Seven Years a Shadow: The Stand-In's Escape novel Chapter 57

Suddenly, I remembered the night seven years ago when I had agreed to marry Elon.

He had looked at me with those same eyes.

I blushed suddenly, instinctively avoiding his gaze.

After the treatment, he took little one and me to the place he had already arranged for us to stay.

After settling us in, he quietly left.

From then on, he came almost every day to help take care of little one.

He even found an excellent rehabilitation hospital for little one.

Although he would never regain his former intelligence, with serious rehabilitation training, he would likely be able to achieve some degree of independence.

Rehabilitation training was tougher than I had imagined.

It was incredibly difficult for both little one and me.

During this time, I was so busy that I didn't have time to follow the news back home.

Choosing to leave with nothing meant I didn't have much money to spend.

Most of it was what I had quietly saved before getting married.

little one's rehabilitation was also a significant expense.

Although Donny kept promising that he would cover the costs, I still chose to find a job.

Even though my schedule was tight, I still stumbled upon some news about Elon.

After I left, not only did he send Eva and her son away, but he also had his will altered.

Originally, Christian was the only heir, but now the inheritance was left to little one and me.

Unable to find my whereabouts, he shamelessly posted a missing person notice.

He even pleaded with online users on social media, asking for their help to find me.

For this, he even used the company account to stream live.

Every day, he shared stories of our time together, from school uniforms to wedding dresses.

We had been in love for three years and married for seven.

If I hadn't discovered his betrayal, I would have naively thought we would stay together forever.

It was my foolishness that led to little one becoming mentally disabled.

I had my heart replaced, and whether I could live long enough to see little one grow up was uncertain.

Not a single day passed without regret.

Regret that I had fallen in love with him, which led me into this present predicament.

He had personally destroyed our future.

Elon, for the rest of my life, I only wish to never see you again.

After that day, I no longer paid attention to any news about Elon.

To me, he was nothing more than a familiar stranger.

But I never expected that I would meet him again.

Three months later, I continued to take little one to his rehabilitation sessions as usual.

While waiting for the red light, I accidentally looked up and met Elon's complex gaze.

He was standing across the street, eyes red, watching me and little one.

There was deep affection in his eyes, and some emotions that I couldn't quite understand.

I hugged little one tightly, without hesitation, turned around, and walked in the opposite direction.

Behind me, I heard his heart-wrenching cry.

"Natalie, please don't leave!"

I ignored him and quickened my pace, trying to escape.

Until a loud screeching sound of a car's brakes exploded in my ears.

I turned around, and my heartbeat seemed to stop.