The Vast Milky Way, the Endless Night

Before the other side could react, Mary hung up.

Kevin had only caught the part about her giving up the Northgate Project; the rest had been static. He ordered Mary released, then raced desperately toward Shirley. As the car’s engine roared and sped away, the last shred of reluctance in Mary’s heart crumbled to dust.

She didn’t return to the family home that day. Instead, she wandered the streets for hours before finally trudging back to her father’s house.

Seeing his daughter’s haggard appearance, Albert’s heart ached. He pulled her into a tight hug.

“Mary, whatever it is, tell your father. I’ll make it right. Did that Kevin boy bully you again?”

Mary forced a light laugh, nuzzling against his shoulder like she used to as a girl. “For the last time, Dad. I’m divorcing him. We’ll get the papers in a month.”

Albert stiffened. After a long moment, he pinched her cheek gently. “Should’ve done it sooner. Good riddance to bad rubbish. You deserve better.”

After a few more comforting words, he made her a cup of warm milk and sent her off to bed early.

That night, sleep never came.

It was the sound of muffled sobs from downstairs that finally pulled her from her thoughts.

Mary dressed and went down. A woman dripping with jewels was kneeling dramatically on the doorstep of the family villa.

Seeing Mary, the woman immediately prostrated herself, her voice a pitiful whine. “Mary, please… please come home. Don’t be stubborn with Kevin like this. There’s really nothing between me and him, I swear…”

Mary’s gaze swept over her, icy, then abruptly fixed on the ring necklace hanging from her throat. It was the first birthday gift Mary had ever given Kevin. He’d never worn it. Not once. And now it was here, on another woman.

She strode forward, yanked the necklace free with a sharp tug, then brushed her hands together as if she’d touched something filthy.

“What you and Kevin have or don’t have is none of my business. But this necklace? I paid for it. Five million. On you—it’s just a waste of something precious.”

“Mary!”

Shirley’s hands clenched, nails digging deep into her palms, her face contorting with fury. She let out a sharp, grating laugh, shoulders shaking violently as if she’d heard the world’s greatest joke. “A waste? Mary, do you really think a five-million chain could ever hold Kevin? Today he chose me over you. Tomorrow, he’ll hand me everything you’ve ever owned as a bonus! You’re just an old toy he can discard anytime. How dare you stand there and talk to me about what’s ‘worthy’?”

She took a step closer, eyes venomous, voice a low, mocking hiss. “Just wait. It won’t be long. This necklace, the title of Mrs. Kevin, everything you have… it will all be mine. A fool like you, who only knows how to throw money around, is no match for me.”

Shirley’s twisted expression and relentless advance filled Mary with disgust. She couldn’t take it anymore. Summoning all her strength, she shoved Shirley away.

A sly glint flashed in Shirley’s eyes. She let herself fall dramatically to the ground with a jarring thud.

“Shirley!!!”

A frantic voice rang out from behind. Kevin rushed forward, his presence suddenly filling the entryway with a palpable, threatening energy. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m… I’m fine, Kevin. But the baby…” A fragile, heartbreaking smile. “The baby isn’t. It’s so unfair. I wanted to tell you… but I suppose some women just aren’t meant to be mothers. Your mothers. Please, don’t be angry with Mary. This is my fault. I never should have come back.”

With every word Shirley uttered, the hatred in Kevin’s eyes as he looked at Mary intensified. Trembling, he gathered Shirley into his arms. The panic in his eyes was something Mary had never seen before. His voice shook as he yelled toward the door, “Someone! Get a doctor! Get a doctor now!”

He was trembling. He was… afraid. So, Kevin had a weakness after all. So… he could feel fear, too.

After years of his indifferent gaze, seeing the raw love and fear in his eyes for someone else was a blinding, physical pain.

The metal of the necklace bit into her palm as she clenched her fist. Watching Kevin’s frantic retreat, she drew her arm back and hurled it with all her strength into the pond outside. Kevin was tainted. The necklace was tainted.

She didn’t like dirty things.