Chapter 4

Alec stormed out of the office and into the dance studio across the hall. I stared blankly at his retreating figure.

Everyone in the company knew about my illness.

And now Alec's attitude, seemingly wishing for my early demise, and his flirtatious behavior with Melody had turned me into a laughingstock.

In the break room, people were chatting in hushed tones:

"Alec's not even trying to hide it anymore. Did he just barge into the dance studio?"

"Poor boss's wife. She spent four years dating him and ten years married to him. Fourteen years devoted to the boss!"

"Did you see the car downstairs? That's the one Alec bought for Melody!"

Those voices were like knives, cutting into my heart.

Buying cars and rings – anyone would think Alec was about to have a grand wedding.

My head started spinning, and I felt unsteady on my feet.

That evening, I returned home and began packing my bags. Lily asked me where I was going.

Looking at Lily's features, so similar to Melody's, I fell into deep thought.

An idea struck me, and I asked her, "Mommy's leaving. Do you want to come with Mommy?"

"I don't want to go with you. I don't want you to be my mom!"

"I want Aunt Melody to be my mom!"

With those words, she delivered my death sentence. I look at my own daughter, who now insists on calling someone else "mom".

Clutching my phone, my whole body trembling, I can barely stand.

The sound of a door opening comes from behind me.

Alec stumbles in, drunk.

He kicks off his shoes, flops onto the couch calling Melody's name, waiting for me to attend to him.

But I don't.

"Elowen, where's the hangover medicine and porridge?"

In the past, whenever Alec got drunk, I'd always carefully prepare porridge and medicine.

I'd also change his clothes for him and watch over him constantly.

I couldn't stand to see him suffering.

"No time, find it yourself in the cabinet."

I don't spare him another glance as I walk into the bathroom.

He staggers after me, watching me pack my things:

"You're still playing at running away from home?"

"With your physical condition, where could you possibly go? Stop being ridiculous!"

Alec kicks the back of my knee, his eyes brimming with anger.

He walks to the door, pausing for a moment.

I know he wants to hear me beg him to stay, but this time I'm not willing.

A loud bang echoes in my ears as he leaves.

Surprisingly, my heart feels somewhat relieved, and I let out a sigh.

That night, I received a message from Lorne.

"I'll be there the day after tomorrow. Wait for me at the airport."

Still haven't had a chance to reply when Melody sent me a video.

In the video, Alec was lying half-undressed in her arms.

"Elowen, I know you and Alec have been fighting these past few days. I just wanted to explain that we're really just friends. I'm sending him home right away!"

Friends?

They're practically naked lying together, and still just friends?

I wanted to laugh, but also felt a pang in my heart.

"Don't bother, you take care of him."

Early the next morning, I was woken up by Lily's laughter.

I opened the door to see the three of them standing in the living room playing a motion-sensing game.

Alec patiently tidied up the clothes Melody had carelessly tossed on the sofa, and even wiped the sweat off her brow.

So even someone as much of a neat freak as him was willing to wipe someone else's sweat.

I thought of how when I was sweating from chemo, he never wiped it for me.

At most he'd hand me a tissue.

Turns out his heart had already changed back then.

"Elowen! You're up! We've been waiting for you to cook!"

"Alec says your beef is to die for!"

I looked at Alec.

Alec seemed a bit uncomfortable:

"It's Melody's birthday today. She said she wanted to try your beef."

I took a deep breath, telling myself to hold on for just one more day. She turned and walked into the kitchen to prep the beef.