Left My Love Among the Stars

After my ninety-ninth fight with Peyton, I changed.

I got rid of all the bad habits Peyton didn't like.

I stopped checking his phone constantly, stopped asking about his whereabouts,

And when I saw the lipstick marks on his shirt, I just calmly put it in the washing machine.

But he wasn't satisfied anymore. He held me with grievance in his eyes:

"Why aren't you keeping tabs on me anymore? You're still the one I love most."

Love me most?

His so-called love meant constantly sleeping with his mistress, letting her bully me until I lost the baby.

My five-month pregnancy. Gone. Just like that.

Peyton's love was the most useless thing in the world.

I turned around and joined the secret space program at the aviation base.

From then on, whether Peyton lived or died had nothing to do with me anymore.

Giana's POV

After my ninety-ninth fight with Peyton, I changed.

I got rid of all the bad habits Peyton didn't like.

I stopped checking his phone constantly, stopped asking about his whereabouts. When I saw the lipstick marks on his shirt, I just calmly put it in the washing machine.

Even when I got into a car accident and the traffic cop wanted to help me contact my family, I stopped him.

"I don't have any family. I can just take a taxi to the hospital myself."

Then, fighting through dizziness and severe shoulder pain, I took a taxi to the hospital alone.

But unexpectedly, I ran into Peyton in the hospital corridor.

He frowned. "How did you end up like this?"

I lowered my eyes. "Just a car accident. You're busy, don't worry about me."

"What kind of thing is that to say?"

Peyton's voice turned cold, suddenly angry.

"You're my wife. You got hurt this badly in a car accident. Of course I'm worried about you."

I lifted my gaze to look at him.

"Isn't that what you said? That adults need to solve their own problems, and I shouldn't bother you with trivial matters."

Peyton froze in place like someone had dumped cold water over his head.

He had indeed said those words.

When I had a high fever and called him, he'd said it.

On my birthday when I waited alone at the restaurant until closing and texted asking if he remembered, he'd said it.

During a typhoon when I was trapped at the research institute and asked if he could pick me up, he'd said it too.

Now I'd finally learned my lesson. Even though I was injured in a car accident, I no longer turned to him. But he was unhappy about it.

"You were in a car accident. How can you act like that's no big deal?"

Peyton irritably loosened his tie. "Come on, I'll take you to-"

Before he could finish, a slender figure came running over.

Summer threw her arms around his. Her eyes rimmed red.

"Mr. Lancaster, why did you come here? I sprained my wrist and you didn't even care. You made me look for you forever..."

Peyton's body stiffened slightly. He glanced at me somewhat awkwardly and gently pulled his hand back. "Stand up properly and talk."

Summer seemed to notice me only then. She shrank behind Peyton, her eyes gradually filling with pitiful, vulnerable tears.

"Are you still mad at me? I'm sorry. Last time I really didn't mean to cause your miscarriage..."

She was always like this. Apologizing with her mouth while every word precisely stabbed at the most painful spot in my heart.

Always looking innocent and pitiful. Never doing anything on purpose.

If this were before, I definitely would have lost control. I would have hysterically demanded answers, would have told Summer to get out of my life.

But now, I just turned my face away. "I'm going for my examination. Do whatever you want."

Then, leaning against the wall, I walked past them step by step without hesitation.

Peyton instinctively wanted to follow.

"Giana."

"Mr. Lancaster, this hand hurts so much."

But the moment he stepped forward, Summer suddenly held her injured wrist in front of him. Fragile, anxious tears floated in her eyes.

"Do you think this hand is broken..."

Peyton's steps halted.

He frowned and said to Summer,

"Let's go. I'll take you to see the doctor first."

I registered myself and got X-rays taken. Since I had no family, I signed the surgery consent form myself.

After the wounds on my forehead and left arm were treated, I was wheeled out of the operating room and transferred to a ward.

As the anesthesia wore off, I slowly woke in pain. Faintly, I could hear the nurses talking in hushed voices, all thinking I was pitiful.

"So tragic. She was in a car accident, her head was injured and bleeding so much, her left arm is fractured, and there's no one by her side. Meanwhile that patient named Summer in the VIP room just has a simple sprained wrist, but Mr. Lancaster won't leave her side for a second. He gives her whatever she wants and coaxes her with a gentle voice."

