Love Faded Away

After my third miscarriage, I spiraled into severe depression.

After a few attempts at consoling me, Alex Holt grew impatient.

He outright sent me photos of him kissing his first love, Scarlett Thorne, to provoke me.

Aurora Hayes, if you keep being so melodramatic, I don't mind getting a new wife!

Under the double blow, I chose to jump from a bridge.

At that moment, Alex Holt was driving by with Scarlett.

Seeing my figure plunge from the bridge, Scarlett gasped, "Oh my God, someone just jumped!"

Alex merely cast a fleeting glance, coldly stating, "Someone so fragile is better off not living."

Then the car sped away.

At dinner, Scarlett happily shared anecdotes from her day.

But Alex seemed distracted, repeatedly opening and closing our chat window.

Seeing no response from me, he suppressed his anger and sent two more messages.

"Since you're like this, sign the divorce papers tomorrow."

"Scarlett is more suited to be Mrs. Holt than you."

But Alex Holt, this "Mrs. Holt," I had stopped wanting to be long ago.

...

After I died by jumping into the river, my soul detached and was bound to Alex Holt.

Looking at the two messages he had just sent me at the dinner table, I gave a self-deprecating smile.

He would probably never know that the figure by the bridge, whom he so casually dismissed as "better off not living," was me.

The screen dimmed then lit up again, Alex Holt's fingertips hovering over the chat box.

A flicker of impatience creased his brow; he eventually shut off his phone and tilted his head back, downing the strong liquor in his glass.

He looked at Scarlett beside him, his voice tinged with a subtle irritation.

"Scarlett, interested in being the new Mrs. Holt?"

Scarletts eyes instantly reddened at his words. "Alex, don't be impulsive What about Aurora?"

Alex curled his lips into a cold sneer. "Her current psychological state isn't suitable for standing by my side anymore."

"It's just three miscarriages, and she's become so fragile."

Just three miscarriages.

My soul trembled violently, and a sharp, suffocating pain shot through my chest.

Those years, dismissed by his casual words, were my life's hopes, repeatedly stripped away.

After marrying him, my greatest wish was to have a child of our own.

But in the early years, helping him build his business, enduring hardships and meager meals,

My body was already overtaxed; doctors said conception would be difficult.

I drank countless bitter medicines, received countless injections, and finally, in the third year of our marriage, conceived our first child.

But in less than two months, the child left me without warning.

Alex held me then, saying he was heartbroken.

A year later, I became pregnant again.

I was cautious, walking on eggshells, but his business rivals found me.

They cornered me in the garage, raining down punches and kicks

I curled up, protecting my belly, but all I could feel was life slowly draining away.

I lay in the hospital for a month, my mind on the verge of collapse.

Alex's eyes were bloodshot, holding my hand, saying, "Aurora, I just want you safe."

"The baby doesn't matter, we have each other, and that's enough."

It wasn't until the fifth year that I miraculously became pregnant again.

The doctor warned me that another miscarriage might mean losing the chance to be a mother forever.

I quit my job, dedicating all my energy to protecting this child.

Until I wanted to buy a prenatal book, and as soon as I left the apartment complex, a car sped out of control towards me

When I woke up, I had lost my baby, and I saw Scarlett, tear-eyed, sitting in my hospital room.

The driver was Alex's first love, who had just returned from overseas.

Alex stood by the bed, ignoring my despair, his eyes filled with unbearable pity for Scarlett.

He held my hand, his voice gentle but cruel.

"Aurora, Scarlett didn't mean it. Her life can't have a blemish."

"Sign the waiver, even without a child, you'll always be Mrs. Holt."

I refused, screaming wildly for Scarlett to pay the price.

But Alex threatened me with my parents:

"Aurora, you wouldn't want to see them lose everything at their age, would you?"

Eventually, I signed the document, watching Scarlett leave safely.

But something inside me had shattered completely.

I was diagnosed with severe depression, locking myself in my room all day, weeping while clutching a baby's toy.

Alex summarized my five years of hell as "just three miscarriages" and "a fragile psychological state."

