Love of Departure

My boss's secretary, Jenny, was pregnant.

He brought her home for our ninth-anniversary dinner.

Casually, he instructed me, The girls picky. No repeat meals for her.

Shes timid, needs someone to sleep with. Pack your things; move to the guest room.

I didnt respond, grabbed my pre-packed suitcase, and calmly walked towards the door.

The butler tried to stop me, but my boss sneered, Let her make a fuss. She'll be crawling back in three days.

Everyone laughed.

They bet a million dollars, right in front of me.

They bet I wouldnt make it through the night, that Id be begging to come back like a dog.

But they didnt know the Maybach was waiting outside.

This time, I was really leaving.

...

As I was about to leave, my boss called out, Sarah, leave your bracelet. Jennys been having nightmares.

It was a heirloom from my parents.

Seeing my red eyes, he was indifferent, Name your price.

Nine years of a demeaning marriage, how much was that worth?

I didn't bother calculating.

I just knew that refusing to give Jenny my goggles at the ski resort last time resulted in me being stripped naked and left on a mountainside.

I took off the bracelet and put it on Jennys wrist.

I wish you and your baby a safe and healthy life, I said.

To my surprise, he offered a compromise, "Sarah, if you're obedient, my child will be your child."

As he finished, the bracelet slipped from Jenny's hand and shattered.

Seeing Jenny's cut leg, he scooped her up like a princess.

He sharply ordered the butler to call the family doctor.

His anxiousness amused everyone, who looked at me with laughter.

It wasn't just them; I found it funny too.

Last night, when I had a heart attack, he was heading out to watch meteor shower with Jenny.

Even as I foamed at the mouth and collapsed, he calmly stepped over me.

Before I lost consciousness, I heard him tell the butler, Sanitize the entire living room. Jenny cant smell anything foul tomorrow.

Gripping my suitcase handle, I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist, "Apologize."

"WhD"

Before I could finish, he dragged me to kneel before Jenny.

My knees scraped against the broken jade, staining the white floor red.

Seeing the blood, he let go with disgust.

You broke Jennys bracelet and hurt her. Shouldnt you say sorry?

After marrying him, "sorry" became my catchphrase.

The soup was too bland, sorry.

Disturbing him with a message, worried hed be hungover, sorry.

Accidentally seeing Jennys hotel reservation text, invading privacy, deeply sorry

Biting back the blood in my mouth, I resigned myself and stood up.

I bowed 180 degrees to Jenny three times, then looked at him blankly.

"Is that enough?" I quietly asked.

Seeing the blood on my lip, his chest visibly rose and fell, "Sarah, your influential grandfather isn't here. Who are you putting on this pathetic show for?"

Before I could answer, the doctor arrived.

Pushing me aside, he led the doctor to Jenny.

While his attention was fully on Jenny, I quickly left.

As I stepped outside, I heard the beep, beep of car horns.

Seeing the silver car outside the gate, I hurried.

But before the gate opened, two bodyguards appeared and forcibly brought me back.

In the study, he tied me up.

He ordered them to use a needle as thick as a forearm and inject it into my arm.

Through the half-open door, I heard the doctor say, Mr. Smith, both Mrs. Smith and Ms. Jenny have RH negative blood, but Mrs. Smith has a history of heart disease. Forcing a blood transfusion could cause acute shock. I think we should go to the hospital first...

"No need to persuade me," he coldly said. "Your only task is to get Jenny healthy. I'll handle the rest."

Hearing his approaching footsteps, I closed my eyes.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, unusually comforting. "Bear with it, it'll be over soon."

I turned my head, too tired to bother.

After eight hundred milliliters of blood were drawn, my lips turned purple.

Jenny coughed.

He immediately stopped the doctor, demanding double the amount.

The doctor, sweating profusely, warned that I could die.

After a two-second hesitation, he said, "Jenny is pregnant. The pregnant woman comes first."

"But"

I interrupted the doctor, "Draw it, let me leave after."

Looking at my pale face, he glared, his mouth agape.

He was about to ask if I was finished making a scene, if I really wanted to leave over a little thing, when Jenny whined, "Ethan~"

Immediately captivating him.

