You and I, Never to Meet AgainChapter 1

Grandma always said that when she died, she wanted me to scatter her ashes in the sea—that was her wish.

But I couldn't do it.

I was diagnosed with cancer, and I was going to die before her.

To afford the ten thousand dollar-per-dose miracle drug, I willingly undressed and surrendered myself to Aaron.

He said, "Amanda, don't think you can leave me again."

I became his caged bird, and I lied to him, telling him I would stay forever.

***

The night I finished taking care of Grandma's funeral arrangements, I left Romland, leaving only a letter behind.

Missing person posters with my face were plastered all over Edgeville's subway stations.

Aaron was frantically searching for me, but all I wanted was to hide from him.

I am sick and will die soon.

Before that, I have to get rid of the child in my stomach.

The day I went to get an abortion, the doctor insisted the father sign the paperwork.

I hired an actor, but just as he picked up the pen, bodyguards surrounded us.

Before I could react, a cold, familiar voice came from behind me.

"Amanda, it's been only three days, and you've already found our child a new dad?"

Aaron... he found me.

I had chosen a small hospital to avoid being found, but he still tracked me down.

I couldn't escape him.

But I had already made up my mind—no matter what, I was leaving.

I grabbed his hand, his eyes bloodshot with restrained anger.

"Aaron, let's talk."

I smiled at him, already at peace, but he wasn't.

Aaron dragged me into the hospital room.

The moment we entered, his kisses rained down on me in a frenzy.

"Amanda, you're being disobedient. You're trying to run again."

He held me close, and for the first time, I felt his body trembling—he was scared.

"Aaron, I'm not keeping this child, and I don't want you either."

I spoke firmly, but it was as if he hadn't heard. He reached into my clothes, trying to unhook my bra.

"Amanda, if you give birth to our child, you won't leave, right?"

"Now that the old woman is dead, you have something else to hold onto, don't you?"

He... was acting insane.

Desperately, he continued to strip my clothes. I slapped him hard, my disappointment reaching its peak, and tears instantly spilled from my eyes.

"Aaron, listen carefully. I don't want you anymore. You can keep me locked up, but you can't make me stay."