After a while, Zoe wiped her tear-stained face clean with a tissue.
Her swollen eyes locked onto Claire's. "Let him tell me this himself."
Claire was displeased. "I'm his mother, I can decide for him. There's no love left between you, isn't that so? Why cling onto him?"
"This is between us. We'll settle it ourselves. Let him tell me himself," Zoe insisted, teeth clenched.
"Forget it." Claire waved dismissively, tossing the tissue in the trash and gathering her bag to leave. "I'll talk to Evan."
Without a farewell, she opened the door and left.
Zoe retreated to her room.
Changing into fresh clothes, she sat on the bed and inadvertently caught sight of their wedding photo on the wall. She looked so blissfully happy then, and Evan's adoration had been palpable in his eyes.
But who could have foreseen his change of heart?
She averted her gaze with difficulty.
Leaving the room, she headed out for her medical appointment. At the hospital, the doctor scolded her for eating after midnight before the examination, which she had forgotten amidst her fasting the previous day.
She had to return home empty-handed.
Bored at home, she tidied up again, packing most of her clothes into a suitcase in the corner, leaving behind only her pajamas and two frequently worn outfits.
The wardrobe corner suddenly seemed empty.
Finding little else to take, she realized she had arrived with nothing much and couldn't carry much away either. Preparing in advance would simplify her departure.
She expected him to bring up the matter upon his return.
She also had pictures she liked to frame and display around the house, for the sake of sentimentality.
Reluctantly, she caressed the frames' edges, studying their former selves. But it was meaningless now. She gathered them all, stuffed them into bags, and hid them under the bedside cabinet.
She awaited Evan's word.
Zoe rescheduled her exam and was diagnosed with atrophic gastritis, requiring consecutive days of intravenous drips at the hospital.
Traveling alone by taxi, she found the experience lonely and dull.
To her surprise, Evan didn't return as she anticipated, following Claire's urging to expedite their separation.
She saw him again at the hospital.
Just after finishing her drip, Zoe spotted the man she hadn't seen in days in the hospital lobby.
He saw her too.
Her heart leaped, and she glanced at the woman clinging to his side.
The woman wore delicate makeup, a white dress, and a jacket. Her expression was a mix of triumph and pity.
Zoe felt a chill seep through her bones, making her shiver slightly.
Zoe halted, gazing sadly at Evan, who averted his gaze, slightly ashamed.
On one side stood the pale, makeup-free wife; on the other, the glamorous mistress.
Of course, any man would choose the latter.
Silently, she withdrew her gaze, brushing past them without a word, her back straight as she exited the hospital.
Evan was uncomfortable seeing her this way but said nothing.
Jocelyn couldn't deny her satisfaction.
She was also somewhat shocked. She had seen Zoe once, a year ago, and even then, her natural beauty had stirred envy. What about now?
Tsk, tsk, no wonder.
If she were a man, she'd cheat too.
Jocelyn gloated, patting her belly and beaming at the unexpressive man beside her, leaning closer.
Together, they proceeded deeper into the hospital.