"Who told her not to know how to cry, make a fuss, and act cute to win sympathy? I heard she's a scholarship student sponsored by the Lancaster family. Her test scores rank in the top three in the state. Now she's a key talent the Lancaster family is cultivating. They treasure her like a gem. Of course Mr. Lancaster has to coax her well."

"The way they act, if you didn't know better, you'd think that Summer patient is Mr. Lancaster's wife."

Lying in the hospital bed, I gently tugged at the corner of my lips.

Perhaps Summer really would soon replace me and become Peyton's wife.

Just then, my phone on the pillow rang.

I reached out with my right hand to grab my phone. Seeing it was a call from the Aviation Bureau, I answered.

"Miss Morgan, we've reviewed your application. Are you certain you want to participate in the Zenith Ladder program? This is a classified national project. Once you join, you'll need to stay at the aviation base for decades, completely cut off from the outside world. You won't be able to contact anyone, including your family."

I pressed my lips together and said calmly,

"I'm certain."

"Have you discussed this with your family and your husband, Mr. Peyton Lancaster? Does he agree to your participation?"

"My parents are no longer alive, and I don't need Peyton's consent."

I said flatly,

"Because I've already filed for divorce. I'll have my divorce certificate by then. I have no attachments left. This program is perfect for me."

Giana's POV

"Divorce? Miss Morgan, are you serious?"

The person on the other end was shocked.

"I remember you and Mr. Lancaster were the most compatible couple in our program back then. Later he left the aerospace field for his family business, and you gave up countless opportunities to stay by his side. Otherwise, with your abilities, you should have become chief aerospace engineer long ago. So many people envied your relationship. How could you..."

How could we be divorcing?

I gripped the phone, my fingers tightening slightly.

Yes, once upon a time, Peyton and I really were the envy of everyone.

We'd known each other since school, starting from heated arguments over a data model, then becoming lovers who were a perfect match.

From college to marriage, for all these years after our wedding, our relationship had been fulfilling and happy.

So when exactly did all of this start to change?

Probably from the moment I let her in.

Three years ago, I saw a news report about a girl named Summer from a remote area who ranked in the top three in the state but faced dropping out due to poverty.

In the photo, the girl's eyes were clear yet determined, just like my former self who would grasp at every opportunity to climb upward regardless of everything.

So I felt compassion and pulled Peyton into discussing sponsoring this girl.

Peyton initially thought it was troublesome, but couldn't resist my insistence and finally agreed.

We provided sponsorship in both our names, and when Summer started her freshman year, we brought her from the remote mountains to the bustling city and settled her in our home's guest room.

At first, Summer was timid and quiet, well-behaved and diligent in her studies with excellent grades, very grateful to us.

But somehow, after just a year, Summer became more and more dependent on Peyton.

Fixing computers, choosing courses, even forgetting an umbrella on rainy days, she would call Peyton for everything.

At first, Peyton found it annoying. He complained to me privately a few times, saying the girl didn't understand boundaries, and suggested renting her a place near campus so she could move out.

Back then, I didn't think it was a big deal. I even advised him to be more tolerant and patient.

Still, sponsoring Summer was my act of kindness, and I didn't want Summer's presence to affect his mood, so I went to look at apartments.

After I made all the arrangements and was preparing to find the right time to tell Summer,

Peyton changed his mind and said,

"Forget it, don't make her move. After all, we brought her out here. Making her move out now would make it seem like we don't want her around."

It was from that day that I vaguely felt something was wrong, yet couldn't pinpoint what.

By the time I finally understood what was wrong, it was too late.

When Summer didn't understand a problem, she went to Peyton.

When classmates bullied her, she went to Peyton.

When she had a fever or had nightmares, she still went to Peyton.

And Peyton went from initial impatience to gradually making caring for her a habit.

He would put down his work to pick her up from school, would answer her calls late at night, would stay by her bedside when she was sick. He even remembered Summer's menstrual cycle clearly.

Once, I went to school to visit Summer, only to learn that Summer's classmates all thought Peyton was Summer's boyfriend.

