Stepping into Hardship in Lavish Attire

I don't know how long it took, but the sound of Jonathan and Grandpa’s arguing woke me up.

Opening my eyes, I found myself in a hospital bed once more.

Seeing me awake, Jonathan seemed relieved.

He looked at his grandpa with a face full of unhappiness.

“This is the wife you chose for me? She can’t even sit through her confinement period properly before running off to a date.”

The old man trembled with rage. “A date? Do you even know what Zara went for yesterday—”

I cut in before he could continue. “Grandpa.”

I cut off Grandpa before he could say another word.

"It's all in the past."

He understood what I meant and didn't say anything more, though his expression was full of disappointment as he looked at Jonathan.

Jonathan, however, remained indifferent. He shrugged. "She is awake now, so there's nothing left for me to do here. Lily is still waiting for me. I'm leaving."

Grandpa’s cane swung down hard. "You bastard!"

"I don’t care where you go today, but tomorrow, you and Zara must come to the old mansion—"

Before the words were finished, Jonathan's figure had already disappeared in the doorway.

Grandpa let out a heavy sigh, his back became more and more hunched. He handed me a divorce agreement that was already signed.

"Zara, failing to raise him properly is my fault," he said, his voice laced with regret. "But that child is also your own flesh and blood. I hope you can send him off properly."

I looked at the old man with his full head of white hair and couldn’t bring myself to refuse in the end.

***

The next morning, dressed in black, I arrived at the Richards Family’s old mansion.

This child was one I had risked my life to bring into the world. It's a pity that I didn't even have time to hold him for a while and then I was already separated forever.

I wiped away the tear slipping down my cheek. Perhaps this was for the best. If I had something to hold onto, it would make leaving all the more difficult.

I had tried my all best in this marriage. Leaving now, I felt only exhaustion—no regrets.

Even as my child was laid to the ground, Jonathan never showed up.

Instead, I saw his name trending online—photos of him and Lily trying on wedding attire.

Moments later, a smug message arrived from Lily herself.

Lily Patricia: [So what if you had his child? In the end, Jonathan Richards still chose me.]

Lily Patricia: [Oh, and by the way, did you think that Richards was the one taking care of you while you were unconscious? Not at all. He was with me the whole time. In fact, we were in the next hospital bed next to yours, trying out some new positions.]

The video she sent painted a stark contrast of my deathly pale face against her rosy, satisfied glow.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I quietly forwarded all the messages and videos to Grandpa.

Then, I took off my wedding ring and, holding my mother's ashes, whispered, "Mom, let's go home."

Night had fallen by the time Jonathan returned to the Richards Family's old mansion with a body full of alcohol.

The moment he pushed open the door, he was met with a room full of funeral wreaths. He jolted in shock.

"Who died? Could it be Zara's mom?" His face went pale as panic set in. "Why didn't anyone tell me sooner? Where's Zara? She must be heartbroken. I should go to her."

Jonathan’s grandpa had finally had enough. He flung the divorce agreement at Jonathan's face.

"Zara already left, taking her mother’s ashes with her."

"Today is your son's seventh-day memorial!"