Love Fades Without a Trace

Elena Frost has been by Aaron Reed's side for a decade. He goes from being a broke freshman who almost drops out of university to the proud CEO of Reed Corporation. Everyone in Halston City knows Aaron loves Elena more than life itself. At one point, even Elena believed this. Then, in the third year of her and Aaron's marriage, she discovers his mistress. He even has a one-year-old child with her. Since Aaron doesn't appreciate the sacrifice Elena has made to be with him, she decides to take it all back. … Aaron sees Mia Wynn as a distraction and a form of entertainmen and heir child is an accident. Elena is the only person he truly treasures. But when Elena disappears without a trace and takes half of his soul with her, he realizes one thing—he's the true loser in the relationship he's betrayed. Chapter 1 "Are you sure you want to reserve our funeral services for yourself, Ms. Frost?" a staff member asked. Elena Frost nodded calmly. "Yes, I am. I can pay you double as long as you satisfy two of my requests. Firstly, I want the best cremation service you provide—ensure that my body is cremated so thoroughly that nothing remains but ashes. "Secondly, I want my ashes to be scattered in the ocean immediately after the cremation. I'll leave the exact planning to you." After filling a form and paying to ensure her death would be dealt with in two weeks, Elena left the funeral parlor. As she drove past Reed Tower, a massive electronic screen displayed a live broadcast of an interview. It featured Aaron Reed, the dignified CEO of Reed Corporation. "It's just a building—donating it isn't a big deal. Halston University is my and my wife's alma mater, and it's also where we met and fell in love. I won't hesitate to help my alma mater if necessary. "I don't have any plans to develop the land in the east of the city. I want to keep it and personally design a dream home for my wife there. "There's no special reason for venturing into the amusement business, either. My wife likes Ferris wheels, so I want to build her one that's unlike any other in the world. "Acquiring a gaming company has to do with my wife, too. I want to develop a game that my wife likes and exclusively for female players. Even in virtual reality, I don't want any men to get close to my wife." He mentioned his wife with every sentence. His deep affection for her made countless people stop to watch the interview. "Mr. Reed treats his wife so well. I can't even imagine how happy she must be, falling asleep and waking up with such a man by her side," one of them murmured. "Ha! Well, I can imagine it," another added. "Not only would I want to fall asleep and wake up in his arms, but I'd also want him to accompany me as I shopped and ate the day away. I would want him to think of me in everything he does and bring me everywhere he goes." The spectators continued talking among themselves. As the interview continued, people from all walks of life couldn't help admiring Aaron's profound love for his wife. His words painted a romantic and doting picture. Elena smiled mockingly and looked away from the screen. She'd come to this world a decade ago—she'd been on the brink of death after an accident, and the original host's wish had led her soul here. The original host, also named Elena Frost, had grown up with Aaron. Due to several misunderstandings, they'd split up, leading to Aaron turning evil. Despite later attaining success and becoming the CEO of a large company, his heart remained hollow. He'd ultimately taken his life the day before his company had become publicly listed. Despite being reborn, the original Elena had still failed to help Aaron escape his fate. On her third chance, she'd summoned Elena's soul. For the sake of survival, Elena had stuck by Aaron's side and done everything she could to help him. Over time, he'd gone from being a freshman in university with nothing to his name to the CEO of Reed Corporation. Elena could've left this world and returned to her original one to be reunited with her family upon Reed Corporation's public listing. However, she hadn't done so because she'd fallen in love with Aaron after spending so much time with him. She'd given up her chance to return home because she couldn't bear to part with a character in a novel. This was her second chance at life, and she'd decided to leave it in Aaron's hands. She'd willingly walked down the aisle with him. She'd thought that as long as they loved each other, it didn't matter where they were. She'd thought he would love her as deeply as she loved him. They'd dated for four years and been married for three. Throughout that time, Aaron had always acted like Elena was his one and only. He'd treated her like a princess and doted on her to no end. He hadn't even mentioned having children throughout their marriage because he wanted to care for and cherish her to the best of his abilities. He claimed it was because he didn't want a third party to affect their relationship, even if said third party was their child. He didn't want her to get pregnant, nor could he bear to have her be on birth control lest it affect her health. So, he'd used protection whenever they'd slept together instead of getting her to do it. Yet it was also Aaron who'd