Chapter 2
The ninety-eighth time. I could no longer remember when it started when his hurtful actions stopped stirring even the slightest ripple in my heart. Soren and I had been in a secret relationship for eight years. In that time, he helped me ninety-nine times. Initially, he even saved my life. However, everything changed when Hannah returned. Still, I chose to endure ninety-nine instances of pain from him just to repay the kindness he once showed me. He had been good to me once, so I repaid him with self-destruction. Each time he hurt me, that kindness meant less and less until the ninety-ninth time, when it would be gone completely. I slept very lightly. Before dawn, I heard Soren quietly open the door and come in. He lay down beside me gently as if he had never left the night before. I didn’t move, but I could still smell the faint scent of him. It wasn’t his. It was Hannah’s. Soren wrapped his arms around my waist and fell into a deep sleep. But I couldn’t sleep again. I turned to face him, eyes lowered and silently watched his sleeping face. I instinctively reached out, wanting to trace his features, but just before my fingers touched him, I pulled my hand back. Soren still looked the same as he did years ago. But the person in his heart was no longer me. I turned my back to him again. In the darkness, a tear slipped from the corner of my eye, soaking into the pillow. Just one more time left. When I felt Soren stir beside me, I knew he was awake. I sat up and reached for my phone on the nightstand. He paused for a moment, clearly surprised to see me awake so early. Under the pale moonlight, the scar at the corner of his eye became more visible. It was the mark left from when he took a bullet for me. I still remember how he pulled me, frozen with fear, into his arms. The bullet grazed his cheek, nearly blinding him. Afterward, I applied ointment to the wound, my heart aching the entire time. But he didn’t mind at all. He only said it was a man’s badge of honor. The wounds a man suffered protecting the woman he loved were a lifetime’s pride. He had kissed away my tears then, calming my frightened heart. “Don’t cry. As long as I’m here, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” I lowered my eyes. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt me. Turned out anyone didn’t include himself, huh? How laughable. I never imagined the final time would come so soon. While Soren went downstairs to buy me food, the doctor came in with a hesitant look on his face. “Miss Diana Silva, the results from the specialist consultation are in.” He paused and sighed. “Due to poor care during pregnancy and delayed treatment after the miscarriage, your uterus has suffered severe damage. Surgery must be done right away. The uterus has to be removed.” It hit me like a thunderclap. “There’s, no way to fix it? Doctor, I… I’m only twenty-seven. Are you saying I’ll never be able to have my own children again?” The doctor nodded. “If the uterus isn’t removed, your life will be in danger. Please inform your family. I’ll schedule the surgery immediately.” My hand clenched the bedsheet tightly. After a long hesitation, I still called Soren. At that moment, he was the only one who could sign the consent form for the surgery. And he was just downstairs getting food. He should be back soon. The call rang twice, then picked up. I was just about to speak, but instead, Hannah’s voice came through the line. “Is this Miss Silva? Soren was too tired and just fell asleep. If there’s anything, you can tell me. I’ll let him know when he wakes up.” I hung up immediately. “Doctor, same as last time. I’ll sign it myself.” Since Soren couldn’t even carry out the most basic duty of a family member, then he… I would abandon him.