Chapter 41

A Life–Changing Vow I cried uncontrollably again because I wasn’t as strong as I thought. I don’t know where I got the courage to remain composed enough to take a photo before running out of the house.

Atlas hesitated momentarily before patting my back. His gesture was gentlemanly. Although he was a stranger, his comfort relieved me. The walls I had put up crumbled as I clung to him. Unexpectedly, I encountered him a few times today, and he saw how pitiful I was.

I didn’t know how much time passed, but I eventually stopped crying. Perhaps my tears had run dry.

Atlas patted me again and looked at me profoundly. Soon after, I saw the sky brightening and realized dawn was approaching.

“Thank you, Mr. Pierce. I want to go to my friend’s place at Amethyst Apartments,” I said.

He embraced me and nodded.

When I appeared before Ivanna in such a miserable state, she could hardly believe her eyes. She rubbed her half–opened eyes, thinking she was hallucinating. “Chlo, you… What’s happening? Weren’t you supposed to go back to your hometown?”

I stepped inside and threw myself into her arms. “Ivanna…”

She embraced my stiff and cold body, leading me into the bathroom. “Don’t say anything right now, don’t cry. Take a hot shower, all right?”

I entered the bathroom, shivering as my teeth clacked against each other, I turned on the heater and stood underneath the warm water. The warmth helped me regain my senses when Ivanna knocked on the door.

I changed into the dry clothes she gave me and saw she had prepared a bowl of ginger soup for me.

Suddenly, I thought of Atlas, who had stayed with me throughout the night. I wondered if he would appreciate a bowl of soup, too.

I passed Ivanna my phone. She looked puzzled, then realized what I meant. She was just as shocked as me when she flipped through the photos. Ivanna looked at me wide–eyed, her voice trembling as she asked, “A–Am I hallucinating?!”

She slapped herself, and I burst into laughter. My tears fell as I laughed until I nearly vomited again.

Suddenly, I picked up a fruit knife from the coffee table and cut my arm.

Ivanna exclaimed, “Chloe!”

She snatched the knife and glared at me. I knew how frustrated she was with me. However, when the knife sliced my skin, it released waves of pent–up emotions. It was a bizarre sense of relief.

While I didn’t encourage self–harm, it seemed to provide a way to release my suppressed frustrations.

s “Chloe, wake up! Is that scum worth your life?!” Ivanna yelled at me, “Have you ever considered what happens to your daughter if you die? What about your parents? Are they just supposed to fend for themselves?

“You might find relief if you die, but what about Ava? She’s still so young. Are you okay with letting her fall into that scumbag’s hands? Will Melanie treat her well? By then, she’ll be worse off than death.

“As for your parents, they mortgaged their house, but you haven’t paid off the loan yet. If you die, can that jerk repay it? By then, you’ll leave them wandering the streets without a roof over their heads. 1 “Your parents will carry a load of debt and be ridiculed! They’re both teachers who value dignity. Have you considered that jerk and his bitch dancing on your grave if you die? They’ll enjoy everything you’ve built without lifting a finger.

They’ll be living in luxury while abusing Ava. Your daughter will have nowhere else to go then!” Ivanna’s scolding jolted me awake. She was speaking the irrefutable truth.

“Don’t worry, I won’t die! I’m not that weak” I clenched my teeth and said each word firmly.

Honestly, I hadn’t considered dying. Even what I did at the river wasn’t about dying. I just wanted to cleanse myself and regain clarity because I had lost my sense of direction and purpose. I sat in a daze, letting Ivanna tend to my wound and console me.

She handed me a glass of water, saying, “Have a drink and nap. We’ll face this together when you wake up.

I accepted the water and downed it. Soon, drowsiness took over, and I gradually fell asleep.

It was already three in the afternoon when I woke up. I realized Ivanna had stayed beside me the entire time. The pain in my arm reminded me it was all real and not a nightmare.

I sat up and held my head, only seeing Matthew and Melanie entangled in my mind.

“Matthew, I will make your life a living hell!” I emphasized each word with unwavering determination.