chapter 4

The lunatic was subdued by neighbors and security who rushed in, and the police dragged him away. I was rushed to St. Mary's Hospital by ambulance.

The glass shards had gone deep. As the doctor stitched my wound in the ER, the anesthesia hadn't fully kicked in, and I could still feel a drilling cold pain.

In that moment, fear drove me instinctively to seek support from my family.

With trembling hands, I dialed Ethan.

"Ethan, I'm at the hospital. You need to come, now."

"What happened? I'm in the middle of dinner with a VIP client." His tone was laced with impatience, and in the background, I could hear elegant violin music and the clinking of glasses.

"I was attacked. Someone stabbed me with a bottle. I've lost a lot of blood, and it hurts. Please, Ethan."

"Sarah, can you stop joking? You stay home all day—who would go out of their way to stab you? You're over forty; can't you stop inventing these cheap scripts just for attention?"

"I'm not joking!" I screamed, my voice rasping with despair. "I am in the ER at St. Mary's right now!"

However, his next words pushed me into the abyss.

"Enough. I know you're still mad about your birthday. But making up stories like this is crossing the line. I'm busy, Sarah. If you keep making trouble out of nothing, I really don't see the point in us continuing."

"Fine," I whispered, tears swirling in my eyes. "Forget it. Pretend I never called. Enjoy your dinner."

He hung up immediately.

I froze for a moment, then shakily dialed Lucas.

"Lucas, baby, it's Mom. I'm at the hospital. Can you—"

He cut me off before I could finish, his voice full of annoyance.

"Dad told me you made up some crazy story about being stabbed. I didn't believe him at first, but... wow, you really went there. Mom, can you just chill? Please? Give us some peace! Auntie Hannah is teaching me how to taste wine; don't ruin the vibe."

"What? Wait. You're with your dad? He said he was meeting a client."

But before I could get an answer, Lucas hung up.

In that moment, I felt like a solitary leaf drifting aimlessly in a vast, merciless ocean.

Suddenly, a thought struck me. I opened Hannah's social media page.

Sure enough, there was a new video. The location was tagged: "The Gilded Lily," a high-end French restaurant downtown.

In the video, Hannah was wearing a backless evening gown, raising a toast to the camera. Behind her, Ethan was cutting a steak, and Lucas was swirling a glass of red wine. Both wore relaxed, happy smiles.

The caption read: "On this cold night, so grateful for your warm company. #FamilyTime #BestFriends"

I recognized the restaurant immediately. It was where I had wanted to go for our tenth anniversary, but Ethan had dismissed it as overpriced and pretentious, taking me to get fast food instead.

Tears surged out, heavy drops smashing onto my hospital gown.

The husband who had promised to care for me for life, the son I cherished above all else—they had both abandoned me. In an expensive restaurant, they were lavishing the care that should have been mine upon another woman.

"Auntie Sarah? Aren't Uncle Ethan and Lucas coming to see you?"

Toby's tender, hesitant voice pulled me back from the vortex of emotion. He had been sitting quietly by my bed, his small face written with guilt and worry.

"They aren't coming," I said softly, wiping away my tears. "But that's okay. Will you keep me company for a while?"

He nodded vigorously and grabbed my uninjured hand. "Of course! You got hurt saving me. I'll protect you!"

Looking at his earnest expression, my heart ached.

For years, I had poured my soul into loving my husband and son. That love had been the foundation of my world.

But now, that foundation had crumbled.

It was time to let go.

I looked at the neon lights outside the window and made a silent vow: From today on, I would rebuild my own life, brick by brick.