Until one day, the dismembered victims from the “Butcher’s Brides” case were found in an abandoned basement in Fairview. At that moment, the system confirmed Tessa’s death.
My Tessa had been killed by the Butcher, and with her death, the system also declared my own ending.
The family and love I had spent ten years building all fell apart. It told me to end my life and leave this world.
But instead, I chose to use my death to bring justice to those poor girls who had suffered.
……
Atlas walked toward me, his face dark and cold. “Since you insist on going against us, then fine, I’m calling off our engagement.”
I nodded calmly, took out my phone, and typed a message. [Atlas and I have canceled our engagement.]
I lifted my phone to show them. “Is this enough?”
The three of them froze in place, stunned by my action. Atlas stared at me in disbelief, his jaw tightening as he gritted his teeth.
“Fine. Then you’d better get rid of the child in your belly, too. Who knows what you’ll do later using that kid?”
I placed my hand over my stomach, a faint, bitter smile appearing on my lips. “The child is already gone.”
As soon as I said those words, Atlas rushed forward and grabbed my shoulders.
“What nonsense are you saying! How could you be so cruel as to get rid of this child? How could you end our baby’s life without even telling me?”
It wasn’t surprising that he was shocked; he had seen how much I had looked forward to this child.
When my pregnancy was unstable, I endured those thick progesterone shots that left my belly bruised and sore. To help my baby grow stronger, I forced myself to drink bowl after bowl of bitter medicine, even when it made me want to vomit.
Though I was a doctor who believed in science, not gods or ghosts, I still placed a statue of God in my room and prayed sincerely every day, because I truly wanted this child.
In another world, I had been an orphan, always longing for someone connected to me by blood.
But I also knew that if this child came into the world unloved, like I once was, it would only bring more pain.
Atlas naturally thought that when I said the baby was gone, I meant I had ended the pregnancy myself.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he grabbed my hands, completely forgetting why he had come. He pulled me along, insisting that we go to the hospital to confirm it.
Just then, a cry came from behind. Heidi’s voice trembled with hurt.