Love, No More

The voice outside the door suddenly paused, and then the man pushed it open.

I quickly held my breath and closed my eyes as I heard his footsteps grow closer and then move away again.

When the door closed, Jared’s voice was much softer.

“I installed so many cameras at home to keep an eye on her, so I’d know if she suddenly recovered! I didn’t want her to do anything to Regina’s kid!

“And now you’re telling me she’s going to recover soon?

“I don’t care what you do—Vanessa better stay blind.” His voice was sharp as he grabbed the doctor’s collar.

With every word he said, I felt my body grow colder.

I had always thought my blindness was the result of bad luck.

Jared had searched far and wide for a cure, even booking flights to visit miracle doctors.

Every time, I blamed myself for burdening him and dutifully finished every bowl of medicine he gave me, even if it changed nothing.

Over time, the medicine began to taste worse, and I started pretending to drink it. Instead, I poured it down the toilet.

To my surprise, my vision began to return.

The sound of their quarreling faded, and a series of rushed footsteps echoed outside the door.

“The director wants us to check up on Mrs. Hampton.”

“Come on, I heard Mr. Hampton is there too.”

…

My eyes shot open, and I quickly changed out of the hospital robe.

To conceal myself, I grabbed a mask from the nurse’s station.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared before me.

Jared.

Regina trailed behind him.

He was looking around anxiously, grabbing anyone in a hospital robe. When he realized they weren’t me, he let them go angrily.

Beside him, Regina said something that deepened his frown. His anger rising, he shoved her to the ground.

Jared turned around, and our eyes met. My heart stuttered at the fierceness in his gaze.

Thankfully, he quickly turned away.

Keeping my head low, I slipped into a car and urged the driver to leave immediately.

I exhaled in relief only after we left the hospital grounds.

The familiar streets outside the window were filled with memories of a time when Jared still loved me.

Calmly, I asked the driver to take me to the airport.

Just then, my phone rang, and Jared’s name flashed on the screen.

I took out the new phone I had prepared, inserted my SIM card, and discarded the old one out the window.

The cars behind us crushed it.

I knew Jared had put a location tracker on my old phone. He’d always been able to find me easily—but not anymore.

I booked the earliest flight, even if it had a layover. I didn’t want to stay in this city for even one more second.

Finally breathing the air of a different place, I felt alive again.

Jared acted faster than I had anticipated. My phone was bombarded with messages as soon as I got off the plane.

All of them were from the same familiar number.

Before I could read through them, my phone rang.

“Have you gone mad, Vanessa?!

“Enough with your tantrum! How could you break your phone too?

“Where are you? I’m coming to get you right now.”

He didn’t curse or insult me, but I could hear the fury in his tone.

He continued reprimanding me for a while, but when I didn’t respond even once, his tone softened.

“Vanessa… I’m sorry.

“I should’ve taken better care of you. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you.

“Tell me where you are, hmm? I’ll come and get you right away. You’ve been asking for sweet and sour pork, right? I’ve already asked Regina to make it…”

At the mention of her name, I finally spoke, cutting him off.

“You won’t find me, Jared.”