Chapter 4

Julia lifted her gaze and looked at Keith quietly. Meanwhile, Catherine was already crying out, "Mr. Carson, save me! I'm so scared!" Her shrill voice echoed through the empty factory. Keith's eyes darted between them, his brows knitting tightly. Three seconds passed. Then five. Then ten. He finally said in a hoarse voice, "Let Cate go." Julia closed her eyes. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Just as she had expected. The kidnapper burst out laughing, slashing through Julia's ropes with the tip of his knife. "Mrs. Carson, you really failed as a wife, didn't you?" As soon as he finished speaking, he shoved her hard. Julia stumbled backward, caught completely off guard. "Jules!" Keith's eyes widened in panic. He lunged to catch her, but all he grasped was the fluttering edge of her dress. Wind howled past her ears. Seeing the fear on Keith's face, Julia suddenly found it absurd. He had chosen to give her up, so why was he looking at her like that now? A loud thud sounded as her body slammed onto the platform below. A wave of searing pain surged through her, and blood spread beneath her, staining her dress red. Keith bolted downstairs in a frenzy. He cradled her in his arms, and his voice trembled as he said, "Jules! Hang on. I'll get you to the hospital…" Julia wanted to push him away, but she couldn't even lift her hand. In a daze, she heard the kidnapper fleeing, Keith's desperate shouts for a doctor, and the shrill sounds of an ambulance siren. When she opened her eyes again, all she saw was the hospital's white ceiling. A doctor stood at her bedside, and his voice was somber as he said, "Mrs. Carson, you were pregnant. But… we couldn't save the baby." Julia didn't catch the rest. She gently touched her stomach, stunned. Her chest tightened with an ache she couldn't name. She and Keith had wanted a child for so long, yet it never happened. Now, just as she had decided to leave him, the baby had come—only to slip away without a sound. It felt like fate was mocking her. The door swung open. Keith stumbled in, his eyes red-rimmed with tears. "Jules, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were pregnant." He gripped her hand, his voice choking with regret. Julia pulled her hand away and turned her face aside, not wanting to see him. Keith panicked. He pulled out a card from his pocket and pressed it into her palm. "I'm using a forgiveness card. Jules, please don't be mad, alright?" Julia slowly turned back, staring at the card that once held so many sweet promises. Then, she suddenly laughed. "Keith, do you remember what you said on our wedding day?" she asked. He froze in place. In a soft voice, she repeated his vow from years ago. "You said you'd never use those forgiveness cards." Keith's eyes turned red. "I was wrong. Jules, please forgive me," he said in a low voice. Julia said nothing. She simply closed her eyes, exhausted. He let out a breath of relief and asked, "How many forgiveness cards do we still have?" She didn't answer. "I think… there are still more than 60 left, right?" Julia opened her eyes and looked at him silently. She didn't correct him. There were only two forgiveness cards left.