Two days later.

In the hospital, I woke up to see him reviewing documents.

Our eyes met for a long time.

He impassively brought a bowl of porridge, pretending to feed me.

I shook my head, Ill do it myself.

Watching me finish half a bowl, he asked, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

I responded indirectly, "Please give me my phone."

My tone was too distant. He was stunned for several seconds before contacting the butler for my phone.

Seeing many missed calls, he abruptly asked, "Who called?"

He'd never asked so many questions before.

With a hint of annoyance, I said, "You don't know them."

Unbuttoning his shirt, he looked down at me coldly, "Sarah, how long are you planning to act like a spoiled brat?"

"Do you think you can get away with this?"

Before, when he was angry, I would reflect on myself and appease him.

But now, I simply pointed to his vibrating phone, expressionless, "Jennys looking for you."

He smiled, habitually avoiding me, and went to the hospital corridor.

The moment he left, my phone rang.

I picked up, and before I could speak, the other person said anxiously, "Aren't you supposed to come see me? Sarah, did you change your mind?"

"No, I just had an accident"

"Accident? What happened? No, I have to come back"

Interrupting him, I said quietly, "Give me a few more days."

He returned when I hung up.

Noticing the smile I hadn't shown him in a long time, he felt inexplicably suffocated.

But hed promised Jenny hed sing lullabies for her and the baby, so he didn't ask who I was talking toDprobably my cousin, since my circle only included female relatives after marrying him.

Taking his files, he coldly said, "Sarah, something came up at the office. I'll come tomorrow."

Tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that, he didnt show up.

But thanks to mutual friends, I constantly received videos of him and Jenny.

He took her to parties and dinners.

Like a lovestruck teenager, he eagerly introduced her to everyone.

The day I was discharged, he posted a nine-photo collage on his social media.

At sunset, he stood in a hot air balloon, holding Jennys face, kissing her passionately.

I commented: Congratulations! Wishing you happiness and a healthy baby.

Ten minutes later, he called.

I didnt answer.

Thirty minutes later, after checking out, I saw them at the obstetrics and gynecology department.

I overheard a nurse say to Jenny, "Mrs. Smith, your husband really loves you. He's always here with you. He even warms the gel for your ultrasound to keep you from getting cold."

The other pregnant women were envious.

Touching my belly, I remembered the child I carried.

The day I miscarried in a car accident, I tearfully video-called him.

I saw a naked Jenny: "Mrs. Smith, Mr. Smith lost a game to me, and is now being punished. Is there something you need?"

I hung up.

Within a minute, he called back, hugging a teary Jenny, cursing me for being petty and stupid.

He said, You can't even keep your own child. What good are you? You should just get hit by a truck.

Snapping back to reality, I was about to leave, when he walked over coldly, "What are you doing standing there?"

Lowering my eyes, I instinctively explained, "I wasn't following you. It was just a coincidence. I'm sorry for bothering you."

"Wait."

He frowned. Jenny's eyes flashed with jealousy.

Tightening her grip on him, she smiled, "Mrs. Smith, thank you for donating blood. If it weren't for you, I'd still be dizzy. Ethan, please let her come home with us, okay?"

He affectionately stroked her nose, "Whatever my sweet pregnant baby says."

I didn't refuse her "kindness."

In the spacious car, I found a slightly damp lacy thong in the crack between the seats.

"Oh dear~ Why is this still in the car? Ethan, didn't you say you already took care of it?"

Hiding in his arms, she shyly hit his chest.

He apologized, while subtly observing my reaction.

When he saw I wasnt angry, the discomfort he'd felt in the hospital resurfaced.

"Sarah, you've been looking at your phone since we got in the car," he said, resentfully. "Are you chatting with your cousin, or someone I don't know?"

After booking my flight, I turned off my phone screen, "Just browsing news."

His displeasure intensified.

He grabbed my phone.

He demanded my password.

"My birthday."

Nine years of marriage.

He tried the simple six-digit code repeatedly, unable to unlock my phone.

We arrived in silence.