The position of Mrs. Holt, I had stopped wanting it long ago.

He could finally have his wish, a suitable, healthy replacement.

As if to completely sever the last shred of hesitation, Alex directly called his lawyer.

"Mr. King, draft a divorce agreement."

"Asset division give her fifty million, as compensation for her five years of hard work."

Five years, fifty million.

My youth, my love, my three lost children.

My shattered body and mind, clearly priced.

The call ended, and Scarlett immediately embraced him emotionally, her voice choked.

"Alex, I knew it. You still care about me."

"All these years, alone overseas, I thought of you every single day"

Alex stiffly endured the hug, his arm hesitating for a moment before finally returning the embrace.

His gaze drifted over Scarlett's shoulder, revealing an unfathomable emptiness within.

After dinner, Scarlett naturally followed him back to our home.

Pushing open the door, a heavy darkness and chilling emptiness greeted them.

Alex irritably flicked on the main lights.

He loosened his tie, his voice filled with impatience.

"Aurora, how long are you going to keep this up? Making the house look like a haunted mansion!"

He strode towards the bedroom, ready to unleash a night's worth of accumulated anger on me.

The door was flung open abruptly, revealing an empty room.

His surge of reprimands choked in his throat, and he stood stunned for several seconds.

Then he quickly pulled out his phone, his fingers rapidly tapping the screen.

Where are you?

After a pause, he added another line.

The divorce agreement is being drafted. Don't try to back out now.

He stared at the screen, his brows tightly furrowed, seemingly waiting for a reassuring response.

Scarlett walked into the bedroom, surveying the room filled with memories of Alex and me, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes.

She pressed close to Alex, her fingertips lightly tracing his chest, her breath like a soft whisper.

"Alex these past five years, did you miss me?"

Alex's eyes darkened, and he lowered his head, kissing Scarlett fiercely, roughly pressing her onto the large bed behind them.

My soul was confined to a corner, forced to witness this passionate encounter.

Listening to Scarlett's seductive gasps and his low moans, it tortured my already dead senses.

Just as passion reached its peak, Alex suddenly froze.

His gaze shot towards where my soul lingered, a momentary clarity in his eyes, as if he truly saw something.

He immediately propped himself up, carefully looking into that empty space.

His brows furrowed, holding his breath.

"What's wrong, Alex?"

Scarlett discontentedly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him back.

Alex pulled his gaze away, rubbing his temples.

The passion faded from his face, leaving only deep weariness.

"Nothing," he pushed Scarlett away, his voice somewhat hoarse, "I'm a little tired tonight. Let's get some rest."

Scarlett's face flashed with surprise and reluctance.

But seeing his expression, she ultimately didn't press further.

Alex leaned against the headboard alone, not touching Scarlett again.

He lit a cigarette, the crimson glow flickering in the darkness, illuminating his dim, indistinct profile.

His gaze, once again, involuntarily drifted to that empty corner.

Only my cold stare was there.

The next morning, Alex Holt woke to the sound of a door opening.

He seemed to have been sleeping lightly, as he abruptly sat up in bed upon hearing the noise.

Alex let out a sigh of relief, muttering under his breath, "Finally came home"

However, the person who walked in was not the figure he expected.

It was my mother.

She carried a thermos in her hand, looking dishevelled from travel.

The moment I saw my mother, a warmth spread through my heart.

These past five years, if not for my mother's patient companionship and comfort,

I might have plunged into endless darkness after the first miscarriage.

My mother smiled upon seeing Alex, asking with concern:

"Has Aurora not woken up yet?"

"I stewed some chicken soup to help her recover. Her complexion has been so poor lately."

Alex's expression was cold; he directly interrupted my mother: "Aurora threw a tantrum and left home yesterday. She's thirty years old, so immature."

"Left home?" My mother froze, nearly dropping the thermos she was holding. "Impossible! Aurora wouldn't leave without a word!"

My mother's face instantly paled, her voice tinged with panic.

She quickly put down the thermos and walked towards the bedroom.

"Aurora? Aurora, are you in there?"

She called out, pushing open the slightly ajar bedroom door.