started a family with another woman behind Elena's back. He and his mistress even had a son who'd just turned one. "Do you know how surprised and overjoyed Aaron was upon finding out that I was pregnant? He picked out the baby's clothes, toys, and pram himself. "He even gave me and the baby a villa with a huge garden and swimming pool so the baby could grow up in a good environment. It's under the baby's name, you know. "I had some stretch marks on my belly after giving birth. I thought Aaron would scorn me because of them, but he kissed me from head to toe and told me they weren't ugly at all. He said they were the most beautiful marks a woman could have. "Do you know how it feels to make out in the elevator and strip in the foyer? Do you know how it feels for him to stick it in me and do me as we head to the bedroom? Aaron says it's so satisfying and that it's not something you can give him. I'm the only one who makes him feel like that, Elena." The texts came with explicit photos and videos of a couple doing the deed in various places and poses. Things had started long ago—the first photo had been taken when Mia Wynn had just started her internship at Reed Corporation. There were even images and videos of her and Aaron doing the deed when she'd been heavily pregnant. It was clear that they'd been head over heels for each other. Elena rubbed her reddened eyes and put her phone back in her bag. Then, she crossed the street to the coffee house opposite Reed Corporation. A lawyer was already waiting there. When he saw her, he pulled out a stack of documents from his briefcase. "This is the divorce agreement that's been drafted per your request, Ms. Frost. There's also a proxy statement for donating your belongings to a women's and child's welfare organization…" Elena took the papers and signed them without waiting for the lawyer to finish. "I'll leave the details of handling my belongings up to you. All I ask is that you ensure the divorce agreement is given to Aaron Reed in two weeks. I don't want my name to be associated with his even in death." After taking care of everything, she paid and left the coffee house. As she crossed the square outside Reed Tower, a familiar figure came out from the building. "Is that really you, darling?" Aaron's handsome face was filled with surprise. "Why did you come all the way here when it's so hot out? I thought my employees were seeing things when they told me they'd seen you earlier." Chapter 2 Elena's lashes fluttered. She pursed her lips and didn't say anything. Aaron didn't seem to notice her odd behavior. He approached her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I'm guessing that you missed me too much if you were willing to brave the sun instead of relaxing at home. Did you want to have lunch with me?" Two years ago, she'd fainted due to low blood sugar. Since then, he'd forbidden her from going to work, fearing it would tire her out. He'd fed her the best food money could buy. He'd also installed surveillance cameras everywhere in their home so that he could see if anything had happened to her. The surveillance cameras still worked perfectly, but it was clear his attention was no longer on her. Why else would he not have checked the cameras the whole morning? If he had, he would've realized that she'd left the house early that morning. Well, it wasn't important anymore. Elena had already decided to leave this world, so it no longer mattered whether he still had her in his heart. She caught a faint scent of roses on him and knew very well it didn't come from any of her perfumes. Turning her head away, she tried her best to hold her breath. "I wanted to go to one of the restaurants near here." "Let's go, then. You can come to my office and nap with me afterward." Aaron smiled and held her tighter. "You know I can only sleep well with you by my side. If I weren't worried about you tiring yourself out from running around all day, I'd keep you with me at all times." Did he want to keep her by his side so she could see how he fully utilized every second of his day? He had to run a company, keep her happy, and sneak away to be someone else's perfect husband and father, after all. Elena smiled mockingly as she followed Aaron to the parking lot. They drove to a nearby restaurant for lunch before returning to Reed Tower. She'd sat on the toilet bowl for a long time and hadn't slept a wink after learning the truth last night, so she napped for a long time. It was almost 5:00 pm when she woke up. Aaron sat behind his computer as he attended to work, looking focused. But the moment he heard her footsteps, he immediately looked up. He grabbed some fruits and dessert from the mini fridge in the room. "You must be hungry after napping for so long. I'm guessing you didn't sleep well last night, so I'll get off work early today and have dinner with you. Then, we can go home and rest together. What do you think?" he asked. He was the one who'd suggested spending more time together, yet he went back on his word a mere 30 minutes later. His phone pinged, and his expression turned conflicted after reading the message. "I'm sorry, Elena, but there's an emergency with one of our projects. "I have to deal with the situation in person, so I can't be with you