The Day I Died, He Married Her

Chapter 14

In the end, I relented and terminated the pregnancy.

My only condition was that they must never tell Ethan Winters.

During the early days of our intimacy, Ethan would visit me every week.

He was insatiable, keeping me awake all night, lost in passion.

Afterward, he would gently stroke my flat stomach, quietly sketching out the future we might share.

"Rachel, do you prefer a boy or a girl?"

"I love both." I turned to face him, studying his sweat-dampened profile. "What about you?"

"A girl."

"Why?"

He pulled me closer, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead. "Because she'd be just like you—sweet and beautiful. I'd cherish her with all my heart."

Then, with a mischievous whisper in my ear, he murmured something scandalous.

Laughing, I buried my face against his chest. Our playful tussling soon melted into another night of whispered promises and tangled sheets.

The baby had been a fully formed little girl.

When the doctor took her away, I stole one last glance.

Her delicate features mirrored mine—except for her lips and nose, which were unmistakably his.

I closed my eyes, letting silent tears slip free.

Perhaps this was truly the end for Ethan and me.

That child had existed.

She should have grown into a lovely young woman.

With parents who adored her. With a life untouched by sorrow.

But in the end, nothing remained.

Not even a single glimpse of this world.

From then on, my depression grew worse.

But I only told Vivian, begging her to keep it a secret.

Vivian sobbed, screaming at Ethan Winters, unleashing years of pent-up resentment.

"In our sophomore year, she swallowed her pride and begged you to get back together, but you coldly rejected her."

"Later, Lily Evans sought her out, bragging about how much you loved her, flaunting your life together."

"Rachel's condition had already improved, but after that provocation, she slit her wrists that very night!"

"If I hadn't found her in time, she would've died!"

"And when her parents passed away, Lily suddenly showed up, claiming she was pregnant with your child, begging Rachel to stay away from you."

"You know Rachel—she's always been obedient, used to swallowing her pain. She'd rather suffer herself than hurt others."

"After graduation, she drowned herself in work. Her stomach was already weak, but she kept drinking for business deals. That's how she ruined it!"

"She was only twenty-five when she got gastric cancer."

"Ethan Winters, you killed Rachel!"

"You—step by step—pushed her toward death with your own hands!"

Ethan stood frozen, his eyes bloodshot, his throat trembling violently.

After a long silence, he murmured, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why?"

His voice grew more frantic until, as if struck by madness, he seized Vivian's shoulders.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Why?" Vivian sneered. "Because she loved you."

"She loved you, so she didn't want to burden you."

"She loved you, so she wanted you to be happy."

"Because Lily told her that if she ever reached out to you, you'd only stay out of obligation."

"Rachel wanted your love, not your pity. Ethan, do you even understand that?"

Vivian's voice cracked with fury. "I despise you for what you did to her. Falling for you was the stupidest mistake of her life!"

With that, Vivian left, leaving Ethan alone, standing before my lifeless body, weeping uncontrollably.

"Rachel, I was wrong."

"Please come back."

What was he repenting for?

Didn't he know?

Late remorse is cheaper than weeds.