In Memory of A Love That Never Was

Perhaps I wasn't skilled enough, but my memories became more and more chaotic. I even recalled a memory of being in an orphanage.

Just as I was feeling overwhelmed, Quinton returned.

During dinner, he suddenly suggested, "Honey, let me take you back to our country."

I was surprised and said, "Didn't you say that everything back home would remind me of painful memories and that going back wouldn't be good for my recovery?"

"You're much better now, aren't you? I want to change your environment—it might help with your condition. Besides, don't you miss your family and friends back home?"

As he spoke, he placed a piece of fish on my plate.

I pushed the fish aside. "Do I still have family or friends?"

"I've already bought the tickets. We're leaving tomorrow morning." Quinton had already decided for me.

The next morning, he forced me out the door.

After returning back to the country, he took me to the Scott residence. But those in the Scotts didn't welcome me.

"Wow, Quinton, you actually pushed your pregnant cripple back here. You went out of your way for a disabled person. Seriously!" Quinley Scott, Quinton's sister, clicked her tongue in disdain.

She glanced at my belly and rolled her eyes.

"Quinley, this is your sister-in-law!"

"I'll call her that if you actually treat her like your wife!" Quinley rolled her eyes again. "Or is she the main wife, and that other one is the second wife?"

Quinton slapped her after he heard this.

Quinley furiously retorted, "Why are you hitting me? I'm just speaking the truth!"

As I watched this ridiculous drama unfold before me, I clenched the armrest of my wheelchair tighter and tighter.

"Enough!" Quinton glared at Quinley.

"I'm going to see Grandpa. Take Jenny inside for me," he instructed.

Quinley didn't dare talk back, but she was clearly unwilling as she pushed me forward.

"You cripple, do you really like my brother?" she abruptly asked.

After walking a distance, the wheelchair suddenly stopped.

Wait, weren't the Scotts supposed to only have the two of them—Quinton and his grandfather?

While supporting myself on the armrest, I struggled to turn around and looked at Quinley in confusion.

She let out a deep sigh. "We're all just pitiful puppets being controlled."

She suddenly frowned and knocked a few times on the armrest of the wheelchair, then sneered.

Then, she switched back to her usual indifferent demeanor and said, "Quinton really puts a lot of effort into you. This wheelchair and prosthetic leg must've cost him quite a bit."

"What do you mean?" I couldn't help but ask as I saw the hesitation in her expression.

However, she only smirked before turning to leave.

I stared at the spot where she had knocked before. I discovered a barely noticeable dent in the wheelchair's armrest. After opening it, I found a GPS tracker embedded inside. There was a similar mark at the lower end of my prosthetic leg.

…

The next morning, under his grandfather's orders, Quinton drove me to visit his parents' graves.

But after receiving a message, he suddenly pulled over and abandoned me by the roadside.

The wind in the suburbs was much harsher than in the city, chilling me to my core.

…

Quinton never came home even until late that night.

I took a deep breath and turned on the surveillance device I had secretly placed in Quinton's car. On the screen, a man and a woman were pressed together intimately, and their breaths were ragged and interwoven.

After a long while, their breathing gradually steadied.

Winnie gently rested her head on Quinton's shoulder. "Quint, it's almost time. The Whites have been keeping a close watch lately. Can this really work?"

"Don't worry. I'm here. I'll arrange for Jennifer to have a C-section as soon as possible," he replied.

Quinton's eyes were filled with warmth as he gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Winnie's ear.

With a self-reproachful tone, Winnie said, "It's all my fault for being in poor health and causing you so much trouble!"

"Don't say that. If it weren't for me back then, you wouldn't be in this situation. Besides, this is mainly Lester's problem."

Then, Quinton kissed Winnie's slightly parted lips once more.

I was overwhelmed with grief and rage.