Chapter 5
The air in the ward instantly froze.
These awkwardly clutched the medical chart and slipped out, leaving only Tessa and Clifford staring at each other across the mom
“Are you still mad about the blood donation? Clifford seemed to catch on. He stepped closer and reached out to touch Tru’s face. “It was a matter of life and death, Tessa 1 didn’t have a choice.”
She turned her head away, and his hand froze in midair for a second before dropping. He softly said, “Once things settle down, how about we take that trip to the snow mountain like we talked about?”
Teclosed her eyes, exhausted. She said nothing.
Clifford waited awhile, but she didn’t respond. He went on asking “When can you be discharged?”
She immediately sensed something amiss. She opened her eyes and looked at him before asking, “What is it?”
He hesitated before answering, “Tania wants to have beef stew. You make the best one. I don’t trust anyone else.
Tessa sat there, stunned. In a single moment, every emotion surged up inside her–grief, age, disbelief, and humiliation. She wanted to ask him what exactly he thought she was. His wife? Or Tania’s personal chef?
But in the end, she just quietly said, “Got it. I’ll make it and have someone deliver it after I’m discharged.
His eyes lit up He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “You’re always the most understanding.”
She numbly accepted the kiss, thinking to herself, “Yeah, I really am.”
She was so understanding that even after getting her ribs broken because of his mistress, she still had to get up and make the latter soup. “Tot want her baby to be bom safely,” she said softly.
cord finally seemed to notice something was off and frowned. “Didn’t you dislike that child before?”
no one missing
She smiled faintly. “Not anymore.” She sincerely hoped that their little family of three would be complete, with no one mi
He stared at her for a long moment, as if trying to read her expression. But in the end, he just glanced at his watch and stood up. “Tanda needs her meds. I’ll come back and see you later.”
The moment the door closed, she lay back on the bed, stared at the celling, and suddenly laughed. He didn’t return for five whole days after that,
Tessa was discharged and went home. As promised, she made the beet stew and had the driver deliver it to the hospital. Then, she started packing her passport, documents, and a few changes of clothes.
Her photo with cliffoed was still on the nightstand. She looked at it for a moment, then flipped it face down.
On the sixth night, Clifford finally retumed, but Tania wasn’t with him.
“Didn’t Tania come back with you?” Tessa Instinctively asked,
He looked at her for a long moment and said, “She’s still recovering at the hospital.”
“Ham’t she been discharged after all this time?” She frowned.
He gave a quiet hum in response, then walked over to her “Since she’s not around, it’s perfect timing. Tessa, remember that snow mountain trip I promised? Everything’s set Let’s go right now
Before she could respond, he grabbed her wrist and started pulling her out the door. His grip was so tight that she stumbled, and a sense of unease crept over her.
Clifford’s expression was stringe, and his eyes were cold.
The car ride was unbearably silent.
His boucles were white from gripping the steering wheel too hard.
Tessa stared out the window and felt her heartbeat growing faster and faster as the scenery blurred by
They arrived at the snow mountain cesort just before sunset. Just as they were about to climb further up, he suddenly said. “Tessor
Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
nodded. The wind howled around her, and she pulled her coat tighter as she waited.
something in the car.
Three hours passed. By the time the sky had gone completely dark, she finally called him. “When are you coming back?” Her voice shook from the cold.
But the line was silent. After a long pause, clifford’s voice came through, colder than the snow around her. “I’m not coming back. I’ve already driven off. If you want to go home, figure it out yourself. ”
“What are you talking about?”
This is your punishment. His voice was as cold as ice. “I told you to hang in there until the baby was born, but you added abortion drugs to Tania’s food. You nearly caused her to miscarry. Tessa, how did you to into tlus?”
His old, bitter disappointment sliced through her like a blade, causing her entire body to go numb
Abortion drugs? A miscarriage?
I did no such thing!” Tessa denied.
“Are you still lying?” he finally exploded. “You made that beef stew yourself. Who else could’ve done it? Tania valoes that baby more than her own life!”
The know whipped harder. Frost fomed on Tessa’s lashes. “So…you don’t believe me.”
“How am I supposed to believe you?” His voice was flat, “Walk back on your own. Think about what you’ve done.
The call ended
Tessa stood in the snow with her phone in hand, her fingertips already people from the coll. Clifford’s voice still echoed in her ears, cotting into her like knives.
She suddenly remembered the day they got their marriage licence. He’d pinned her against the wall of the courthouse and said, “Tess, if you ever try to run, I’ll keep you chained to me for the rest of your life.”
Now, he had personally abandoned her on a snow–covered mountain. The wind and snow grew stronger. She pulled her coat tighter and began walking down the
hill.
Then, a deep, thunderous numble echoed in the distance, merging with the phone’s busy signal and the howling wind
It was an avalanche.
Tessa tumed to run, but a wave of snow came crashing down, burying her. Pain shot through her right leg as it twisted beneath her. Shivering, she fumbled for her phone and dialed Clifford’s number over and over
On the seventh try, the call finally connected.
“Clifford There’s an avalanche, 1-”
“Hello?” A sickeningly sweet voice cut her off. It was Tania. “What did you say? It can’t hear you.”
In the background, overthe wind and static, Tessa linard Clifford’s gentle voice. “Who is it?+
“Wrong number.” Tania giggled “Mr. Jones, the oatmeal you made is amazing. Ever since someone tried to drug me, I feel so much better with you coolding.
Achunk of ice slammed into Tessa’s back. She couldn’t hold herself up any longer and collapsed into the snow, Right before she lost consciousness, she recalled one last blurry memory. On their wedding day, Clifford knelt before her and said, “Tessa, if I ever let you down in this life..”
Snow fell, burying every vow he never finished.