tonight. How about you go to a restaurant you like and take a stroll after that? Buy whatever you want—think of it as me making it up to you." Elena knew she should've been considerate. After all, she was alone, but Mia had a child with her. Aaron had already spent so many hours with her—it was understandable that he wanted to switch things up and be with his lover and child. Still, she was pissed. She wanted to make things hard for him. "What could possibly be urgent enough for someone to go straight to you without getting through John first? Don't they know you're busy with work right now?" Aaron's eyes darkened. Elena understood what that meant and continued indifferently, "Still, this is work. There's no point in me getting mad, nor will I ever get mad at you. It's tough enough for you to run such a huge company alone. "I'm your wife, but I can't bear this burden with you. The least I can do is be more understanding when it comes to your work." He relaxed, evidently relieved. "You're the best, darling." "You wouldn't like me if I weren't, right?" She pulled her hand out of his and glanced at his phone. She saw a conversation on the screen. It was short, but there was a photo among the sentences. It was too far for her to get a clear look at the photo, but she soon received the image on her phone. It was a selfie Mia had taken of herself in a black lace nightgown. The angle was perfect, and her expression was saucy enough to make any man hard. She was alluring and pretty—it was definitely more seductive than someone as plain as Elena could ever be. She supposed it made sense that Aaron would choose to abandon her to be with Mia. Then again, perhaps he'd been so busy having a family with Mia that he'd forgotten how crazy he'd been for Elena when they were newlyweds. They would do the deed four or five times a night before continuing the following morning. However, he'd started controlling himself after a pregnancy scare. Her period had been a week late once, and he'd stopped going wild over her, even with protection. He claimed he had to restrain himself because he didn't want her to get pregnant. He didn't want a child to come into the picture. Now, Elena knew the truth. Aaron's restraint hadn't been due to his fear of getting her pregnant—he'd only been saving his energy for Mia. She lowered her lashes, concealing the mockery in her eyes. Then, she grabbed her bag and left Reed Tower. She got into her car and circled the building. However, instead of leaving, she parked her car elsewhere before taking a cab back to Reed Tower. Before she got close, she saw Aaron hurrying to a mixed-use office complex opposite Reed Tower. He looked like he was in a rush. Elena's expression shifted. She suddenly remembered that he had an apartment unit there. He'd bought it when they were still dating—it was for them to rest there after lunch because he was worried the office wouldn't be conducive for a nap. In hindsight, Aaron had probably lied about leaving Reed Tower to pick her up because he'd heard his employees mentioning that they'd seen her. In truth, he'd been heading to the complex across the road for a date with Mia. He'd had no choice but to delay his plans because Elena had suddenly shown up. Now that she was gone, he could head over there to be with Mia. He was truly in a rush. Despite already making up her mind about leaving, Elena still felt horrible. She clutched her chest with her right hand, and the blood drained from her face. She almost broke out in a cold sweat. "Are you okay, miss? Do you feel unwell? Should I take you to the hospital?" the cab driver asked anxiously. The hospital? Yes, she should head to the hospital since she was feeling ill, and she needed someone to be with her. She took a deep breath to calm down before pulling out her phone and calling Aaron. "My chest suddenly hurts, Aaron. I feel sick. Can you come home and take me to the hospital?" Chapter 3 Aaron stopped on the sidewalk nearby after receiving Elena's call. His gaze traveled between the complex ahead of him and Reed Corporation behind him, weighing his choices. Ahead of him was his apartment, where Mia waited for him. Despite already giving birth to their child, she remained as gentle yet insatiable as before. Behind him stood Reed Corporation, the company he and Elena had established together. It carried countless memories of their time together. It was a difficult choice that made Aaron hesitate, but only briefly. He said, "I'm really busy now, Elena. Be good and head to the hospital yourself, okay? Or you can ask Dr. Jones—" Elena hung up without waiting for him to finish. She didn't need to test him anymore, nor did it matter. When one needed to put on a mask to test the other person's love, the feeling itself lost its meaning. There was no point in clinging to it anymore. She put her phone on silent mode and stuffed it into her bag. Then, she got out of the cab and walked along the sidewalk outside Reed Tower. She traversed the city on foot. Now that she thought about it, she'd already been in this world for a decade. Throughout that time, she'd focused all her attention on Aaron. Her world had revolved around him, so she hadn't had the chance to take a good look at the city. She hadn't tried to get a feel