I wanted to stop her, wanted to scream "Mother, don't go in," but it was no use.

Mother still walked in and immediately saw Scarlett, disheveled, on the bed.

The air instantly solidified.

She pointed at Scarlett, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "Who who is she? Why is she here?!"

Alex followed, and seeing the situation, he decided to just let it all out.

"As you can see, I plan to divorce Aurora."

"Scarlett will be my future wife."

My mother seemed to have been struck by a heavy blow. She staggered, then erupted with long-suppressed fury.

"Alex Holt! Are you even human?!"

"Aurora is this way because of you!"

"How much has she sacrificed for you, and now you bring another woman home and want to divorce her?!"

Alex looked as if a nerve had been struck, his eyes sharpening.

"I gave Aurora the status of Mrs. Holt, and a life of luxury!"

"She herself wasn't content, dwelling on those undeveloped babies day in and day out, turning herself into a wreck!"

My mother trembled with rage, tears streaming down her face.

"When she was with you, what were you? Nothing but ambition!"

"Did she care about your money? It was because she loved you, Alex Holt!"

At the word "love," Alex froze for a moment.

An emotion flickered in his eyes, quickly overtaken by deeper irritation.

"What good is love?" Scarlett softly interjected. "Alex needs someone who can stand by his side and support him. Aunt, I love Alex too. If my parents hadn't forced me to go abroad"

She choked up at just the right moment, shifting the blame to fate.

These incendiary words completely ignited my mother's last shred of sanity.

"Shut up! You fake vixen!"

My mother roared, grabbed the still-warm chicken soup from the table, and splashed it towards Scarlett.

Scarlett screamed.

Alex's face changed dramatically, and he forcefully pushed my mother away.

My mother, being older, couldn't keep her balance from his shove and fell heavily to the floor.

I cried out in anguish, lunging to embrace my mother, but my spirit merely passed through her body.

Seeing her tormented expression, I had never so deeply resented the man I once loved.

Alex froze for a moment, looking at my mother on the floor.

A sudden, inexplicable chill ran down his spine.

He shivered involuntarily, his heart giving an unbidden, heavy thump.

Ultimately, Alex forcefully escorted my mother out the door.

"If you cause any more trouble, I won't hesitate to leave Aurora with nothing."

My mother trembled with fury. "Bah! Alex Holt, our Aurora never cared for your dirty money!"

I wanted to leave with my mother, but that invisible force still held me tightly.

I could only watch helplessly as my mother's frail figure disappeared into the elevator, my heart aching as if pierced by a knife.

Inside the door, the scene instantly changed.

Alex returned to Scarletts side, the aggression on his face receding.

He found a first-aid kit and gently treated her scalded skin.

Scarlett's eyes, glistening with tears, gazed at him piteously.

"Alex, do you believe me? If only my parents hadn't forced me to go abroad, threatening to die"

"I would be the one standing by your side now, bearing your children."

Alex's hand, applying the ointment, paused slightly.

After a few seconds of silence, he said in a low voice, "I believe you."

Those three flimsy words crushed the last vestige of hope within me.

He believed this woman who had unhesitatingly left him when he was at his lowest, and now returned adorned in riches, speaking of longing.

He had forgotten who had picked him up time and again when he was abandoned and drunk on the streets.

Who had stayed with him in his early entrepreneurial days, eating instant noodles, running until her legs ached, and sacrificing her health.

At our wedding, he had sworn a solemn oath by the sea.

"Aurora Hayes, if I, Alex Holt, ever betray you in this life, I shall perish at the bottom of the ocean, never to rest in peace."

His words still echoed, but the solemn vows had become the most bitter irony.

Perhaps, as soon as he reunited with Scarlett,

This oath, along with all his affection for me, was cast into the deepest depths of the ocean.

After applying the medicine, the lawyer called.

He informed Alex that the divorce agreement was ready but that I could not be reached to sign it.

Alex hung up the phone, his face grim, and took out his cell phone, repeatedly scrolling through our chat history.

The last message was his: "Scarlett is more suited to be Mrs. Holt than you."