He immediately helped Jenny to the master bedroom, then instructed the cook to prepare her favorite food.

Downstairs, he saw me heading to the guest room.

He told the cook, "Make two more dishes Mrs. Smith usually eats. Set three place settings for dinner."

In the guest room, I found all my clothes had been cut.

Fortunately, my passport and documents were untouched.

As I gathered my things, Jenny blocked the door.

Holding a black bottle, she sneered, "Sarah, you're quite patient. You became a laughingstock, yet you still cling to Ethan.

"Of course, your grandmother died last month, without that support, you need to hold onto Ethans lifeline."

She recalled something amusing, "Sarah, you cried and begged Ethan to take you to the hospital by helicopter to see your grandmother. Do you know why he refused? Because he promised to take me to the beach to watch the sunset. Look at this kissing picture on my screen; that's when we took it."

I slapped her phone away and grabbed her neck.

The bottle fell; I smelled gasoline.

In the struggle, Jenny accidentally lit the gasoline.

Smoke filled the air, flames erupted.

I collapsed, overwhelmed by smoke.

I heard Ethan, Sarah!

Followed by the maids' shouts, "Sir, it's too dangerous! Wait for security to bring a fire extinguisher"

"Get out of the way! Sarah's inside!"

He ignored the danger and rushed in. He didn't expect Jenny to be there too.

"Ethan, help"

Before she finished, he picked her up, ignoring me, and left.

Thirty minutes later, after comforting Jenny, he searched the entire house but couldn't find me.

At the airport, late at night, I coughed, boarding a flight to England.

Before takeoff, I received a text from him:

Im too busy for hide-and-seek. Jennys prenatal checkup is at 10 AM tomorrow. Come for a lung check-up.

I didn't reply, removed my SIM card, and turned off my phone.

Ethan, from now on, we're done.

The next day, at the hospital.

Ethan, is our baby okay?

Seeing Jenny's tearful eyes, he immediately hugged her, gently saying, "The doctor says the baby is healthy, unaffected by yesterday's accident."

"That's great. You looked serious and silent when you arrived I thought something was wrong with our baby."

Her words made him pause.

He couldnt help but picture my cold gaze in the fire.

Frowning, he opened his phone again.

He was annoyed that I hadnt replied.

Before, no matter how cold he was, I always obeyed.

Now she was putting on airs.

Scoffing inwardly, he carefully escorted Jenny out of the clinic, had lunch with her, sent her home, then went to the office.

He heard his subordinate report that his grandfather had returned and summoned all management to a meeting.

He walked towards the meeting room, casually instructing his subordinate, "Buy some new designer bags and jewelry."

"Yes, sir. I'll arrange it now, and send them to Ms. Jenny's place."

He stopped, rubbing his temples, "Send them to the old Smith house."

He assumed I could only be at the old Smith house.

One night, a week later.

He came home to a woman in a silk nightgown curled up on the sofa.

"Sarah, I've told you countless times, I'll come home after I'm done, you don't have to"

Seeing it was Jenny, his words stopped.

Stared at by him, Jenny shivered, looking both aggrieved and pitiful, "Ethan, Mrs. Smith hasn't come back. I sent her many apologies, but she ignored them. Should I move out?"

Seeing her about to cry, he frowned and hugged her.

He perfunctorily kissed her forehead, telling her to take care of herself, not to overthink.

"Regardless of Sarahs acceptance, this will be your and the baby's home from now on."

Thirty minutes later, he leaned on the balcony smoking.

He hadn't smoked in a long time, but he couldn't resist.

He accidentally saw my number at the bottom of his contacts.

His thumb hovered over the call button for a long time.

After two cigarettes, instead of calling, he sent a warning text:

Sarah, it's Grandfather's 80th birthday tomorrow. Don't cause trouble for Jenny and the baby.

On his grandfather's birthday, he and Jenny made a grand appearance.

Only when his grandfather arrived did he let go of Jennys hand, going to greet important guests.

"Why isn't Sarah here?"

He rarely defended me, "Sorry, Grandpa. She's been busy preparing a gift. I let her rest, shell be here later.