of the virtual world the author of this book had created—Halston City was actually a beautiful place. She was leaving in two weeks, so it was high time she took in the sights. She didn't want to be lost for words and unable to describe anything about the place when she thought about it in the future. Elena wandered the city until past 10:00 pm. When she returned, the house was still empty. She had many missed calls and unread messages but deleted them without reading or checking the caller ID. Then, she went to the attic to retrieve some empty packing boxes. Once she was in her room, she started putting her things away. The first things she started with were her expensive designer bags and jewelry. She'd transmigrated into this book, so she couldn't bring any of these things with her. There was no way she would leave them for Aaron and Mia—she'd be much better off donating them, her shares, and fixed assets to the needy. She had a lawyer to handle everything for her, anyway. Soon, Elena filled one box. It contained the jewelry and bags she'd accumulated over the years. Some were gifts from Aaron, and others were purchases she had made herself. She texted Sean Quilton, her lawyer, and told him to drop by the following morning to take the things away. Then, she washed up and headed to bed. She didn't know when Aaron returned, but he lay in bed with his arm around her when she woke up. She was revolted by the thought of being so close to him and instinctively pulled away. Aaron looked glumly at his empty arms. "I'm sorry, Elena. I didn't mean to leave you to head to the hospital alone—I was really busy yesterday. To make it up for you, I made you your favorite seafood bisque for breakfast. "Can you forgive me this once? I'm also a victim. I've been so busy with work that I haven't had time to be with you." He really had a way with words. He could make it seem like she was the one to blame for him spending the night outside. Elena parted her lips to speak when her gaze landed on a provocative mark on Aaron's chest. It had been revealed when he'd lowered his head, making his collar fall open slightly. It looked fresh—it had probably been left there yesterday. She wondered how vigorously Mia had sucked to leave it there. Was Aaron aware of it? If he was, did he think of concealing it? Or did he think Elena was a fool who didn't have a mind of her own and would believe everything he said? Elena curled her lip slightly before saying softly, "Of course I'm not mad at you. You're only this busy for our family, right? I'm just used to being alone now. I was caught off guard when I sensed someone else in bed with me." That took Aaron aback. He suddenly recalled that he'd delayed his return home from a business trip for three days because his and Mia's child had fallen sick. His business trip had lasted four days, and he'd spent three days with Mia and the baby. He'd also stayed out last night to get his fill of Mia, so he and Elena hadn't slept in the same bed for eight days. This made him feel guilty. "It's definitely a lot busier running a company alone. Once I settle everything I have in hand, I'll take a long break so I can be with you, okay?" There he was again, making the matter seem like it was her fault. Elena smiled coldly. "Sure. I'll wait for you." … Aaron was pretty good in the kitchen. The seafood bisque tasted delicious, and he'd prepared a few other snacks to go with it. Elena managed to enjoy her meal despite having to endure his presence. He was relieved to see her eating happily and left for work when she was done. Shortly after, Sean arrived. Elena handed him the things she'd already packed before getting back to work. She and Aaron had gone through an amorous stage for three years before officially dating. Then, they'd dated for four years before being married for three. They'd accumulated quite a number of things after spending a decade together. Aside from the jewelry and bags Sean had already taken away, Elena still had to clear a wardrobe full of clothes and shoes. She also needed to get rid of vases, paintings, daily necessities, souvenirs from trips, and the gifts she and Aaron had given each other. She put away anything that belonged to her, whether bought by herself or Aaron. There were 14 days left until her disappearance, and she wanted to do it thoroughly. She wasn't even going to leave a shred of paper behind. Aaron wouldn't have anything of hers. Elena kept busy until noon. As she waited for her takeout to be delivered, she was surprised to see Aaron return home. A sudden downpour had drenched him, but he didn't bother drying himself. He ran straight to the bedroom, his expression ugly as he stopped before Elena. "Where's your wedding ring, darling? Did you lose it?" Had he already noticed? Elena suddenly felt a cruel vindication from being found out. "I didn't lose it—I sold it. I wanted to do some charity work, so I sold all the bags and jewelry you've ever given me. "You know what it's like to go hungry and have no money, Aaron. I'm sure you won't resent me for doing this. You'll support me, won't you?" Chapter 4 Aaron was taken aback by Elena's nonchalant tone. After a brief pause, he said hoarsely, "It's okay if you've gotten tired of your regular jewelry—we can buy