And Summer had never explained it once, tacitly accepting this relationship.

That day I went home and made a huge scene, forcing Summer to move out of their house.

I thought that by making Summer move out and cutting off contact, my marriage with Peyton still had a chance to be saved.

But I was wrong.

Not only did Peyton continue secretly sponsoring Summer behind my back, but he also had more opportunities to spend time alone with her outside.

After I found out, Peyton always said impatiently, "Since we brought her out here, we can't abandon her before she graduates."

"I just feel sorry for her, so I want to take care of her more. Wasn't it you who told me to be more patient and tolerant with her? How come now you're the one being so unreasonable and can't tolerate her?"

Only then did I belatedly realize what my moment of compassion had brought upon myself.

I tried every method to salvage my marriage with Peyton, but nothing could bring back his increasingly distant heart.

Whenever I confronted Summer, became hysterical, acted like a madwoman telling Summer to stay away from their lives, it always drew Peyton's disgust and displeasure.

In just two years, Peyton and I had countless arguments and countless fights because of Summer.

Even last month, because of Summer, I lost my five-month-old baby.

And Peyton dismissively said about it,

"Summer didn't do it on purpose. Giana, don't be mad at her. We can have another baby in the future."

My heart, riddled with holes, finally died completely and thoroughly in that moment.

He was no longer the Peyton I once knew.

"Miss Morgan, are you still listening?"

The person from the Aviation Bureau pulled my thoughts back.

"If you're having second thoughts, we can understand. After all, you and Mr. Lancaster loved each other so much..."

"I'm not having second thoughts."

I didn't wait for them to finish speaking before interrupting.

"Because I don't love him anymore."

Suddenly, Peyton pushed the door open.

"What did you just say? You don't love me anymore?"

He walked closer step by step, his eyes dark.

"Giana, say that again and see what happens!"

Giana's POV

I had my back to the ward door, lying on my side while taking the call.

When I heard the door open, I quickly hung up, put down my phone, closed my eyes, and pretended to be asleep.

Peyton walked in full of anger, but when he reached the bedside, I had my eyes closed with steady breathing.

He frowned and reached out to shake me awake.

"Giana, wake up. Were you having a nightmare? I heard you saying something about... not loving anymore?"

I slowly opened my eyes.

I lowered my gaze and said flatly,

"It's nothing. I just dreamed about our child who was five months along but never got to see this world. In the dream, he asked me why mommy didn't want him, asked if it was because we didn't love him."

Peyton's chest tightened, his breathing becoming somewhat stifled.

He sat down on the hospital bed and reached out to pull me into his arms, his voice somewhat strained.

"I know losing this child made you very sad, but we can have another one."

After a pause, he added, "In the future, however many you want, we'll have that many, okay?"

I didn't speak, only feeling that the warmth of that embrace could no longer melt the coldness in my heart.

We could have more children, but so what?

Having more could never bring back this child I had been so looking forward to.

Besides.

What Peyton didn't know was that after losing the baby last month, I had him unknowingly sign a divorce agreement and filed for divorce.

Soon, our divorce would be finalized.

I pushed him away and asked softly,

"Weren't you keeping Summer company? Why are you here? Is something wrong?"

"What are you saying?"

Peyton frowned in displeasure, scanning the bandages on my head and the cast on my left arm.

"You're my wife. You were in a car accident and hospitalized with injuries. How could I keep someone else company and leave you alone?"

I found his words quite laughable, because I'd already done the examinations myself, gone into the operating room alone to get stitches and have a cast put on.

Too lazy to argue with him, my tone remained flat.

"I'm not going to die. If you have things to do, go ahead. You don't need to worry about me. The nurses here are enough."

But Peyton didn't move.

We'd shared a bed for so many years. I could read him with one glance.

"Is there something else you want to say?"

Peyton's expression froze, his tone unnatural.

"Summer isn't feeling well. She wants to have the soup you used to make."

I stiffened. I was in a car accident and hospitalized with injuries, yet he came to ask for soup for another woman?

That soup was something I'd asked doctors about and tried making again and again, specifically to treat the stomach problems he'd developed when he was young.

