C05
Before I knew it, I drifted into a dream. It felt like I had traveled back in time–to the moment I first met Clive.
I was just a child, abandoned at the orphanage’s doorstep, crying for what felt like forever. I was hungry and
cold. Then, he found me. He took my hand, shared his food, and brought me inside.
I was timid, terrified of being left behind again, so every night, I clung to his hand just to fall asleep. When other kids bullied me, he was the one who fought for me, taking hit after hit until he was bruised all over.
Then came the rainy day when I found a tiny, drenched kitten barely clinging to life. I begged the director to let
me keep her.
To convince the director, Clive had even puffed out his chest and promised, “I’ll collect bottles and feed her
myself!”
The director had looked at me for a long time before finally nodding.
Later, I realized it wasn’t because the director wanted to help me–it was because he feared I wouldn’t survive
the loneliness once Clive was gone.
Trapped in a Marriage Fueled by Revenge
He had warned me, “Courtney, Clive has turned down so many adoption offers just for you. This isn’t good for his future.”
That was when I understood. Adoption meant new parents. No more abandonment. No more bullying. It meant warm meals and safety.
I remember the day Clive left. He had cried, clinging to my hand, saying he would take me with him.
But seeing his new parents hesitate, glancing at each other, I made my choice.
I shoved him away and shouted, “I hate you, Clive! Why do you always stick to me? You’re so annoying!”
Then, I turned to his adoptive parents and pleaded, “Uncle, Auntie, please take him with you now.”
Clive’s face twisted in disbelief before he bolted out the door.
But the moment he disappeared, I broke down, sobbing.
I knew then–I’d never have him by my side again. From that day on, only Daisy, my kitten, would listen to me.
How I wish back then she had a magic pouch, just like Doraemon, so she could pull out a door anytime and take
me to see Clive again.
But now that he was back, everything was different.
I don’t know how long I slept, but my body felt heavy.
I could hear a voice ringing in my ears–loud, desperate, repeating over and over. “Courtney, please wake up!
Don’t do this to me!”
Clive. His voice was hoarse. His grip on my hand was tight, almost painful.
Soon came another voice–calm, professional.
“Why has her condition suddenly worsened? I told her she couldn’t get agitated, couldn’t stay up late, or her illness would progress.”
I then felt him release my hand and heard him anxiously pleading, “Doc, hurry up and prescribe something! Save
her!”
After sighing, the doctor replied, “There is a medicine that could ease her pain and slow things down. But she
refused treatment. She said she had no money for it.”
Hearing that, Clive fell silent, then after a while he finally get a grip on himself and thundered, “She won’t die. Do
you hear me? I want her alive. If you can treat her, do it. If you can’t, get out and find someone who can! Call the best
specialists!”
