Before I Leave

"Uncle Ethan..."

Rachel's eyes turned red as she threw herself into Ethan's arms.

In contrast, Stella stood frozen outside the ward. Her face turned pale.

She suddenly remembered Ethan had told her he had vitamins specially made for her in her previous life.

She was touched that Ethan truly cared for her, and she took those pills every day without fail.

They had been married for years but never had children.

They went for a checkup, and the problem was found with her hormones.

To get pregnant, she began taking ovulation shots. Her stomach was bruised all over. Her body grew bloated from the hormones.

Still, she never conceived.

Her doctor had gently asked if there might be something in her diet or supplements interfering with the treatment.

Stella had considered many possibilities, but never once did she question the vitamins Ethan gave her.

That was, of course, until this moment.

She stumbled back a step, heart crumbling.

'How could you be so cruel, Ethan?' She thought to herself.

Meanwhile, one of Ethan's bodyguards walked by and saw her standing there, surprised. "Ms. Walker?" he asked.

Stella shoved the pendant into his hands.

"Give this to Ethan."

Without another word, she turned and walked away.

It was Stella's birthday.

Since she would be leaving soon, she decided—for once—to throw a grand party for her friends, despite usually hating crowds.

She did not expect Ethan to show up—with Rachel.

"Your gift."

Ethan tossed a box to her casually.

It was a diamond ring.

Just like last time.

How laughable.

A ring most people used to propose—he gave it to her as a birthday present.

He made it clear that this marriage was a charity.

She had been clueless in her previous life. She had cried back then, thinking it meant something.

This time, she handed it back without hesitation. "Did you not receive what I had the bodyguard return to you?"

If he had seen the heirloom pendant, he should have understood that she had no intention of marrying him.

Ethan frowned.

"I didn't. I told you before—I don't need anything. You don't need to give me anything."

Stella paused in surprise.

He had assumed it was a gift and did not even bother opening it.

She remembered in her past life, after Ethan died, when she sorted through his belongings. In the dusty basement storage room, she had found dozens of unopened boxes.

Those were all the gifts she had given him:

The necklace she spent a week carving for his 25th birthday; the blessed cross she got for Ethan when he fell ill at 33; and the handmade essential oil she blended herself after learning about his migraines at 40…

So many heartfelt, painstaking gifts—left to rot, untouched.

Meanwhile, Rachel's paper stars, cheap ties, even a handwritten note—were kept in a safe.

Stella smiled bitterly. She said nothing more and turned to greet her guests.

Halfway through the party, Rachel suddenly slumped into Ethan's arms. "Uncle Ethan, my head feels so dizzy..."

Ethan's face changed instantly. "Did you catch something? Eaten something bad? I'll take you to the hospital."

He picked her up without asking and left the venue.

Stella frowned.

She was the host. If anything happened to Rachel, she would be held responsible.

Not wanting trouble, she followed.

However, when she reached Ethan's car, she froze.

From inside, she heard Rachel's breathy voice.

"Uncle Ethan... I feel so hot... down there... it's so uncomfortable..."