Chapter 1: An accident
The wheels of the suitcase rolled against the marble floor. Elena didn’t look back. Her fingers tightened around the handle as she moved toward the main door.
"Madam," the housekeeper’s voice came from behind.
Elena paused.
"You just returned. And you are leaving again." The housekeeper looked at the suitcase, then flicked her gaze back to Elena’s expressionless face. "Sir is returning tonight from the business trip. And you are going out?"
Elena didn’t reply. She knew he wasn’t on a trip, but he was with his white lotus. She maintained her stern face, but her mind drifted to an unsettling incident.
Flashback...
A week ago...
Elena stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself. Her thoughts caught somewhere between disbelief and joy.
The wedding dress fit her perfectly. The white silk flowed down her body, brushing the floor.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she touched the delicate lace on her shoulders. For a moment, she couldn’t look away from her reflection.
"Wow, Miss Hart! You look absolutely stunning."
Elena smiled shyly at the salesgirl’s words. "Thank you."
Her hand slowly moved to her abdomen. ’Did you see that?’ she whispered inwardly. ’The wedding is finally happening. We are lucky, aren’t we?’
Joy filled her chest. After five years of marriage, her husband was ready to hold the wedding. Pulling out her phone, she dialed his number.
He picked up quickly.
"Noah, are you on the way?" she asked. She couldn’t hide the anticipation in her voice.
"I’m sorry, Elena. Something urgent came up. I won’t be able to make it."
Elena’s smile faltered for a brief moment. The excitement in her eyes dimmed. But she resumed her smile forcefully.
"It’s okay. Work is important."
"Go home and wait for me. I have a surprise."
That was enough to light up her face.
"Really?"
"Hmm."
"I’ll wait," she said, her heart warming.
The sky had begun to darken when she stepped out of the boutique. Lighting flickered in the distance. Elena shuddered slightly as the cold breeze hit her.
"Rain is coming," she murmured. "I should get home before it starts."
She got into her car and drove away. Her heart was light. She couldn’t wait to see what surprise her husband had planned for her.
She glanced at the carrying bag resting quietly on the passenger seat, already imagining Noah’s expression when he saw her in the wedding dress.
’Will he be surprised? Will he like it?’
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice a car speeding toward her. When the horn blared, she turned her head. The bright headlight almost blinded her.
Elena’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in horror. A large car was closing in.
She turned the steering wheel, trying to avoid the collision. But it was too late.
The impact came violently. Her car spun out of control—once, twice, thrice—before flipping completely.
Her world turned upside down. Everything happened so fast that she couldn’t understand anything.
Her body hung weakly, bound by the seatbelt. Her ears buzzed. Pain exploded through her body. Her breath came in shallow, broken gasps.
Amidst the chaos, what she remembered was her child in her womb.
"My baby," she whispered.
Her vision blurred, her head spinning.
"No, I can’t die here." Fear clawed at her heart. "I have to save my baby."
Ignoring the pain in her body and the dizziness, she reached for the seatbelt with her trembling hands. It took all her strength to press the release.
Her body dropped, hitting the crushing roof of the car beneath her with a thud. The pain in her abdomen flared instantly.
"Ahh..." A cry tore open her throat.
Her hands flew to her abdomen instinctively, her entire body curling. She could feel warm liquid seeping between her legs.
"No, no..." Panic hit her.
She already knew what was happening but refused to accept it. She reached for the bag that had fallen beside her. Taking out her phone, she dialed Noah.
The call went unanswered.
"Pick up the phone." She dialed again.
This time, the call was connected.
"What is it?"
"N-Noah... I-I..."
"I’m in a meeting. I’ll call you later."
The line went dead before she could even say a word.
For a moment, she couldn’t process and kept staring at the blank screen.
He didn’t hear her. He didn’t even ask if she was okay.
"Noah." A sob tore out of her chest. "I’m in an accident. And our baby..."
The thought of losing their child almost took her breath away.
She forced herself to move, desperate. Her fingers dragged against the shattered glass as she crawled out of the wreckage.
Waves of pain crushed through her, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. Once she came out, she curled up onto the wet road.
The rain had started, cold droplets hitting her skin, mixing with the blood staining her dress.
"My baby... Please, help..." Her voice dissolved into sobs.
People rushed over. Voices clashed.
"She is bleeding."
"Call for help."
Someone cradled her. "Miss, stay with us. Don’t close your eyes."
Elena could barely keep her eyes open. Her vision dimmed slowly.
Before she passed out, she whispered, "Noah..."
When Elena opened her eyes, everything felt heavy. She blinked slowly as she looked around.
Pain throbbed in her body as she tried to move. Her head hurt. But she ignored everything.
"My baby," she mumbled, putting her hand on her abdomen.
"You are awake." A nurse came in closer. "Three days – you were sleeping for three days."
"Sister," Elena grabbed her hand. "How is my baby?" she demanded urgently. "Please tell me."
The nurse shrugged. "You are still young. You can have more children later."
Elena’s grip loosened. Her hands fell back onto the bed.
She couldn’t process her words. She didn’t want to. "What do you mean?"
The nurse held her gaze. A sympathetic look crossed her face. "You miscarried."
The world went silent. Elena stared at her unblinkingly. Tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks.
"What? The baby is... gone." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "No..."
She wanted to cry, scream, and demand to bring her child back. But she just lay motionless, staring at the nurse.
She had been married for five years. And finally, she got pregnant. Because the baby had arrived, Noah had eventually agreed to hold the wedding and let the world know she was his wife.
But she miscarried just before the wedding.
"Uh..." Elena gasped.
It was all her fault. She wasn’t careful. She couldn’t protect their child.
"I am sorry. Mommy couldn’t keep you safe."
She blamed herself for the loss. When she thought about how disappointed Noah might have been, her heart ached even more.
"Where is Noah?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"You mean your boyfriend?"
Elena nodded.
"He was here. But he got an urgent call and left. He told me to look after you."
Elena reached for her phone from the side table and dialed his number. The call went unanswered.
She dialed again and again.
No answer.
Seeing her troubled look, the nurse said, "Maybe he is outside. He will return soon."
Elena barely heard her. "I need to find him."
She got out of bed and then stumbled.
The nurse held her arms and steadied her. "What are you doing? You haven’t recovered yet. You need rest."
Elena shook her head. "No...I want to leave. I’ll go finish the discharge procedure."
"Wait." The nurse stopped her again. "You can’t leave yet."
"I’ll go talk to the doctor." Elena went out.
The nurse shook her head in defeat.
Elena winced as she walked down the corridor. She was in pain, but she pushed herself further.
"I need to find Noah."
But she stopped abruptly in her tracks when she saw her husband with another woman.
"Noah?"
His arm was wrapped around the woman’s waist as he carefully guided her forward. They looked quite close to each other.
Her mind went blank. Her fingers tightened around the wall.
She had just miscarried. And her husband was with another woman instead of being with her.
Her heart twisted painfully. From where she stood, she could only see the woman’s back. She couldn’t recognize who it was.
"What is he doing with her? Who is she?"
Just as she was wondering, she saw them entering a room.
Panic rose in her chest. She followed them. But dizziness hit her before she could take a few steps. Her knees gave up, and she collapsed.
"Noah..." She desperately stretched her hand forward as if trying to reach him. Her strength left her body, and she drifted into darkness again.