After My Groom Adopted Her Child, I Vanished

Kolton Long didn’t return until nearly dawn. I could hear his attempts to tiptoe quietly from the other room, but I pretended not to notice.

The next morning, I thought Kolton had already left for work. Just as I was about to head out to buy a bus ticket, I heard him coughing in his room. My hand, poised with the spoon, hesitated briefly, but I acted as though I hadn’t heard a thing.

After breakfast, I aimed to secure that bus ticket. Tickets were scarce this time of year, and the lines could stretch forever. Still, getting this ticket would bring me peace of mind.

As I was ready to leave, a knock on the door surprised me. Opening it, I found Bailee Diaz standing there, looking much younger than I remembered. Her complexion was pale, her hair thin, and her skin had a sickly yellow tint, likely due to malnutrition. She was so frail she seemed she could be carried away by the slightest breeze.

In the past, I'd only seen her as a much older version of herself. I remember lying in a hospital bed while she sat across from me, sharply contrasting with her perfectly styled dark hair and designer outfits. The spoiled Bailee, wrapped in luxury, sat elegantly next to the bed of a weary, gray-haired woman exhausted by years of hard work—me.

Bailee couldn’t meet my eyes. She quickly glanced at me before looking down, nervously muttering, “I'm here to see Kolton.”

Her behavior could lead anyone to suspect there was something questionable between her and Kolton. But I didn't have the patience to entertain her pretense any longer.

I left the door open and walked past her, heading down the stairs.