Trying hard to suppress the emotions rising in my heart, I laughed sarcastically.

"Do you want me to go home right now and make soup for her?"

"...No, that's not what I mean."

Peyton also seemed to realize how absurd this request was. He quickly said,

"Giana, you don't have to do it yourself. Just tell me the recipe and I'll make it when I get back."

Five years of marriage, and he'd never cooked for me once. But now he was willing to make soup for Summer himself.

I tugged at the corner of my lips. "Fine. I'll tell you the recipe. Write it down."

Slowly and deliberately, I told him the recipe.

Peyton looked at me. "Giana, you..."

"Mr. Lancaster, Miss Summer says her wrist hurts terribly. Do you want to go check on her?" Just then, his assistant's voice came from outside the door.

Peyton's words were interrupted. He frowned, his tone impatient.

"I'm not a doctor. If she's in pain, can't you find a doctor to see her?"

Though he said this, he still turned and quickly left.

Watching the man's hurried departing figure, I couldn't describe what I was feeling.

Perhaps I was already so used to seeing him anxious about Summer that my numb heart couldn't stir up any waves.

After the soup was made, Peyton had someone bring me a serving too.

But I didn't have it. I lay in bed with my eyes closed, sleeping.

However, not long after, Peyton suddenly burst into the ward and yanked me up from the hospital bed.

"Giana!"

He was dark and menacing, his grip strong enough to crush my bones.

"What the hell did you put in that recipe? Summer had the soup and now her stomach hurts terribly! You'd better explain yourself!"

Giana's POV

The yanking made my arm hurt intensely, my vision went black, but I only raised my head to look calmly at the furious man.

"There's nothing wrong with my recipe."

"Nothing wrong?"

Peyton's eyes were dark, the force gripping my wrist intensified.

"I followed your recipe exactly when making the soup! If you hadn't tampered with it, why would Summer be in such severe abdominal pain after drinking it?"

His chest heaved as he stared at me, feeling a surge of rage rush to his head.

"Giana, what's happened to you? Summer is someone you chose to sponsor. You were the one who told me to be more patient with her! But now you can't even tolerate her. You constantly cause trouble for her. And you tried to poison her? When did your heart become so vicious?!"

These words were like fine needles stabbing into my already numb heart.

Looking at this familiar yet strange face, I suddenly found it somewhat laughable.

Five years of marriage, sharing a bed through so many days and nights, yet in his heart, I'd long become this despicable.

"Show the recipe to the doctor. Once the doctor sees it, they'll know whether there's a problem."

I suppressed the lump in my throat, looking straight into his eyes.

"Or do you simply not care what the truth is? You've just decided I'm trying to harm her?"

Peyton was thrown off by my question, his anger flaring even more.

"You've long disliked Summer, wishing she would immediately disappear from our world. How can I not suspect you tampered with it?!"

I laughed softly.

Then I forcefully shook off his grip, picked up the bowl of soup from the bedside table with my right hand, and drank it all in one go.

"Peyton,"

After finishing, I called his name.

"I've drunk the soup you made now too. If I really tampered with the recipe, then I'll soon be just like her. Is that enough?"

I watched his pupils contract sharply, then slowly continued,

"Or do you think even this isn't enough. You have to blame me for Summer's stomach ache and take out enough of your anger on me to be satisfied?"

Peyton felt a blockage in his heart. "What do you mean 'take out my anger'? We're husband and wife, not enemies. If you have any grievances, you can tell me. Don't speak in such cold, sarcastic tones."

"You and I have nothing left to say to each other."

I put down the bowl and lay back down with my back to him. "You should go. I want to rest."

"Nothing left to say?"

He roared, "Giana, explain yourself! What do you mean by that?!"

I lay motionless, completely ignoring him, as if I'd shut him out of my world entirely.

"Giana, I..."

He opened his mouth, about to say something.

"Mr. Lancaster!"

The ward door was hastily pushed open. The assistant stood in the doorway, anxiety on his face.

"Miss Summer finished having her stomach pumped. She's in her room crying really hard now, saying she needs to see you."

The assistant's appearance interrupted what he was about to say.

