When I Hit a Dead End, I Met You

The night was cool, with a touch of wateriness in the air.

Arianna Morrison leaned against the edge of the large bed, her gaze upon Chris Grimes revealing unbridled longing.

This was her husband, the man she loved with all her heart.

Arianna extended her trembling fingers, sketching the contours of Chris in the empty space, wishing she could truly touch him...

During the daytime, the doctor's words echoed in her ears.

"According to the CT scan, there is a tumor in your brain, and it's malignant, commonly known as 'brain cancer'..."

Suddenly, she felt warmth in her nasal cavity, followed by a rush of dark red liquid.

Arianna panicked, fearing that Chris would notice something amiss. She quickly covered her mouth and nose, rushing to the bathroom to clean up.

The sound of running water soon came from inside, rousing the lightly sleeping Chris. He was impatient and said, "What's all this noise at this late hour? Go wash up outside."

The sound of water stopped immediately, and shortly after, Arianna quietly emerged. Her eyes carried a hidden sense of humility and caution that Chris couldn't see.

"Chris, the hospital said you could have corneal transplant surgery next month, and it won't be long before you can return to a normal life," she said.

Chris tilted his head in the darkness, his expression filled with disgust.

"Are you unhappy?" Arianna's heart ached, but she persisted, "I heard that Chelsea has returned to the country..."

"Don't you dare mention her! Who do you think you are..." Chris' rage flared at the mention of that name, and he threw something from the bedside table in the direction of the voice.

Arianna was caught off guard and staggered a few steps, falling to the ground. She extended her hand, despite the pain in her abdomen, but it was too late.

The crystal figurine with two swans entwined, "clang," hit the ground. One of the swans had a broken, gracefully arched neck, and the heart shape was no longer complete.

At the same time, Arianna's heart shattered, just as it was cast to the ground, missing a piece.

"Does it hurt? A worthless wretch like you, throwing yourself at me, deserves nothing else." Chris' mocking laughter held no mercy. His unfocused eyes brimmed with disgust, and he gritted his teeth. "If it weren't for you insisting on marrying me, how could Chelsea have left? How could I have gone blind?"

His deep voice was cruel as a blade, stabbing at Arianna's heart, and the tears she had been holding back fell one by one.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault," she choked, wiping away her tears with determination. "But I don't regret snatching you from Chelsea. Because she..."

A glint of fire seemed to ignite in Chris' eyes, as if he wished to incinerate Arianna, and he suddenly yelled, "Enough! What are you, to even compare with her?!"

Arianna felt as if she had been burned. Her voice was so light it could shatter. "Yes, I'm not worthy. That's why I'm facing retribution..."

Chris didn't hear clearly, nor did he care. He waved his hand and signaled for her to come forward, as if calling a dog.

She was submerged in the depths of sorrow, her body involuntarily moving forward, displaying a fiery determination akin to a moth flying into the flame.

Chris raised his hand and moved it toward Arianna's face. This action ignited a light of surprise in her empty eyes.

But the next second, she plummeted into an abyss.

Chris fumbled and suddenly grabbed Arianna's neck, his fingertips with calluses slowly tightening.

"After the surgery, I'll have to see your disgusting face. Do you think I can be happy? If you want me to be happy, you'd better disappear, leave my world entirely..."

The spacious room fell into an eerie silence.