The Shape of a Missing Heart

I could not help but let out a bitter laugh as I locked eyes with Alan.

"The kitchen was under the watchful eye of a camera. Just take a look for yourself..."

"There's no need for that," Alan interrupted me sharply, standing his ground.

"Jessica would never lie."

His words stabbed me, each heartbeat amplifying the pain in my chest.

Clearly, Alan was no longer concerned about me.

However, in the next moment, he unexpectedly set a first aid kit before me.

"Patch yourself up. Once the cake's done, just leave. Hospital or wherever, your choice."

With that, he turned away, taking Jessica to the living room to gently tend to her wounds.

I fought through the pain in my hand, finishing the cake, which was probably the last thing I would ever do for Alan.

That was what I told myself.

I cleaned up the kitchen, set the cake just right, and walked out the door.

He did not look at me, not even once, before I shut the door behind me.

The night air was cool, but I felt an unexpected lightness.

On my way to the hospital, a figure ran toward me. It was Elliot.

Out of breath, he seized my wrist, examining my injury, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Ruby, you're hurt so badly. Did he do this to you?

"He had you in this life, why didn't he treasure you? Just wait, I'll end him!"

I shook off his hand, icy as the night. "Stay out of it."

However, he just stood there, tears falling from his bloodshot eyes, his look sincere. I was frozen.

The man who had wounded me deeply in a previous life was suddenly shedding tears for me.

The one who had loved me deeply back then had become the cause of all my pain.

Elliot, hands shaking, pulled out a share transfer agreement and laid it before me.

"In my previous life, I wronged you in countless ways. This gift... It's for your birthday, but it's also my way of saying I'm sorry.

"I owe you more than I can ever repay... Can you ever forgive me?"

I tried to keep my distance from Elliot ever since my rebirth, but he clung to me relentlessly.

He showered me with gifts, from trinkets to lavish homes and cars, driving his family's empire into ruin.

With a heavy heart, I told him, "I can't forgive you. I won't take these things. Your parents worked hard to build what they had. Don't let it crumble because of you."

Elliot's tears flowed freely as he clutched my hand, his voice breaking, "Without you, all this means nothing to me..."

His plea was lost in the wail of an ambulance siren.

A stretcher was hurriedly wheeled from the ambulance towards the hospital doors.

"Move aside! Move aside!"

"Ruby! What did I ever do to you? Why would you poison me?"

It was not until I heard her voice that I realized Jessica was the one on the stretcher.

In the next instant, I felt a slap across my face. As I turned around, I saw Alan, his eyes blazing, standing beside me.

He ripped Elliot's hand from mine and shouted, "Ruby, you've gone too far this time!"

Before I could reply, Alan was already dragging Elliot away, following Jessica into the hospital.

I touched my tingling cheek and managed a wry smile. Then, I turned and walked away, leaving Alan with that final image of me.

'Maybe leaving him with this impression in the end wasn't so bad,' I thought.

I booked a flight to Euroland for the next day on my phone.

I planned to spend the night in a hotel and, after picking up the divorce papers in the morning, head straight to the airport.

However, as I walked, my phone rang. It was Alan.

My hand shook, and before I knew it, I had picked up the call.

His voice was frantic. "Ruby! Jessica's heart condition flared up because of what you did! Get to the hospital now for a compatibility test!"