Peyton felt somewhat irritated.

"Got it. Go out first."

Then he turned his head, looking at Giana's thin back, his voice soft and gentle.

"Next weekend is Mom's birthday. Giana, let's go back together to celebrate Mom's birthday then, okay?"

Giana's POV

I didn't answer him.

Peyton stared at me. Finally, without saying anything more, he left the ward with an unclear expression.

Over the following days, Peyton came to visit me in the ward almost every day, but each time he stayed less than twenty minutes before being called away by phone.

I knew some of those calls were work-related, and some were from Summer.

And I didn't make a fuss or care anymore.

The second day after I was discharged, it happened to be Peyton's mother's birthday. In the evening, Peyton drove me to the Lancaster family estate.

The estate was filled with guests. Almost every notable figure in the area had come.

But for some reason, when I stepped into the hall, everyone started looking at me strangely.

Not understanding, I walked toward Peyton's mother. "Happy..."

"Shut up!"

Peyton's mother's angry voice suddenly rang out.

"Giana, how dare you step through the Lancaster family's door?"

Before I could react, Peyton's mother had already rushed in front of me and slapped me across the face.

The crisp sound made the entire banquet hall completely silent.

"You vicious woman!"

Peyton's mother's eyes were bloodshot, her voice trembling.

"You terminated a five-month pregnancy just like that? That was my bloodline! Peyton's first child! I've been hoping and waiting for so many years after you and Peyton married. I finally got this grandson, and you were cruel enough to abort him?!"

My face burned with pain, my ears rang, my mind went blank. I covered my face in confusion.

"Mom, what are you saying? I didn't..."

"Still trying to deny it!"

Peyton's mother grabbed my hair, her other hand viciously slapping my other cheek.

"All these years, how has the Lancaster family wronged you? You knew how much I wanted to hold this grandchild, yet you were so cruel and vicious. Because you had some conflict with Peyton, you terminated the pregnancy in a fit of anger!"

"No, I didn't..."

I tried to defend myself and explain, but Peyton's mother wouldn't listen at all. She cried heartbrokenly.

"The child was five months along, and you could bear to abort him... How can there be such a venomous woman in this world?!"

The surrounding gossip washed over me like a tide.

"My God, five months... the baby must have been formed, right? How is this different from a murderer?"

"I heard it was a boy too. Peyton's mother waited so many years..."

"So heartless. The Lancaster family treated her well. How could she do something like this?"

In the struggle, I stumbled and fell, my back hitting the corner of a table. The pain made my vision go black.

I struggled to lift my head, trying to find Peyton's figure in the chaotic crowd.

Our child had clearly died in the womb because of Summer, and I had no choice but to abort it.

But now, Peyton's mother was saying I aborted the child?

Instinct told me this matter must be related to Peyton.

Sure enough, Peyton looked away, too guilty to meet my eyes.

In an instant, I understood everything.

Peyton's mother grew more and more furious, ordering through tears,

"Someone! Beat her! I'm going to beat this vicious woman to death to pay for the child's life!"

The Lancaster family servants swarmed forward, taking sticks and beating me in a chaotic frenzy.

"Beat her to death! Beat her to death!"

People in the crowd were shouting, cursing viciously, "Don't hold back! Beat this vicious woman to death!"

The sticks came down. I was instantly beaten bloody. I fell to the ground, blood flowing into my eyes. My entire world turned blood red.

Giana's POV

Curled up, I hazily remembered the day last month when I lost my child.

That day was Peyton's birthday. I'd reserved his favorite restaurant.

It was supposed to be just a dinner for two, but Summer showed up uninvited, saying Peyton had taken such good care of her these past years. For his birthday, she wanted to come and offer congratulations to show her gratitude.

So Peyton had the server add a chair and let her dine with us.

During the meal, I got up to use the restroom.

When I came back, I took a sip of the juice on the table. The taste was a bit unusual, but I didn't think much of it.

Unexpectedly, not long after, terrifying suffocation and burning skin itchiness began to spread.

Realizing I was having an allergic reaction, I frantically grabbed Peyton's hand, telling him to take me to the hospital immediately.

