Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Before coming here, I prepped myself for anything. Since I was here, no point in avoiding it.

Trusting my gut, I knocked on the door to the left. The woman who answered was Sophie Hill, the same one I saw with Ethan yesterday.

"Who are you looking for?" she asked, sounding as innocent as she looked.

Seeing her big belly, I realized she must've known Ethan longer than I had. If we were talking about who came first, I was the one who shouldn't be here.

So, I had no right to show my pain or anger in front of Sophie, nor to question anything. I just wanted the truth.

"Hi, I'm Mr. Windsor's assistant. He asked me to come talk to you because I have experience with childbirth."

Sophie looked surprised. "Which Mr. Windsor?"

I was taken aback. 'How many Mr. Windsors could there be?'

"It's Ethan!" I was sure I hadn't mistaken her for someone else since I saw her at the hospital.

"Ethy?" Sophie suddenly got it, and her frown disappeared.

That "Ethy" sounded just like the one on the phone that day. So, I guessed this pregnant woman was why he left in the pouring rain that night.

"Please come in." She smiled politely and stepped aside.

Inside, I immediately saw the bag on the sofa, the same one Ethan had brought from the maternity store.

Sophie went to pour some water, and as I sat on the sofa, I noticed a few cigarette butts in the ashtray. They were Ethan's brand. I thought he should quit smoking.

Looking around, I saw the place wasn't much different from my old house. 'Does Ethan have a thing for helping the poor?'

Then I saw a school uniform hanging on the balcony. Judging by its size, it was about the same height as Sophie. 'Could she still be a student?' This thought made me uneasy. 'Ethan wants to fulfill his grandfather's wish but doesn't marry Sophie, who's pregnant with his child. Is it because she's still young?'

She placed a glass of water in front of me and sat on the other sofa. "Have some water."

"Thanks," I said.

"Why didn't you come with Ethy? He just left," Sophie asked with a simple smile, completely believing I was Ethan's assistant.

Facing such an innocent girl, I felt that asking more questions would seem pushy. "We were supposed to come together, but I had something to handle earlier, and Mr. Windsor is very busy, so we missed each other," I said, keeping it vague. Sophie nodded. "Ethy is a very busy person." She seemed understanding.

"No matter how busy he is, he still makes time for your check-ups," I probed gently.

"Ethy is a very good person," Sophie smiled, showing her cute little fangs.

I wondered, 'If she knew Ethan was married, would she still think he's a good person?' "How old are you?" I asked cautiously.

Sophie seemed to get my drift and smiled shyly. "I just turned nineteen this month."

She was really young. I felt a bit of sympathy for her.

Since I claimed to be here to talk about pregnancy experiences, I had to play the part.

My experience only lasted until I was five months pregnant, but I had lived longer and knew more.

Sophie listened intently, like a student in a lecture, trying hard to be a good mother despite her mistakes.

I couldn't bear to hurt her with even a word. Having been pregnant myself, I felt a natural sympathy for her, especially since she looked so pitiful.

"Don't you want a proper status? Your child will want a father too," I asked gently.

Sophie lowered her head sadly, her hands nervously intertwined, tears welling up.

"Of course I want it, but I know I can never have it," she said, showing maturity beyond her years.

'Is Sophie already so disheartened at nineteen?' I thought. Just then, the phone on the sofa rang. I knew that ringtone too well; it was Ethan's phone. Sophie moved a cushion aside, revealing Ethan's phone.

She answered it and said, "Ethy, you left your phone here."

I stood up nervously, wanting to leave, and heard her say, "You don't need to make a special trip. Your assistant is here; I'll have her bring it back to you."

I didn't know what Ethan said on the other end, but Sophie looked at me in surprise. My lie had probably been exposed.

After hanging up, she looked at me and asked, "Your name is Emily, right? Ethy is on his way here and wants you to wait for him."

Of course, I couldn't wait for Ethan here. I didn't want to see him at all right now. Knowing the truth, I had completely lost the courage to face him.

I grabbed my bag and rushed out the door. Even though she called after me, I ignored her and hurried down the stairs, losing a shoe in the process.

Just as I reached the bottom, I saw Ethan's car pulling up to the entrance of the neighborhood.