new ones together someday. But the wedding ring…" He got on one knee and held Elena's hand. From his pocket, he pulled a familiar blue box and placed it on her palm. "You can change all other jewelry, but the wedding ring is unique. I went all the way to South Phrida to source the gem, and I designed and made the ring myself. "It represents my love for you. You have to keep it with you at all times. If you don't, I'll give up everything—including my life—and go to the ends of the earth to get it back for you." His gaze was sincere and tender, and his hand was warm around hers. Everything looked the same as before, but Elena knew better. Both of them had changed on the inside, so there was no way things could be the same. "Okay." She felt like she had something lodged in her throat. She tried to pull her hand away but failed. "Darling…" Aaron slowly stood up. Then, he leaned forward to kiss her. She turned away, feeling discomfited. "It's daytime. Didn't we agree to practice restraint?" He frowned and missed her lips in that split second. The kiss landed on her cheek. "I'm sorry for being too forward." He smiled nonchalantly and opened the ring box, revealing an exquisite and lavish pink diamond ring. It was eye-catching and gleamed under the lights. Even if it wasn't worth a fortune, it was still expensive. Aaron had indeed put his heart into designing and making the ring. It was created when his love for Elena was at its peak. It was too bad his love lasted for such a short time. It also came with lies and betrayal. Elena's chest tightened. It was as if she'd been stabbed in a spot that had just recovered. "Be good and take care of it. Don't lose it again." He put the ring back on her finger and tapped her forehead gently. He seemed to have much to say when his gaze met hers but ultimately didn't. Instead, he went back to work after giving her a brief hug. … Elena didn't know whether Aaron could sense something was up or whether it was just his guilty conscience acting up, but he returned particularly early that night. He cooked dinner for her and even took a stroll with her after the meal. Since he was willing to treat her well, she would wholeheartedly accept it. They didn't have much time left together, so she would allow him to do whatever he wanted as long as it didn't involve intimacy. Of course, she didn't reject him outright. She had the perfect excuse to keep him away. She told him her sudden stomachache yesterday was a combination of a cold she'd caught from being in the rain and her period, which was coming soon. That was why she'd been in so much pain that she'd needed to go to the hospital. Aaron had always doted on her, so he wouldn't make things hard for her over something like this. He even drew her a hot bath, hoping it would alleviate her period cramps when they came. He was careless over certain things yet meticulous over others. He paid attention to details when something mattered to him, so Elena's period came and went without much issue under his tender care. After resting easy for a week due to her period, Elena started getting anxious, especially when it ended. Aaron had always worn a condom when doing it with her since deciding not to have a child—the only time he allowed himself to go wild was during the few days immediately after her period ended. In the past, he would've made the most out of these few days. Even if he was away on business trips, he would fly back to spend the night with her before flying off again the following morning. What was she going to do if he insisted on having his way with her that night? Was it necessary for her to get nasty and reject him? Elena kept thinking about this as she showered. However, she instantly stopped worrying when she stepped out of the bathroom and saw Aaron holding his phone, looking anxious. Her heart sank. What was the point of her turmoil? Aaron had Mia now—she was much more willing to go along with him and do what he wanted. Why would he still be interested in a woman who restrained him and stopped him from going wild? She recalled how he'd tried to go to meet Mia for a midday tryst during his lunch break. He'd already spent so many days by her side while waiting for her period to pass. How could he possibly hold himself back any longer and stay with her? Sure enough, Elena was right. As she applied her skincare, Aaron approached her and helped her dry her hair. Once it was dry and combed, he said tentatively, "A friend from university asked me out to discuss a possible collaboration, darling. You remember he left his company to start out on his own, right?" He wasn't lying. His friend had indeed started his own business, but Aaron wasn't the same man as before. He now had a net worth of millions of dollars, and every move he made could have widespread consequences. He had to be careful in everything he did, so how could someone from a startup company get him to meet them so easily? It was clear he was too impatient to even give her a proper excuse. Still, Elena waved a hand without hesitation. "Go on." "You're the best, darling." Aaron immediately beamed and hurried to pick out a shirt, tie, and suit. Elena's heart suddenly throbbed painfully when she saw him looking so delighted. Had he cheated on her because