"What''s going on? Your eyes just got better, and now your feet and hands are injured?"


    Sylvia eyed him suspiciously. "How did you know my eyes were healed?"


    The doctor paused, his head bowed, seemingly focused on examining her ankle.


    She felt a lump in her throat and slowly let out, "Rupert told you?"


    He didn''t respond, which was as good as a confirmation.


    Sylvia couldn''t help but grip the sheets tighter, letting him tend to her injuries. She felt like a bird with clipped wings, seemingly unable to escape Rupert''s control no matter how hard she tried. He did whatever he pleased, then cast her aside.


    A sudden pain in her ankle brought back haunting memories. The physical and emotional pain, the helplessness of losing her daughter; it was always pain...


    And now, it was no different.


    Why did it have to hurt so much, even without love?


    Why was it so hard to break free from this man who toyed with her!


    The doctor nced at her, offeringfort, "If it hurts, you don''t have to bear it in silence. It''s okay to scream."


    Sylvia remained stoically silent, biting down on her pain, sweat beading on her forehead.


    After the doctor finished, he looked surprised at Sylvia''s resilient yet shattered eyes. He always wanted to ask what had happened, but as a doctor, he wasn''t entitled to pry. He was still haunted by the memory of the day she inquired about organ donation for a child. "You''re all set. Try to get some rest," he said, offering a word of caution before turning to leave.


    Sylvia raised her gaze slightly, stopping him. "Wait. Could you do one more test for me?"


    The doctor, thinking she doubted hispetence, quickly exined, "Don''t worry, I''ve thoroughly checked you before. There''s nothing wrong."


    "There''s one test you haven''t done," Sylvia said coolly.


    The doctor hesitated, turning back to her. "What test?"


    "Pregnancy. It can be detected in just a few days, right?" "You..."


    "Arrange for a blood test for me."


    After Sylvia spoke, shey back down, silent.


    The doctor nodded.


    Soon, a nurse came with the equipment, took her blood, and told her the results would be avable shortly.


    Sylvia nodded silently. After lying


    back down, she touched her


    abdomen, feeling as though something But she couldn''t keep it.


    was slipping away el


    Less than half an hourter, the results were in.


    "Ms. Lloyd, you''re not pregnant." The nurse pointed to the indicators, speaking with certainty.


    Sylvia nodded emotionlessly. After the nurse left, she stared hard at the report, understanding the significance of those numbers.


    She couldn''t be pregnant! Not now, not in a month.


    Her Ste... was gone.


    Truly gone.


    Sylvia covered her face, overwhelmed by aplex sense of guilt.


    "Ste, I''m so sorry, really sorry..."


    Sylvia cried bitterly until exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep. In her dream, she saw a girl in a pink dress dancing. Suddenly, the girl stopped and smiled warmly at her.


    "Mommy, goodbye. Don''t cry, okay? We promised! Don''t worry, if anyone bullies you, I''ll bully them back!" "Ste, Ste..."


    Sylvia woke up abruptly, realizing she had slept for less than half an hour. But it felt long and exhausting.


    In the empty room, the thought of


    never seeing Ste again made


    breathing difficult. She core


    the reality of losing Ste forever.


    Finally, she called Naomi.


    "Mom, can youe and take me home?"