But just then, a server carrying hot soup somehow slipped, and the entire pot of hot soup splashed toward Summer.

"Watch out!"

Peyton almost instinctively lunged over, shielding Summer in his arms.

The hot soup splashed onto his arm and Summer's calf.

"It hurts so much..."

Summer cried with tears streaming down her face, clutching Peyton's shirt tightly. "Mr. Lancaster, my leg hurts so much..."

"Giana, hang in there. I'll call an ambulance! Summer got scalded. I need to take her to the hospital first. Her injury can't wait."

Peyton picked up Summer and rushed out of the restaurant without looking back.

Leaving me alone, curled up in my seat, breathing becoming more and more difficult.

With trembling hands, I dialed 911. Every second waiting for the ambulance felt like torture.

In the ambulance, I'd already fallen into semi-consciousness.

When I woke again, I was in a hospital operating room.

The doctor told me gravely, "Due to your severe allergic reaction triggering violent contractions and oxygen deprivation, the fetus in your belly... has no vital signs. You must immediately undergo induced labor and dilation and curettage surgery, or you'll be in danger too."

Lying on the operating table, I felt my body and soul being hollowed out together.

Later, Peyton angrily investigated the restaurant, looking into my allergic reaction.

The truth quickly surfaced.

Summer had taken advantage of when no one was paying attention to switch my orange juice with mango juice.

Faced with questioning, Summer's face turned deathly pale, tears streaming down.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to... She was pregnant, I just wanted to be nice to her, so I switched her juice to fresh-squeezed mango juice, saying it was good for pregnant women. But I forgot she was allergic to mangoes..."

Seeing Summer crying with red, swollen eyes, looking full of remorse, Peyton softened.

He turned to me helplessly and said,

"Summer meant well. She didn't intentionally switch your drink. No one expected it would turn out like this. Giana, what's happened has happened. Blaming her won't help. Can you please stop holding it against her?"

Grief and fury surged through me, my heart bleeding. "Do you really believe she didn't do it on purpose?"

He frowned and sighed.

"Summer is still just a student. She's just a bit forgetful. Her mind isn't as complicated as you think. Giana, can you stop always looking at her with such prejudice?"

I never imagined that this child we'd long anticipated, his life in Peyton's heart couldn't compare to Summer's few light tears.

That was the last time I told Summer to get lost, the last time I had a huge fight with Peyton.

Memories tore at my heart. In reality, sticks rained down on me. I couldn't tell which hurt more. My heart or my body.

"Stop, everyone stop!"

Suddenly, Peyton rushed over and shielded me. "Who gave you the nerve to lay hands on her?"

"Peyton! Get out of the way!"

Peyton's mother was trembling with rage.

"This vicious woman killed the child, I..."

"Giana was the one carrying the child. If she wanted to abort it, she could abort it. If she wanted to keep it, she could keep it. No one has the right to tell her what to do."

His threatening gaze swept over the servants. "This ends here today. If I see anyone disrespecting Giana again, I won't let it slide."

His gaze was like a knife. Wherever it fell, servants lowered their heads and retreated, not daring to act out anymore.

Peyton didn't spare another glance at anyone else. He scooped me up horizontally and strode quickly out the Lancaster family gate, driving me to the hospital.

In the ward, the doctor disinfected and dressed my wounds.

After treating my injuries, the doctor left. Peyton sat down beside me.

"Does it hurt?"

He asked in a low voice, wanting to reach out and touch my face with heartache.

I turned my head away to avoid him.

His movement froze.

"Giana, I..."

He opened his mouth, about to say something.

"Mr. Lancaster!"

The ward door was hastily pushed open. The assistant stood in the doorway, anxiety on his face.

"Miss Summer finished getting her stomach pumped. She's in her room sobbing, saying she needs to see you."

The assistant interrupted, stopping Peyton from saying what he was about to say.

Peyton felt annoyed.

"Got it. Go out first."

Then he turned his head, gazing at Giana's thin back, his voice soft and gentle.

"Next weekend is Mom's birthday. Giana, let's go back together to celebrate, okay?"

"Peyton," I said, my voice hoarse.

"Why did your mother say I lost our five-month-old baby out of spite just because we were fighting?"