Our Love Was Broken in An Instant

On the day I was discharged, Owen came early. I was staying at a hospital owned by the Morris Group, so I couldn't run away.

Today he was attentive, insisting on helping me and taking me back.

The passing nurses looked on enviously, saying that he really spoiled me.

If it were before, I would have been moved to tears by Owen's actions. Now, I was numb, even though he was still as handsome as ever.

Just as we reached the parking lot and I opened the car door to get in, I suddenly saw Alice sitting in the passenger seat.

My hand froze.

"Sitting in the back is the same," Owen said as he opened the door for me. I went in without a fuss.

Alice was happily eating ice cream in the passenger seat. "Zoey, Owen picked me up earlier and I happened to sit here. I'm too lazy to move. You don't mind, right?"

"It's fine, just a seat," I replied, but my eyes were fixed on Alice's ice cream.

Owen had severe mysophobia. He never let me eat in his car, fearing the smell and the mess.

But Alice could easily break his rules.

"Why are you still like a child, eating messily everywhere?" Owen took a tissue and wiped the ice cream off Alice's mouth.

Alice stuck out her tongue. "It was an accident."

My eyes hurt a little. I decided to bear it; I'd be home soon.

But Owen took us to a hotel. He said Alice wanted to treat me to a meal and felt bad about before.

Alice bustled around, holding onto me as if afraid I'd run off. As soon as I sat down, a white figure suddenly lunged at me.

I couldn't dodge in time and instinctively used my crutch in self-defense.

"Ruby!" Alice cried as she saw her dog get hit by me. "Zoey, why are you so harsh? Ruby likes you."

"Like me?"

There was a scratch on my arm. The dog's stance earlier wasn't one of wanting a hug.

Owen came over to support me, saying my reaction was too extreme.

"I know you don't like pets, but don't be so harsh."

I looked at the scratch on my arm. "Great, now I'd have to spend money on a vaccine."

Alice quickly tried to smooth things over. "It's okay; Ruby isn't hurt. Come on, Zoey, what do you like to eat? If you don't say, I'll order."

"..."

"Let's go with these, they're Owen's favorites."

I looked at the menu, it was all spicy food. Not only was I a recent patient, but Owen's taste wasn't like this either.

"You can eat spicy food?" I wondered. Before, when I wanted to eat spicy food, he refused, saying he never ate spicy.

Alice laughed. "Owen is from Gonzales. And the Morris family brought him back. Didn't you know that?"

Alice looked at me innocently. I looked at the table full of spicy dishes and lost my appetite.

"You guys eat." I got up to leave. Even limping, I didn't want to stay in this place any longer.

Owen knew I was angry and followed me, explaining that his status was different now. He couldn't eat fast food now and said it to prevent me from overthinking.

Owen said he didn't mean to deceive me and that these were small things I didn't need to get so angry about.

"Zoey, have you had enough? Over such a small matter, do you have to be so dramatic?"

Owen's love and indifference were distinct.

I didn't eat. I ran back to the hospital alone to get a rabies shot. I valued my life.

I returned home at midnight, but Owen hadn't come back. I tidied up a bit and went to sleep.

Half-asleep, I felt someone approach my bed. He gently kissed my forehead, sighed, and left.

The next day, I woke up to a fragrant smell. When I got up, I saw Owen had made a full breakfast spread.

“Are you hungry? I didn't know what you wanted to eat today, so I made a bit of everything,” said Owen.

I sat down. There was no reason to refuse a free breakfast. Seeing me eat silently, Owen said.

“Come back to the residence with me this weekend. Have dinner with my parents.”

I was startled by his words. Our relationship was secret. I had never mentioned it to the others. I knew I couldn't match their status.

But today, Owen unusually wanted to take me back.

“No, it's not necessary.”

We were about to break up. Why go to the Morris residence? I could never return to that disgusting place!