of the novelty, or had he just fallen out of love with her? Was the prospect of seeing Mia so appealing to him? Was it enough for him to cast aside the bond he shared with Elena? Aaron left the house after changing and washing up. He even spritzed some cologne. Barely five minutes later, Elena's phone pinged. She'd received a photo of Aaron leaning against the backseat with his shirt open and belt unbuckled. This was followed by a video. "Have you missed me and the baby after so many days apart, Aaron?" Mia asked. Aaron answered her with a muffled grunt. That wasn't enough for her. She pressed him for answers. "Talk to me, Aaron. Have you missed me after so many days apart? Have you missed my body? Have you missed my tricks? Have you missed sticking it in me from the door to the bathroom? Have you missed our baby? "He's started saying 'Daddy,' you know. Do you want to hear it? Do you want him and me to call you 'Daddy' together?" Her words set Aaron on fire. He had nowhere to go, so he pressed her head lower. He panted and said, "Yes, I've missed you and our baby. Now, go faster, babe. Faster!" Chapter 5 The video ended there. Elena walked to the window. Even in the darkness of night, she could vaguely see a car swaying underneath the cover of the trees outside the iron gate. Tears blurred her vision. Suddenly, she found herself struggling to remember what Aaron was like. What did the Aaron she'd met ten years ago, fallen in love with seven years, and married three years ago really like? Was he who she thought he was? Or was everything she knew about him just what he wanted her to see? Perhaps the real Aaron was a scumbag who'd slowly descended into darkness and the mires of life. Elena thought she was his salvation, but all she'd done was make him look better on the outside. She'd made him seem like an ordinary man who was loyal and faithful. In truth, he was still rotten inside. He'd just hidden it well enough that one could only see past the glossy exterior and discover the decay inside if one peeled back the layers and scrutinized him. Elena had been stuck in a wonderful dream for the past decade. Now that she'd been roused from her slumber, she realized it had all come to nothing. The foundation upon which she'd built her life had been nothing but lies, bringing her to the verge of a breakdown. Her chest throbbed painfully, almost as if it was telling her that she'd wasted the past decade on a failure. She couldn't save Aaron or the original Elena, who'd given her a second chance at life. The anguish she felt was unbearable—she felt like she was going to die. She bent over and curled up against the balcony's railing as she panted for breath. She bawled her eyes out, leaving them red and swollen. The night passed torturously, and she was in such agony that she didn't notice the rain pouring on her. When Aaron returned home, he found Elena sprawled on the couch, drenched from head to toe. Her face was red, and she was almost unconscious from her high fever. "Darling, are you okay?" He ran to her, panicked at the sight of her. He immediately took her to the hospital. Elena pulled through after some quick rescuing on the doctors' part, but she had to spend a few more days in the hospital due to pneumonia caused by her high fever. She supposed it was good for her. She only had six days to go before she could leave this world—all she wanted to do was have some peace and quiet in the hospital. She didn't want to go home or have to rack her brains when dealing with someone as fake and fickle-minded as Aaron. However, it didn't occur to her that Aaron and Mia could come to her. "Hi there. Would you happen to know where the pediatric department is?" Elena looked at the sophisticated, beautiful woman before her. Her hair was curled perfectly, and her dress was crimson and fashionable. Yet she had a baby carrier strapped to her front, holding an adorable boy with large eyes. She immediately recognized the woman to be Mia, with whom she'd communicated virtually for a long time. Her chest tightened. She shut her eyes before opening them again. "There are plenty of doctors and nurses outside. You should ask them, Ms. Wynn." "Oh, so you do recognize me, Mrs. Reed." Mia stuck out her chest to bring her son forward. "Take a good look at my baby boy—this is the son I share with Aaron. He's one this year, and he's smart and adorable. "He's perfect in every way, really. Aaron adores him so much that he didn't just give him a villa and a yacht. He wants to give our baby his company's shares." Elena patiently waited for her to finish bragging before smiling faintly. "Do you want him to be plagued by the troubles that come with wealth at such a young age?" Mia's expression shifted. "What's that supposed to mean? You're just jealous of me because you can't have a baby!" Elena's smile didn't waver. She pointed at her diagnosis report, which hung at the foot of her bed. "Didn't you do your homework before coming? I have pneumonia after getting a high fever from the rain. You do know pneumonia is contagious, right?" Mia's expression darkened. She hurriedly covered the baby's face and backed away anxiously, almost running into Aaron as he entered the hospital ward. He instinctively held her. Then, his expression