I hid under the stairs and only came out after I heard him go up. As soon as I stepped out of the neighborhood, my phone rang. It was Ethan. I hung up immediately and got on a bus. He kept calling, and I kept hanging up.

I stared quietly out the window, my mind in turmoil. Finally, I picked up my phone and composed a text message: [You should take responsibility for what you need to. Let's get a divorce.]

I typed and retyped those words many times before finally closing my eyes and sending it. Then I quickly turned off my phone.

At last, the world was quiet. Life's ups and downs were like this, and although this wasn't my first time experiencing such a rollercoaster, it still hurt because I had given my heart.

Last night, I had specifically messaged Lisa to switch shifts, so I was working the night shift today.

At night, the doors to the administrative building would be locked, so I wasn't worried about Ethan coming to the hospital to find me. But my mind was in chaos all night, and I couldn't calm down.

I thought about many things, from the first time I met him until now. Although it hadn't been long, it felt like we had gone through so much, and every event was still vivid in my mind.

Especially those few days at Greenfield Village, which were probably my happiest days. No wonder Martin asked Ethan when he would give him a great-grandchild, and Ethan said it would be soon.

When I had gotten used to Ethan's affection, care, and protection, I suddenly discovered that behind it all was manipulation, deceit, and betrayal. Anyone who experienced this would feel a heart-wrenching pain. My colleague on the night shift was bored and kept trying to chat with me, but I had no interest in talking, not even able to force a smile.

She must have noticed my lack of response and stopped talking to me, eventually lying down on a nearby chair to sleep. I sat there all night, not feeling the slightest bit sleepy.

At 8 a.m., the colleague taking over arrived, and I dragged my exhausted self out of the hospital.

There weren't many people at the hospital yet, so I immediately saw the figure standing at the entrance.

I pondered, 'What is Sophie doing here so early?novelbin

"Ms. Russell?" Sophie called out to me as soon as she saw me, as if she had been waiting.

Before she finished speaking, a familiar figure appeared in front of me, blocking my way.

I thought, 'What are they doing here together? Why do they have to make this so humiliating?'

Ethan stood there with a stern face, glaring at me with anger in his eyes.

'Shouldn't I be the one who's angry?' I calmly walked past him, intending to leave, but he grabbed my wrist tightly, causing me pain.

"Let go," I tried to shake him off, but he picked me up.

Sophie watched us with a complicated expression.

I didn't know what Ethan was trying to do in front of Sophie. She was pregnant, after all. This was too embarrassing.

"Put me down." I kicked and struggled, but he was strong and threw me into the car, buckling the seatbelt and slamming the door shut.

He quickly got in, started the car, and drove off.

I reached for the door handle, but he had already locked it. I kept trying to open it. "Unlock it, I want to get out."

Ethan's face was tense, and he didn't look at me, only staring ahead. "If you want to get into a car accident, go ahead and keep struggling. I'd be happy to die with you."

I stopped moving, feeling scared by his tone. The car was speeding, and I was afraid he might lose control.

I didn't move but turned my face away, refusing to look at him or talk to him.

The sound of the lighter flicking echoed many times, and the car was filled with the smell of smoke.

Ethan drove out of the city and headed towards the outskirts. In the rearview mirror, I saw a car following us closely. I recognized it as Ivan's car.

I finally couldn't help but ask, "Where are you taking me?"

"To give you the truth," Ethan said briefly, a cigarette in his mouth.

'Isn't the truth that Sophie is pregnant with his child?' I didn't know how long we drove, but we eventually stopped at Starlight City Prison.

I didn't know why he brought me here. When he got out, I followed. From the car behind us, Ivan and Sophie also got out.

The air outside the prison felt heavy and oppressive.

Ethan walked ahead silently, hands in his pockets, with Sophie following closely. I followed them.

At the reception, he filled out a form, took out his wallet, and handed over a stack of cash without counting it, along with the form.

After leaving the reception, we walked to the prison gate, where a guard said, "Let's go."

Sophie took a few steps and then turned back to Ethan. "Ethy, are you coming too?" Ethan lit a cigarette and smiled. "You go ahead. He won't want to see me."