ManyWriters

In the third year of our marriage, I discovered I was pregnant. With my husband away on a business trip in another state, I had no choice but to go to the hospital for a check-up alone.
Little did I expect to see my supposedly out-of-town husband outside the examination room, fingers intertwined with his pure love.
I dialed his number once more. He answered, lowering his voice in irritation:
"Faye, are you incapable of understanding English? How many times do I have to tell you I'm in a meeting! A meeting!"
"You may be blind, but you're not deaf!"
A wave of sorrow washed over me as I slowly spoke:
"Where's this meeting? What kind of meeting?"
"If you're sick, go to the hospital. Stop acting crazy here."
He rudely hung up the phone, then turned to Pure Love's inquiry with a gentle smile.
"Just a blind woman. She's nothing compared to you."
The moment he turned and our eyes met, River's smile froze on his face.

Love's Withered Bloom

"Pretty striking, isn't it? River thought so too. Even though I'm not a fan, I still owe you my thanks."


"Faye, thank you for your cornea. It allowed me to... see River again."


I suddenly widened my eyes, stood up and gripped Serenity's wrist, my voice trembling, "What did you say?"


Years ago, River had lied about having a hereditary eye disease, saying his eyes would gradually go blind. When I found out, I didn't hesitate to donate one of my corneas to him.


Though every word clearly pierced my ears, I still shook my head in denial, making a final struggle.


Serenity forced me to accept the truth word by word, each one like a sharp blade stabbing into my heart.


"Aren't you curious why River insisted on going to America for surgery with the cornea you donated in the States?"


River had explained to me before, saying the technology in the States was superior to that back home, and he'd feel more at ease having it done in America.


He also used my poor English skills and his inconvenience after surgery as excuses to refuse letting me accompany him.


Thinking about it now, it really was quite inconvenient.


"Faye, let go! What are you doing here?"


River's voice suddenly appeared. With a gloomy face, he stormed over and roughly pushed me away.His strength was overwhelming, causing me to lose my balance. My lower back slammed against the corner of the table, and the intense pain immediately caused a thin layer of sweat to form on my forehead.


"If you're angry, take it out on me! Don't give Serenity a hard time!"


Serenity, with tears in her eyes, held up her wrist that I had squeezed red, and pitifully threw herself into River's arms.


River gently blew on her wrist and comforted her.


It was treatment I had never received. Back then, when I cut my hand while cooking for him, he coldly called me dramatic and insulted me as an idiot and a fool.


The heartache reached its peak at this moment.


"River, it's all my fault. I'm the one who didn't agree to the abortion, that's why I made Faye angry."


"Faye, I'm so sorry. Please don't blame River."


To show her sincerity, she broke free from River's embrace and raised a glass of wine to her lips.


River quickly intercepted, "You're pregnant, you can't drink alcohol."


Serenity's voice was choked with tears.


"Faye said if I drink this glass of wine, she'll forgive me."


I smiled bitterly. At least this trip wasn't wasted; I got to watch quite a show.


"Serenity, this isn't your fault.River once again shielded Serenity, his eyes filled with mockery and disdain as he looked at me.


"I won't let Serenity get an abortion. You either accept it, or I'll divorce you."


Divorce. Those two words I once feared most. It was also his foolproof tactic to force me into submission and admit my faults.


But behind this lay my repeated compromises and concessions.


Out of love, I would beg for his forgiveness in tears, constantly admitting my wrongs. Yet in his eyes, perhaps I was just a clown for his amusement.


Enduring the pain in my lower back, I slowly stood up and looked at River. That face I once found so captivating and cherished now seemed ugly and fake.


Surprise flashed in River's eyes. "You'll accept this child?"


I reached out to gently caress his face, the one I could never tire of looking at before.


As a smile began to form at the corners of his mouth, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. The sound rang out crisp and loud, instantly silencing the entire private room.


All that remained was the sound of River's increasingly rapid breathing.


Chapter 5