Last Night’s Star Fell Without a Trace

Virginia had secured one of the precious few return permits specifically to bring her daughter, Sophie, back to the city for leukemia treatment.

But when the list was posted, Virginia’s name was nowhere to be found.

She went straight to the head of the Resettlement Bureau—her own husband, Roger—only to discover he had maliciously given her spot to someone else.

All because she hadn’t bled on their wedding night.

That memory had festered in Roger’s heart like a splinter, poisoning everything.

Driven by that doubt, he’d convinced himself their daughter wasn’t his.

Later, their daughter died, and Virginia left him.

That time, it was Roger who lost his mind.

Today was the day the new list of returning youth volunteers was posted.

Virginia gave Sophie’s thin little hand a gentle squeeze. “Be good, sweetheart. Mama will be able to take you back to the city for treatment soon!”

Too young to understand, the little girl simply mirrored her mother’s excitement with a sweet, trusting smile.

After checking in with the nurse, Virginia hurried to the government office.

A crowd had already gathered in front of the bulletin board. The name listed for the return slot was Donna.

Virginia stood rooted to the spot.

Just a week ago, she’d confirmed with Roger that the spot would be hers!

Why had it changed?

Donna was her neighbor—the kind who’d competed with her over everything since they were kids.

Now she was stealing her chance to go back, too?

At the Resettlement Bureau, Roger was listening to a report when Virginia burst in, the rims of her eyes red.

“Roger, that list—”

All eyes turned to her, forcing her to swallow the rest.

“You all go ahead. I’ll call for you later.”

Once the room cleared, Roger frowned. “Making a scene like this. Have you no shame?”

Virginia couldn’t afford to care about appearances. “Why is Donna’s name on the list? We agreed it would be me!”

Roger’s hand, which had been sorting papers, stilled. “It was the committee’s decision.”

But Virginia knew that was a flimsy excuse. He was the bureau director. No decision like this could be finalized without his approval.

“You know I need to go back for Sophie’s treatment. Why give my spot away?”

“Donna’s a nurse. The city hospitals need trained staff. It’s about the greater good.”

“And Sophie’s illness? Are we just supposed to abandon her?”

The thought of her daughter sent a sharp pang through Virginia’s chest. Sophie was only three when she was diagnosed. Out here in the countryside, even getting an IV meant trekking over ten miles of mountain roads to the county hospital. Staying here meant certain death.

“This isn’t an illness that can be cured in a day or two. Besides, Donna going back can save more people. I can’t let personal desires override the greater good.”

“Enough. I have a meeting. You need to leave.”

In a panic, Virginia grabbed Roger’s sleeve. “You’re not going anywhere! Sophie is your daughter. How can you be so indifferent to whether she lives or dies?!”

Roger shoved her hand away—too hard—sending Virginia stumbling to the floor. Her forehead struck the corner of a desk with a sickening thud. Warm liquid trickled into the corner of her eye, painting her vision red.

But she couldn’t afford to care. Scrambling on her hands and knees, she wrapped her arms around Roger’s leg, her voice choked with sobs. “You’re her father. Why won’t you help her? Sophie will really die! She’ll die!”

Frantic tears streaked down her pale cheeks, but they stirred no pity in her husband.

Cornered and irritated, Roger kept his tone deceptively calm. “Stop crying. There will be other chances.”

“I can wait, but Sophie’s illness can’t!”

The thought of her daughter’s condition stripped Virginia of all reason. “If I can’t take Sophie back, you’re not leaving this room today!”

“You—you’re being completely unreasonable!”

Roger hadn’t expected Virginia to be so strong. For a moment, he couldn’t break free.

Seeing he was about to be late, he blurted out in frustration, “Why are you pushing me like this? Why don’t you go pressure the child’s real father?!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Fine, since it’s come to this, I’ll be blunt. Is Sophie really my daughter?”

Virginia’s mouth fell open as she stared at him in disbelief. His handsome features now seemed utterly alien.

“You… what nonsense are you spouting? Whose daughter could she be if not yours?”

A mocking smile touched Roger’s lips, and his next words left her speechless.

“That’s debatable.”

“You said it was your first time on our wedding night, but there was no blood. You weren’t a virgin.”

“You said you were pregnant just two months after we married. Who knows whose seed it really was.”

“You were just looking for a reliable man to raise another man’s child.”