The Side Character I Choose to Be

Three years into our relationship, my childhood sweetheart told me he regretted it.

That's when I found out I was just his mission target.

The so-called female lead.

He begged his system to rewind time to the story's beginning and married the book's other woman.

I didn't go looking for some male lead.

Instead, I moved to another city and became a nurse.

Until one ER shift. A little boy covered in blood on a stretcher locked eyes with me.

"Mommy"

My colleague beside me shot me a startled look.

I pried his small hand off my wrist. "He didn't know what he was talking about."

My colleague glanced at the boy, then nodded.

"Yeah, that makes sense. We have been working with you forever. It's impossible that you suddenly had a kid that age."

The boy's injuries were serious. His lips moved a few times, but no sound came out before he passed out.

Washing my hands later, I noticed the red marks on my wrist.

I hadn't seen him in years. The kid had gotten strong.

Of course I knew him.

He was Noah--the boy Ethan Clarke and I adopted.

The first time I saw him, he was three years old, hiding shyly behind the orphanage director.

But when I crouched down and held out my arms, he ran straight into them.

Ethan said Noah was meant to be ours.

But

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Grant! That little boy's awake!

"He's asking for you, and he won't listen to anyone else.

"We contacted his dad. His last name is Clarke, I think?"

My hands stilled.

Hearing that name again sent an unavoidable stab of pain through my chest.

"Grant, the poor kid's crying his eyes out.

"He must really love his mom."

Poor kid God, that phrase sounded familiar.

Three years ago, I'd heard it too.

Ethan stood slumped in front of me, tears shimmering in his eyes C for another woman.

The same day, I'd just lost our baby.

"Vivi, she's so lost. So vulnerable.

"If I stay with you, she'll disappear!

"Vivi, we can't be this selfish."

From the corner, little Noah's voice piped up:

"Daddy, I agree.

"If Mommy's a good person, she should help save Aunt Serena.

"Daddy, I'll go with you."

I had been with Ethan Clarke for three years. At my lowest point, the two people I loved most slammed me down.

He told me I was the female lead in a book.

He'd transmigrated into the male lead's best friend.

To "complete his mission," he'd confessed before the actual male lead could appear.

Back then, I thought our beautiful childhood bond had finally blossomed into love.

But the longer we were together, the more distant he became.

When he stood me up for yet another date, I secretly followed his car.

On the hospital lawn, I saw Ethan pushing a wheelchair, wearing a gentle smile I hadn't seen in ages.

The girl in the wheelchair turned and said something.

Ethan leaned down, took her hand, and kissed it.

My brain buzzed and my palms went clammy.

Then, my precious Noah, the boy I'd loved fiercely, came running up.

He was holding a cake box. The cake I'd spent all afternoon yesterday baking for him.

"Aunt Serena, Daddy made this for you"

I couldn't bear it anymore and then ran out.

"Grant! Grant?"

The Head Nurse's voice snapped me back.

"That kid's asking for you. Why are you just standing there?

"If you keep zoning out and I'll dock your bonus."

She tapped my forehead playfully, teasing.

I knew she wouldn't.

Three years ago, when I passed out from low blood sugar on the subway, she saved me and carried me to the first aid station.

Later, she helped me find an apartment and got me this job.

She was good people. I didn't want to make things hard for her.

When I got to Noah's room, he was still crying.

"It's her! It's her! She's my mommy!

"Daddy and I have been looking for her!

"Please, give me back my mommy!"

When he saw me, his crying stopped abruptly, though tears still streaked down his cheeks..

"Mom"

"Sweetie, you've got the wrong person."

I gave him a calm smile, pointing to my name tag.

"I'm Vivian Grant. What's your mommy's name?"

Noahnow eight years oldhesitated.

"My mommy was Vivian Clarke."

Then he got agitated again.

"No! It is you!

"You look exactly like her!

"Why don't you admit it?"

I sighed, just wanting him to drop it.

"Lots of people look alike in this world.

"I have a boyfriend now. You calling me 'Mommy' causes problems for me. Please don't do it again!"

I kept my voice firm and serious.

He flinched, dropping his gaze.

In his memory, I'd never been this harsh with him.

Compared to Ethan, I'd spent far more time with him.

When he was sick, it was me who stayed up all night by his hospital bed.

It was me who held him in my arms, kneeling in hospital corridors, praying to every god I could think of to keep him healthy.

And his beloved Daddy? Across town, stargazing with her.

Sick and weak, he'd curled up in my lap, whispering "Mommy" over and over.

The memory softened me slightly.

"How how did the accident happen? Where's your dad?"

Noah seemed to recall something painful. His eyes reddened again.

"Daddy asked Aunt Serena for a divorce. They fought really bad.

"Aunt Serena she lost the baby like you did. There was so much blood

"She yelled at me, hit me, called me a curse. So I ran away"

Lost the baby

I started trembling and felt so cold.

Just as my legs threatened to buckle, a hand steadied me.