Love Faded in the Wind

Though Stacy rode very slowly, she was spacing out and never noticed Rachel directing her horse toward hers, their horses crashing into each other before she realized what had happened.

Though caught by surprise, she released the lead rope and leapt off, dropping into a nasty roll as she landed.

As she looked up, she found Rachel falling off her horse too, and straight into Martin's arms.

As soon as Martin let her down, she grabbed his arm and gasped feebly, "The baby…"

Stacy watched him pause before picking Rachel up again, and turned toward her as if it troubled him, "She's pregnant. I'll take her to the hospital for now, alright?"

The sight of him holding Rachel so tightly left Stacy feeling a pang of bitterness, but she smiled bitterly as she murmured, "Yeah."

And with her permission, Martin dashed off, while Stacy watched as he ran so anxiously, her bitterness almost showing.

A trainer came up to her just then, helping her to her feet, "Are you injured, ma'am?"

She had jumped off just in time so wasn't hurt that badly.

And such bumps and bruises would never measure up to her heartache.

"Thanks, but I'm fine," she told the trainer, shaking her head and bearing the pain as she left the stables.

She felt deja vu as the car that was supposed to take her home was gone, but it didn't hurt like the last time.

After all, she had expected that.

After getting an Uber, she went home alone, falling asleep early from the days of exhaustion.

She didn't wait up for Martin, as she didn't care if he ever returned.

However, she woke up the next morning to see him sitting on the bed, watching her.

He was smiling at first, but when he saw her gaze turning gloomy as if she didn't even see him, he started to feel a curious panic.

He scrambled to pick up the box he had put by the bedside drawer before he knew it, pulling out a bracelet and putting it around her waist.

Then, he gently kissed the back of her hand as if it were really precious to him. "Sorry I didn't take you to the hospital right away. Rachel's my friend, and she's pregnant—I have to take care of her, don't you agree?"

Friend?

Stacy lowered her head, hiding her sardonic smile.

Then, she glanced at the bracelet—she recognized it, as she remarked that it was beautiful offhandedly.

Remembering what she had overheard, she murmured, "It's not worth it…"

It left Martin flustered, and he quickly asked, "What are you saying? What's not worth it? You're really worth it, darling—you're not just worth this too, you're worth everything good in the world."

Stacy laughed faintly as she looked up at him, "So, there's this soap opera I just watched yesterday. The female lead was in a relationship with the male lead, but she got engaged behind his back. Everyone's arguing about whether the male lead should forgive her… What do you think?"

Martin was busy fondling her hand, and replied nonchalantly, "No way. She shouldn't be forgiven."

"I think so too," Stacy replied, gently pulling her hand out of his grasp, and spoke before he could hold it again, "I'm hungry."

"I'll cook," Martin quickly said. "Just wash up. I'll get you later."

As he excitedly headed downstairs to do so, Stacy watched him act like nothing ever happened and took off the bracelet.

She wasn't worth that expensive thing, just like how she wasn't worthy enough for him to sacrifice his family's ambitions.

-

It was going to be Stacy's birthday in two days. Martin usually accompanied her on her birthday. This time, he suddenly said that he was busy that day, so he celebrated her birthday a day in advance.

This time, Stacy didn't ask why he was busy.

If she could, she wouldn't even celebrate her own birthday.

But when she said that, Martin shook his head and said sternly, "No chance. I said I'll celebrate every birthday with you."

Stacy snorted as she thought to herself that this was going to be the last—that he wouldn't be around for her birthdays from now on.

Putting the candles on her birthday cake, Martin sang her a birthday song as he always did.

As she closed her eyes, she wished quietly that she would really have a new life after leaving Martin, and blew out the candles.

Martin smiled at her, asking what she wished for.

'Leaving you.'

Stacy thought as she simply kept her eyes on the cake as she cut it.