm him down:

"Don't be mad, Ethan. Vivian might just be going through early menopause. Every woman goes through a phase. But you can't get tired of her, okay?"

Ethan’s anger melted away. The two of them started chatting and laughing, filling the car with a warm, cozy atmosphere.

They looked like a happily married couple. I was just the unwanted third wheel.

Too bad their happiness had nothing to do with me anymore.

When we reached the hospital, Ethan jumped out of the car. He smoothly walked over to the passenger side, opened the door for Chloe, and shielded her head with his hand so she wouldn't bump it.

He did it so naturally, like he had done it a thousand times.

Meanwhile, I...

Because of the gardenia allergy, my limbs felt like lead.

Chloe shot me a smug, challenging look before quickly playing the saint:

"Vivian looks really sick. Ethan, go help her. I can walk by myself."

Ethan grunted reluctantly and walked over to help me.

It was pathetic.

Even now, he wanted me to play along in their little drama just to prove how "kind" they were?

I felt sick to my stomach. I violently shoved his hand away from my waist.

With the last bit of my strength, I screamed at him:

"Get lost! Don't touch me!"

Ethan’s temper exploded completely.

"Vivian, are you insane?"

"I'm trying to help you! I'm showing you care, and you push me? You must have water in your brain. I was an idiot to try and help you!"

"Never again. Are you happy now?"

He grabbed Chloe and stormed off toward the clinic entrance.

I stood there, my strength completely drained. Before I could even reach the clinic doors, my vision went black, and I collapsed onto the concrete.

Is this the love I traded my piano career for? Is this what ten years of my life bought me?

What a joke.

Ethan, I regret it.

If I could go back, I would never choose you. If I had stayed on my own path, I would be performing on the world's greatest stages right now.

But instead, with my ruined finger,

I could never play the same way again.

When I woke up, Dr. Reynolds was looking down at me, his eyes full of worry.

"Vivian, your body is extremely weak from the allergic reaction. Combined with the surgical abortion, your recovery is going to be very difficult."

"Under these conditions, do you still want to go through with it?"

I thought of the years I had wasted on Ethan. I had thought we were building a future.

But in the end, he had thrown me away like garbage for someone else.

My broken heart crumbled into dust.

"Do it," I whispered. "I don't want to wait anymore."