Chapter 4 : I Can Make It

The clock on the wall struck twelve, declaring the coming midnight.

With a broad smile, she gazed at him. "I promise I'll sign the divorce settlement tomorrow."

Cristofer did not move and just frowned at her as if measuring the credibility of her words.

Meanwhile, Estelle stood up and walked up to him. Resting herself against his chest gently, she landed a kiss on his lips.

"Cristofer, just pretend that you still love me. I beg you. Just this once, will you?"

****

The next morning, Estelle was awakened by the glare of the sun.

Aches and pains racked her body, but she felt empty as if her soul had left her body.

Despite the fact that they had had sex last night, Cristofer had never kissed her on the lips. It was, for him, just a task that could be done without a trace of emotion.

Making love was supposed to be the most intimate thing that could happen between lovers. Still, Estelle felt extremely sad after making love with Cristofer.

There was no warmth left on the quilt next to her, and his figure was nowhere to be seen in the villa. Cristofer left hours ago.

Estelle struggled to her feet and cleaned up the mess on the bed.

Cristofer had been in such a hurry that he left his tie on the floor.

She picked up the tie, folded it carefully, and put it into the bag she always carried with her. There was also a photo of her child in her bag.

"Yohan, hang in there." She stroked the little face in the photo and sniffled. "I'm trying my best to save you, my child. Just give Mommy some more time, okay?"

Tears streamed down her face and dripped onto the photo.

Estelle wiped away the tears from the photo with tenderness in her eyes.

"The world hates me so much that it wants to take everything, including you, from me. But it doesn't matter because I have you and will protect you. You're my beloved. As long as you live a good life, I can bear all the suffering."

On the nightstand was a pile of papers.

It must be Cristofer who had left them there.

Estelle placed the photo back into her bag as gently as she could before reading the papers.

It was the divorce settlement, which didn't surprise her at all.

She leafed through it and found no special terms. It was almost the same as the one that Cristofer had brought over earlier.

The only difference that caught her attention was written at the end: Estelle Hudson promises to leave Hadale City forever and never return.

It seems that you really don't want to see me anymore.

Don't worry. You won't see me again because I'll leave Hadale and even this world forever.

With a faint smile, she signed her name at the bottom.

****

As usual, Estelle came to the hospital for a check-up the day after the injection.

Noticing the bruises on her neck, the doctor frowned. "Mrs. Hans, do you need me to call the police?"

Estelle shook her head and covered the marks with her collar. "No, thanks. When will I know whether I'm pregnant or not?"

"Seven days later, at least," the doctor said, "Mrs. Hans, if you're still not pregnant in seven days, please receive chemotherapy before it's too late."

Estelle frowned and exhaled deeply. "How long can I live if I don't receive chemotherapy?"

"Six months at most. But with timely chemotherapy, it can be extended to 3 to 5 years."

"I don't want to receive chemotherapy. I have to give birth to another child. Doctor, could you buy me nine months? I don't mind what method is used or how much it costs."

"Well, I have to warn you that it'll be very painful in the late stages of cancer. Many patients give up the will to live because they're unable to bear the pain. If you want to live longer, you have to fight against your fate yourself."

Estelle sighed with relief. "I see."

"The pain is so intense and piercing that patients normally cannot bear it."

"I can make it," Estelle replied as she nodded. To ease herself, she repeated, "I can make it."

The doctor revealed a sorrowful look. "Mrs. Hans, you're the toughest patient I've ever met."

Estelle wore a big smile. "I'm still not tough enough. If I were tough enough, I wouldn't have ended up in a mess."

Estelle was dazzled by the sunlight as she walked out of the hospital.

She squinted at the sun, which was pretty radiant and warm. Then, her phone rang. It was a call from Cristofer.

He calls me!

Estelle could not stop her hands from trembling and almost dropped the phone.

"Cristofer?"

"Have you signed the paper?" Cristofer cut to the chase, not even bothering to greet her."

Hearing that, she was speechless.

"Estelle, you'd better not play tricks."

"I'm not playing tricks. I've signed it. I'll do what I promised you."

Cristofer immediately said, "Then I'll have Mr. Jones get it."

"Sorry, Cristofer. I can't hand the divorce settlement to you right now."

Irritated, Cristofer growled in an icy, biting tone, "Estelle Hudson! What the hell do you want from me?!"

"I..."

"I have had enough that you tricked me into sleeping with you in this despicable way. If you need a man so badly, I can pay to get you one. You shouldn't have disgusted me like this!"

Why does his voice sound so familiar yet so strange at the same time?

Never had Cristofer spoken to Estelle so cruelly before she was 20 years old. A gentle and affectionate man like him, in days gone by, was even afraid to hurt her when holding her hands.

He asked her many times whether it hurt or not the first time they had sex, and he would panic upon seeing the slightest frown on her face.

But now, his words were like a cold knife thrusting at her heart bit by bit.

With a bitter laugh, Estelle said softly, "Cristofer, did you see the stars last night?"