Chapter 3

Perhaps it was the thrill of their public encounter that made it hard to leave, but Dane hadn't come home for two days.

I welcomed this tranquility, going to the hospital alone for pre-surgery tolerance tests.

The electroshock therapy was excruciating; even at test strength, it was unbearable.

In just two days, I lost ten pounds, and my memory became spotty.

Worried I might forget important people, I prepared a thick notebook.

I pasted photos of family and close friends, meticulously writing down things I wanted to remember.

As I was finishing this memoir, Dane returned.

He walked in while I was barefoot on the carpet, organizing photos.

Dane rushed over, scooping me up in his arms like a princess, holding me tight.

"It's so cold, what if you catch a chill?"

He played with my feet, lovingly pecking them.

Like holding a priceless treasure, he pressed my icy feet to his chest to warm them.

"I've been busy preparing a new documentary with the TV station, I'm sorry, sweetheart."

As he leaned in, I caught a faint floral and fruity scent.

It was Aria's favorite perfume.

A wave of nausea hit me, and I turned away coldly.

He wasn't busy; he just couldn't tear himself away from his indulgence.Dane thought I was just being moody. He casually picked up the memoir.

"What made you decide to write something like this?"

I smiled halfheartedly. "I'm afraid I might forget. I want to record all the meaningful things."

His expression suddenly turned hurt. He asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Will there be a day when you forget me too?"

Dane, who hadn't even flinched in the face of wolves and tigers during wilderness survival, was now treading carefully, trying to please me.

Just one answer from me could easily sway his emotions.

I blurted out, "What if I really forget?"

His expression tightened. He held me close, as if trying to knead me into his very bones and blood.

"Melody, don't scare me. I can't live without you."

"I'll love you forever."

Just as I was unsure how to respond, his phone rang, timely saving me from the situation.

Dane glanced at the number, his expression momentarily unnatural:

"It's the TV station calling. I need to take this."

I nodded woodenly, inwardly letting out a cold laugh.

Dane, how can you make grand promises of eternal love to me,

while contentedly enjoying another woman's body?

Even though I had already seen through his hypocrisy, I still felt a tinge of disappointed hope.If I were to turn a few more pages, he'd discover

that in my writings, even a kitten I'd kept for just a month had a few sparse pages dedicated to it, yet there was nothing about him.

Sure enough, as soon as Dane left, I received another message from Aria.

"Melody, sis, you see? Even if he comes back to you, what difference does it make?"

"With just one phone call from me, he'll leave you."

I took a deep breath, set down my phone, and turned to pack the things I needed for my hospital stay and surgery.

It's okay,

In just four days, I'll be free.

No more heartache from Dane's clumsy lies.