Chapter 4
A few days later, a pile of things appeared at my doorstep.
They were tossed there messily, like garbage.
They were all my belongings–things I had once kept at Ethan’s house.
I spotted my favorite teddy bear among them, now caked in mud, discarded on the ground like it meant nothing.
I stood there for a long time, just staring, before I finally picked it up.
/
It was our first keepsake–Ethan and mine.
The night we made our relationship official, I had randomly said I wanted a stuffed bear. It was already late; most stores were closed
Ethan ran ten kilometers before he finally found a place still open that sold one.
It was a cheap little bear–nothing special. I’d seen dozens that were far more delicate, cuter, more expensive.
But for some reason, this was the one that captured my heart. It became my favorite possession.
I took a picture of it and sent it to Ethan.
“You really are good at pretending to be the perfect, devoted man.”
It took him hours to reply.
“Baby, I swear I didn’t do this. I would never throw your things out—I couldn’t.”
I didn’t want to hear any more lies.
I blocked him.
That evening, a torrential downpour beat against the windows. The rain hammered the glass, desperate to break through.
Then the doorbell rang.
I opened the door to find Ethan standing there, drenched from head to toe.
His clothes were soaked through, water dripping steadily from his sleeves as he stood motionless in the rain.
“Come inside,” I said.
But no matter how I tried to pull him in, he wouldn’t budge.
“No. Not unless you forgive me.”
“Fine, then stay there until you freeze.”
I slammed the door in his face.
Through the surveillance monitor, I saw him leave shortly after.
I let out a cold laugh.
How foolish of me.., still holding on to the hope that he could be trusted.
The rain lasted through the night.
When I opened the door the next morning, Ethan was still there–soaked to the bone in the same clothes from the day before.
“Baby, can you forgive me now? I never left. I’ve been here all night.”
His voice broke as he tried to sound sincere–but it rang hollow. Chapter 4
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“What are you even pretending for?”
Before I could say anything else, Julia came running up, panicked, and hurried to support him.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped at me. “Are you crazy? You let my brother stand in the rain all night? You’ve lost it!”
“Is this because you have problems? And now you’re taking it out on everyone else? You’re sick!”
Ethan put on his usual wounded act. He made a show of holding her back, but said nothing to defend me.
I laughed bitterly. I was done arguing with them.
Julia shoved her phone in my face.
“Here. Watch this. See what kind of person you really are.” Ethan might tolerate your spoiled tantrums, but the rest of us are done with
you.
It was a video.
Lily.
She was in front of the camera, being interviewed by reporters. Tearfully, she told them how I had rejected her because of her birthmark.
She sobbed as she spoke, looking as pitiful as possible.
The orphanage director was right there beside her, backing up the story, repeating everything I’d said that day–cold, heartless, cruel.
The internet exploded.
[Oh my god, Lily is such a sweet litt I can’t believe anyone would say such awful things to her. What kind of woman is that?]
[She’s just a child. She’s been through
[I didn’t even notice the birthm
until she
she has to deal with this too?]
[She can’t have children, so she lashes out at an orphan
My name was dragged through the mud.
- it. That woman must’ve wanted to find a reason to reject her. Disgusting.]
woman is a nightmare.]
People found out who I was. Every day, someone was outside my office building with signs and cameras. My company’s stock price plummeted. I became a public punching bag.
When I saw the worry in my parents‘ eyes as they returned home that night, I wanted nothing more than to go public and set the record straight.
I reassured them.
“Don’t worry. Once the press conference starts, I’ll make sure the truth comes out. And they’ll pay for what they’ve done.”
The day of the press conference arrived.
Reporters camped out at the entrance, waiting for
- me.
As soon as I stepped out, microphones and cameras were shoved into my face. Flashbulbs exploded around me like fireworks.
I ignored them all and walked to the podium, my expression calm
A few moments later, Ethan’s entire family entered the room.
and unreadable.
Rosen and Nina didn’t even glance in my direction. Disgust was written all over their faces.
Julia followed behind them, carrying Lily in her arms like some tragic heroine in a made–for–TV movie.
Perfect. They were all here.
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As soon as I sat down, the press swarmed forward.
“Ms. Reynolds, what’s your response to the recent orphanage incident?”
“Did you really refuse to adopt Lily because of the birthmark on her hand?”
I took the microphone slowly, letting the silence build.
“Yes,” I said clearly. “I did refuse to adopt Lily because of the birthmark on her hand.”
Gasps rippled through the room like thunder.
But I wasn’t done.
“I have two things to show you all.”
wwwww
Chapter 4