soured when he saw who she was. "What are you doing here?" In the next second, he remembered that he was in Elena's hospital ward and turned to look at her. As he hurried to her, he said, "I'm sorry, Elena. Was Mia bothering you? She's one of the company's employees, and she's been kicking up a fuss about career opportunities after giving birth. "She hasn't been getting her way at the company, so she probably came here to ask you to speak up for her. Is that what happened?" Career opportunities after giving birth? Elena supposed it was considered a form of career advancement since Mia wanted to kick her out of the picture and take over her role as Aaron's wife. "Well, it is a serious matter." Elena thought about it and held up a hand. "Give me five days. Come back in five days to tell me what you want." Mia was delighted. She looked at Elena and asked, "Will you help me with this, Mrs. Reed?" "Of course." Elena smiled sincerely. "Things are tough for all mothers—I can't dismiss your contributions to the company and Aaron just because you've had a child. Give me at most five days, okay? Once I've recovered and been discharged, I'll give you an answer that'll satisfy you." Mia's eyes glinted nastily. She gave Aaron an alluring look before leaving. He parted his lips to say something, but Elena beat him to it. "As your wife and the person who helped you establish your empire, it's only natural for me to deal with things that you might not be able to handle. "Don't worry too much about this and let me rest for a few days. We can talk about it when I'm better, okay?" Aaron swallowed his words. His gaze was dark and unfathomable as he looked at her. Ultimately, he looked away. "You're the best wife a man could ever have, and it's the biggest honor in my life to have you by my side. "No matter what happens in the future, I'll always be by your side. Regardless of how tough things get, know that I won't leave you. I'll never forget everything we've been through together." … Time passed in the blink of an eye. It was time for Elena to be discharged, and it was also her final day in this world. Sean called her early in the morning; her words were the same as before. "Deal with my assets as you see fit. All you need to do is ensure the divorce agreement is given to Aaron by the time I've set." Then, the funeral parlor called her. "Are you sure you want us to send a hearse to your home to collect your body at midnight, Ms. Frost?" She laughed. "Of course. I'll be dead by then, so my body has to be taken away. You don't want me to rot and stink up the place, do you?" Aaron entered the hospital ward at that moment and heard her on the phone. He asked, "What are you talking about, darling? Why are you talking about death so early in the morning?" Startled by his presence, she quickly hung up. Then, she nodded and said, "I won't talk about it anymore, then. I guess I'm just a little glum because of the stroke of bad luck I've experienced lately." First, she had a stomachache. Then, her period had come. After that, she had a high fever and pneumonia. What was that, if not a stroke of bad luck? To think Aaron was the cause of her bad luck, too. His heart ached at that, and he pulled her into his arms. "Let's go to Crimson Peak after you've been discharged so we can pray there. I'm going to pray for your health and safety. How about we have a child once you're all better?" Chapter 6 Aaron actually wanted to have a child with Elena. She looked at him curiously, but all she could see was a cloud of fog. It concealed his face, and she couldn't see his features no matter how she scrutinized him. Well, that was that. She wouldn't look at him anymore, then. After handling all the discharge procedures and returning home to change into something more comfortable, Aaron and Elena drove to Crimson Peak. They got out after parking at the foot of the mountain. Aaron hesitated when he saw the steps leading upward. "Can you handle this, darling? Will you be okay climbing so high up when you've just been discharged? Can your body take it?" "Yeah," Elena said. "Besides, I have you, don't I? You could carry me up a mountain back when we were dating. It's only been three years since then—I'm sure you can at least support me when I need it." They'd hiked a mountain on their last trip before marriage. Elena had run out of strength when they were almost at the peak and couldn't take another step. She'd refused to budge even when the guide had tried to pull her up. Aaron was the one who'd stepped forward to carry her to the peak. Then, he'd held her in his arms as they'd admired the sunrise. Elena had to admit that they'd been on superb terms then. Aaron had genuinely loved her—his love for her had run so deep that he'd willingly put his life on the line for her and prioritized her needs over his. Her eyes prickled a little at the thought of that. Then, she took a deep breath to calm herself. She allowed Aaron to hold her hand and support her as they made their way up the hill. They rounded one bend after another. There was only one left before they reached the peak—the chapel's facade was already in view. Just then, Aaron's phone rang. He walked away to answer it, but the distance was short enough for Elena to hear Mia's heartwrenching