Chapter 7

When Charlotte finally came to, she was wearing a clean hospital gown. Sean sat by her bed, eyes red from crying. A wave of dread exploded in her chest. Instinctively, Charlotte reached for her stomach, but pain shot through her body, sharp and unbearable. "Charlotte, you just got out of surgery. The doctor said you can't move around." His words struck her like thunder. Her ears rang, her breath caught, and the taste of blood filled her throat. Sean panicked, pressing the call button over and over, shouting for help. "Charlotte! Charlotte, don't scare me, okay? We can always have another baby." The doctor and nurses rushed in and sedated her before she could even respond. As she drifted back into unconsciousness, fragments of their life together replayed in her mind. The five-year-old Sean, shy and fragile, offered her a small piece of candy with trembling hands. The 18-year-old Sean, hunched under dim light, was stitching up her torn boxing gloves with quiet devotion. The 20-two-year-old Sean, kneeling with a ring. Sunlight spilling over his smile like the promise of forever. The 27-year-old Sean, hurting her so effortlessly, as if he had been preparing for it all along. Was it time that had changed him, or had she simply never mattered enough? When she woke again, he was still there, changing her hospital pads as if it were the most natural thing to do. The smell of blood lingered in the air, but he didn't seem to notice. His hands were gentle as he changed, his movements careful, tender even. Anyone walking in might have thought he was loyal, loving, and full of remorse. However, all Charlotte felt was cold emptiness. Sean was only doing that to make himself feel better. Just like he had said, once her leg was healed and his debts were repaid, they would finally be even. He had just finished when his phone started vibrating, and he stepped out into the hall, lowering his voice. However, she could still hear bits of them. "I transferred 500 thousand to her account. I'll stay here for a few days to take care of her. I know it's not enough, but…" The rest was too faint to hear. The door opened again. Sean came back in quietly, walking softly as he didn't want to wake her. Charlotte didn't want to face him and steadied her breathing, pretending to be asleep. Her hand, hidden beneath the blanket, gripped the bedsheet tightly. Sean stood by her for a while, staring at her face, before letting out a long, weary sigh. For the next few days, nothing changed. He came and went. Each time, he was gone longer than before. On the other end of the line, her sobs and pleading made Sean’s gentle reassurances grow more and more strained. Finally, on the very day he was supposed to announce their breakup, he took a call and disappeared. Not long after, Charlotte's phone lit up with a friend request. When she accepted, a flood of photos came through with every corner of her apartment. The couch downstairs, the kitchen, the staircase, and then her bedroom. While Charlotte was lying in a hospital bed, heartbroken and bleeding, Kylie had already moved into what used to be her home. Before Charlotte could even finish scrolling, audio messages started coming in. Moans, gasps, the thud of furniture hitting the floor, the rip of fabric, Kylie's breathy cries mixing with Sean's low groans. "Sean, today's the day you were supposed to break up with her." What followed was the sound of a harder, more deliberate rhythm. Charlotte closed her phone with a calmness that chilled even herself. She had planned to stay until she finished her recovery so as to not trouble Tristan with another delay. However, clearly, Kylie wasn't going to wait. Charlotte got out of bed, changed her clothes, and sat down to write. "Sean, let's end this. Thank you for everything these past years. I wish you all the best with Dr. Lundberg." One last goodbye, and she meant it.