The doctor sighed.
“Ms. Tallis, your last miscariage damaged your uterus. This time, the stab hit the same spot…
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to have children again.”
I stared at the ceiling. The voice sounded like it came from far away.
“Okay. It’s fine.”
After the doctor left, I checked the time on my phone.
Mission failed. I was going to die from the curse.
And everyone I knew would forget I ever existed.
I had 72 hours left.
I closed my eyes, surrounded by an eerie silence.
But for some reason, I ended up opening Tina Ashby’s livestream.
She was painting today in the villa Jack bought her.
Wearing an oversized men’s shirt and a messy bun, she stood at her easel mixing paint.
Her cheeks were flushed, her smile sweet and innocent.
“The shirt? It’s my boyfriend’s. Mine aren’t wearable anymore.
“Yeah… Last night got a little intense.”
She blushed and glanced off-camera, mumbling, “I didn’t expect my first kiss and first night to happen on the same day…”
A man’s deep, gentle voice replied, “Sorry. I’ll be gentler next time.”
The livestream chat exploded with cheers.
“Tina finally got her dream guy! Please post more couple content!”
“Couple content might be hard. My boyfriend’s job is special. He can’t show his face.”
As they spoke, some red paint got on Tina’s sleeve.
“Oh no,” she said with a little gasp.
The man’s slender fingers reached over and gently rolled up her sleeve, revealing a cute ring on the ring finger, engraved with her name.
“It’s okay if it gets dirty.”
Tina’s blush deepened. She giggled, then was suddenly pulled off-camera by the man.
The sound of kissing and breathless gasps filled the background.
Comments flooded the livestream. One stood out, “Pretty sure I just heard mafia boss Jack’s voice.”
The man spoke, and the air seemed to freeze, “I’m not.”
The livestream cut off instantly. I put down my phone and drifted back into sleep.
In my dream, I accidentally got dust on his white shirt while cleaning.
I apologized right away, but he still lost his temper, yelling at me for touching his things.
He tossed the shirt like trash. After that, I never saw any of his clothes in the house again.
The dream ended with the image of Jack’s back.
It reminded me of the last three years when I was tortured, and he rushed away for Tina.
I drifted awake once more. The first thing I saw was a ring engraved with Tina’s name.
Looking up, I saw Tina. She’d changed into a simple T-shirt and jeans, happily eating chicken soup from a thermos.
The nanny said apologetically, “Mrs. Caldor, I’m so sorry. I only made one serving when I brought your meal, and Ms. Ashby happened to like it too.”
“Oh no, I finished all of it. Selly, I’m so sorry!”
Tina seemed to realize then that it was my meal, and her eyes welled up.
Jack entered to see her clasping her hands, bowing repeatedly to me.
“Selly Tallis, what are you doing now? Tina came to see you because she was worried!”
The nanny looked awkward and wanted to explain, but Tina cut in first.
“Jack, don’t be mad. I was greedy. Once I smelled the chicken soup, I couldn’t help but try it… and ended up finishing it. Selly’s right to be upset.”
She cried so sadly, and Jack felt sorry for her.
“It’s just a bowl of soup. Once you’re out of the hospital, you can have as much as you want. Why make a fuss over Tina?”
He shot the nanny a cold look. “Tina hasn’t had much of an appetite lately. She rarely has your soup. Go back and make another pot and send it to Tina’s villa.”
The nanny hurried away, and Jack softened, gently brushing away Tina’s tears.
“Stop crying, or you’ll get all blotchy.”
Tina wiped her tears and smiled, throwing herself into his arms. “You’re making fun of me again.”
They laughed as they left the room, and the quiet settled back in.
I was surprised. After all the misunderstandings, blame, and questions over the years, today, none of it stirred anything inside me.
I didn’t want to argue, fight, or explain anymore.
An hour later. While the doctor was examining my wound, Jack’s subordinates barged in and urged me to leave the hospital soon, saying his enemies were still causing trouble.
One of the men took pity and asked if I wanted more painkillers.
I shook my head. “It’s okay.”
I was used to this pain.
