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I tried to move my injured fingers, took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and swallowed the regret in my heart.
Whether or not my current life is what I wanted, all my childhood dreams were shattered by Asher.
It was because of a single word from Adeline that he deceived me into believing my fingers were necrotic, cruelly allowing someone to amputate my healthy fingers.
How could I ever trust him again?
When I opened my eyes again, my gaze was cold and determined:
“Let’s get a divorce, Asher. How could I ever forgive you? What you did to me, the law might not punish you, but I believe you will always be condemned by society. That’s it. I never want to see you again.”
I thought that would be the end; someone as proud as Asher should have given up.
Yet he bought the house next to mine and moved in.
Every day, he would visit my Bed and Breakfast, bringing flowers and coffee, just to say he was sorry.
“Wanwan, I was wrong. I’m willing to give everything to make it up to you.”
He transferred all his assets, including company shares, to me. He even made it legally binding that regardless of what happens, all his personal assets would belong to me.
Months of waiting left him more haggard, but I remained unmoved.
The skiing season arrived. I had always loved skiing, going to the slopes with Asher every winter. This year, I still tried to find a moment of escape in speed and passion.
But fate seems to love playing tricks.
While challenging a high–difficulty slope, I suddenly lost control.
I hurtled toward the edge of a steep cliff like a kite with a broken string.
Fear engulfed me instantly.
Just when I thought I was about to meet my end, a familiar figure dashed out.
It was Asher.
He used all his strength to hold me, rolling with me through the snow until we finally stopped.
I was unharmed.
But Asher lay in a pool of blood.
His leg was pierced by a sharp rock, staining the snow red.
In the hospital, Asher lost a leg.
E
He lay on the hospital bed, looking at me, eyes filled with relief from surviving such a catastrophe:
Wanwan, as long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”
Looking at the empty space under his sheets, my feelings were complicated.
But my eyes were dry, and my heart felt empty of sorrow.
It turns out, some pain and hurt can never be let go.
“Asher, you saved my life, and I’m grateful. But that doesn’t erase the harm you’ve caused me.”
But my eyes were dry, and my heart felt empty of sorrow.
It turns out, some pain and hurt can never be let go.
“Asher, you saved my life, and I’m grateful. But that doesn’t erase the harm you’ve caused me!”
The light in Asher’s eyes faded.
After a while, he laughed at himself.
Laughed until tears filled his face..
After Asher was discharged, we returned to our country and completed the divorce formalities.
As 1 walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, I took one last look at the familiar sky, then turned to get into the car heading for the airport.
I knew that maybe the past wounds could never be completely erased, but I had to move forward and embrace a new life on my own.