cries on the other end of the line. "Help, Aaron! Our baby just fell off the bed and hit his head—he has a huge bump now, and he won't stop vomiting!" Aaron instinctively turned to glance at Elena. Then, he clenched his free hand. "What's wrong?" Elena looked curious yet trusting. "Is it about work again? Do you have to be there right now?" She emphasized "again". He would've caught her drift if he'd been paying attention, but Mia and their son was all he could think about at the moment. How could he notice her words or expression? "There's an emergency." He looked up at the chapel, which was about 100 yards away. He stood on the steps stiffly, unable to make up his mind. "You should get going if it's urgent, then." Elena waved a hand, feigning light-heartedness. "You've already come a long way with me. I can make the rest of the journey myself. There will always be paths in life that people will have to walk alone—I can't expect you to be by my side at all times." Aaron's Adam's apple bobbed. "Elena…" "Go on." She waved again and smiled at him, her voice as gentle as always. He didn't hesitate any longer and turned to leave. The further he got, the faster he walked. Once he turned the bend they'd just passed and disappeared from Elena's line of sight, the tears she'd been holding back finally started to flow. She dried them silently and continued the rest of the way, stopping to catch her breath every few steps. She made the rest of the 100 yards with difficulty. Then, she headed into the chapel to pray. "Heavens above, I beg of thee—I wish to never see Aaron Reed or Alveria for the rest of this lifetime and future ones." She spoke briefly with the pastor before making a generous donation. Then, she went down the mountain and headed home. After arriving home, she called a trash collector to take everything she'd packed away. She also asked the men to remove the soft furnishings she'd purchased and get rid of them. Elena smiled at the sight of the empty villa. She sat on the couch and waited for midnight to arrive. She waited from afternoon to just before midnight, but Aaron didn't show up. He didn't even bother calling her. Had Mia finally run out of patience? Did she have to force Elena's hand and make Aaron choose? Elena curled her lip mockingly. Then, she sent the photos and videos she'd gathered to Sean. She also transferred a million dollars to his bank account. "I need you to help me with one more thing." After arranging everything, she put down her phone and grabbed the fruit knife she'd prepared. The blade was sharp, and she didn't feel much pain when slashing her wrist. Blood soon started gushing out. Her soul seemed to be jumping with joy at finally being able to leave this body. She looked up at the chandelier—it was the one thing that belonged to her that she'd left intact. She needed it to light the place, after all. Elena vaguely heard the hearse approaching as the lights flickered above her. She couldn't help thinking that everything was going according to plan. She wondered whether Aaron would be happy with this. … Aaron and Mia kept busy for the rest of the day. They brought their son to the hospital for a checkup and fed him medication. He grew tired after crying throughout the day, so the nanny took him away to tuck him into bed. That was when Mia wrapped her arms around Aaron. "I miss you so much, Aaron. It's been so long since you were last inside me—you've been by your wife's side this whole time. I bought a new costume, you know. It's a bunny one." That was enough to capture Aaron's attention. His breathing immediately grew heavy. They couldn't get enough of each other as they went from the living room to the bathroom and then to the custom-made water bed in the bedroom. Once they were done, Aaron leaned against the headboard to rest. Mia leaned against his chest, still looking sultry. When she started tracing his torso with her fingers and moaning about wanting more, Aaron couldn't help remembering the gentle yet resolute look Elena had given him before he'd left. His chest tightened. She'd looked so obedient and trusting. She'd believed him when he'd told her he had an emergency at work, and she'd insisted on completing the climb to the top of Crimson Peak to pray for a child now that he'd told her they could start a family. How could he leave someone as wonderful and loving as her to sleep alone? How could he not be by her side in the middle of the night? "That's enough." He kissed Mia's forehead before pushing her hand away. "I just thought of something I need to do, so I'm heading home. Take care of our baby. I'll drop by another day when I'm free." "Aaron!" Mia staggered out of bed and brushed the ears of her bunny costume against him. However, he ignored it and opened the closet. A row of identical shirts was hung inside. He grabbed one and put it on. As he passed through the living room, he grabbed his coat from the couch and hurried out the door. Then, he sped back to his and Elena's marital home. As he was arriving, he saw a hearse. Although he was exhausted physically and mentally from his previous activities, the sight of the hearse made him jolt. Had someone died? Why was there a hearse? It seemed to be coming from where he and Elena stayed. Could it be…