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Her Partner's Darkest Fear is She'd Outshine Him
NovelShort
Completed
After 10 years of trying, Marianne Marlowe was finally pregnant. But Kennedy Bryden, her partner, was preoccupied with taking care of Suzanne, the daughter of his first love. The little girl only had to call him "Uncle Ken," and he would cook for her in the middle of the night or risk his life for her future. But when it came to Marianne, all he had left was impatience. "Do you really have to compete with a little girl, Marianne?" Marianne smiled faintly. "Not anymore." She made her decision. She let him—and their baby—go.
Chapters (10)
第1章
After 10 years of trying, Marianne Marlowe was finally pregnant. But Kennedy Bryden, her partner, was preoccupied with taking care of Suzanne, the daughter of his first love.
The little girl only had to call him "Uncle Ken," and he would cook for her in the middle of the night or risk his life for her future.
But when it came to Marianne, all he had left was impatience.
"Do you really have to compete with a little girl, Marianne?"
Marianne smiled faintly. "Not anymore."
She made her decision. She let him—and their baby—go.
——
Marianne walked away from the life they had built together. She eventually married her childhood sweetheart, a man with powerful connections, and became pregnant again with a long-awaited baby.
But this time, Kennedy was on his knees, crying and begging her.
"Marianne, please… come back with our baby."
[Dr. Obrien, I've made up my mind. Schedule me for an abortion as soon as possible.]
Marianne typed out another text.
[Director Angus, I'm not planning to conceive anymore. You mentioned before that a certain investor wanted me for a film. Is that offer still available?]
Replies came almost immediately.
Director Angus's message was full of enthusiasm. [Absolutely! The investor returned to the country and funded this project specifically for you, Marianne. The role is yours whenever you're ready!]
Marianne's response was quick. [Great! I'll come in tomorrow for a fitting!]
Dr. Obrien's response, however, carried a softer tone of concern. [Marianne, you've gone through so much to get pregnant. Are you sure you want to abort your baby?]
Marianne's stomach churned as she read the message. Instinctively, she touched her belly, where the baby she had worked so hard for was growing.
'I'm so sorry, my baby. Please forgive me,' she apologized quietly. 'I can't bring you into a world where your dad doesn't want you.'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Kennedy's sharp voice.
"What's wrong with you now?" he asked as he walked into the foyer, his irritation filling the air.
Marianne quickly pulled her hand away from her belly, forcing her voice to stay calm. "Nothing," she replied quietly.
Kennedy frowned. "If you've got something to say, just say it already. I need to get back to Suzie."
As he moved toward the door, Marianne didn't bother to explain further.
"Go on," she said, her voice hollow. "She's more important than me anyway. I'm fine—I just had a stomachache."
Kennedy let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the space between his eyebrows as if exhausted.
"Marianne, look, Suzie can't take care of herself. She needs me. But you?" He paused, his tone hardening. "Why do you always have to compete with a kid?!"
Marianne froze at his words, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.
'Right, why am I still trying?' she asked inwardly. 'He's not the man I fell in love with anymore.'
Her mind drifted back to when they first met. They had been on a film set, and Kennedy was being bullied by the lead actor. He was forced to kneel for hours, repeating the same scene until his knees were raw and bruised.
Marianne couldn't bear it and stood up for him, only to get blacklisted herself. Her punishment came swiftly—freezing water scenes in the dead of winter, with no one helping when she nearly drowned—except Kennedy.
He couldn't even swim, but he jumped in after her, coughing and choking as he pulled her. Cradling her frozen face in his hands, he swore he would protect her for the rest of his life.
After Kennedy became a superstar, Marianne had wanted to return to acting, but he wouldn't hear of it.
"I'll make the money," he told her. "You don't need to suffer in this industry. Just stay home and take care of our family."
And that's how she spent the next 10 years—trapped as the perfect housewife. From reviewing contracts for his films to sewing buttons on his shirts, everything fell on her shoulders.
Their distant but quiet life changed the moment the young girl Suzanne entered the picture.
Suzanne's mother, Kennedy's first love, had passed away, leaving the nine-year-old girl in his care. The young girl even took his last name.
From that moment on, in the parts of his life Marianne couldn't see, Kennedy poured all his love into Suzanne.
All Marianne got in return was indifference.
Meanwhile, Marianne's health had never fully recovered from the icy lake incident.
To have a baby, she endured endless injections and stuck to a crazy strict diet, weighing every morsel of veggies to the gram. And when ovulation came, she endured getting humiliated—just to beg Kennedy to make love with her.
第2章
When Marianne saw her ultrasound report, she jumped up and down in the hospital hallway. She spent the rest of the day clearing out entire shelves from one maternity store to another.
The day also marked her and Kennedy's 10th wedding anniversary. She called him, saying, "Hey, can you come home early tonight? I have something really exciting to tell you!"
For once, Kennedy sounded thoughtful. "How do you make comfort soup that doesn't taste bitter? I've been trying to figure it out."
Marianne quickly sent him a list of her best recipes, feeling hopeful. Maybe he was planning a sweet surprise for their anniversary—or maybe even for the baby!
But the hours dragged by, and midnight came without him.
Instead of hearing the door open, her phone buzzed. It was a notification from Instagram—a post from Suzanne's account.
[Uncle Ken's comfort soup, y'all! Mmm, so sweet! Not bitter at all! I swear my cramps are completely gone!]
The post showed a rare photo of Kennedy in the kitchen, sweat dripping from his forehead as he stirred a pot of soup.
Sweet? Marianne had never been given that kind of sweetness.
Bitter? Suzanne had never had to swallow the bitterness Marianne endured every day.
As she thought about everything she'd endured over the years, Marianne couldn't stop shaking. Sitting on the couch, tears ran down her face, cutting like knives.
For years, Suzanne had always clung to Kennedy, calling him "Uncle Ken" in the sweetest voice. Whenever Marianne tried to get time alone with him, Suzanne would conveniently fall "sick," cut her wrists, or even threaten to jump off a building.
"You can't have kids, Uncle Ken," Suzanne had once told him. "If you do, you won't have enough love left for me."
And Kennedy had listened—he'd pull further and further away from Marianne, growing colder with each passing year.
But with Suzanne? He was constantly warm and attentive. She'd get a scratch, and he'd fly home from another country to check on her. He skipped milestone moments in his life with Marriane just to attend Suzanne's debut.
It was clear: Marianne would never win against Suzanne and would never be enough for Kennedy.
But now? Marianne didn't want to keep him for herself anymore.
She didn't want anything to do with him.
"If your stomach hurts, take some meds," Kennedy said flatly. "Don't be dramatic. You're not a kid."
His face was cold as he handed her a box of painkillers. "Three times a day, one pill each time. But since your stomach's weak, take half a pill."
Marianne could tell from the peeling labels and half-empty packs—they were Suzanne's leftovers.
"Got it," Marianne said, her voice resigned. She didn't have the energy to argue anymore.
Not now, not ever again.
Kennedy must've realized he'd been too harsh. Or maybe the tears on her face made him feel guilty. His tone shifted slightly as he added, "Here, I got you something."
He pulled out a large box, wrapped in purple—the color she'd always loved.
It had been years since he'd made any effort like this.
Marianne wiped her nose and carefully unwrapped the box.
But the first thing she saw was the label: Anti-Aging Kit.
"Suzie helped me pick it out," Kennedy said proudly. "She thought it was perfect for you. Do you like it?"
'Anti-aging? I'm only 29. How old did Suzanne think I am?' Marianne thought bitterly.
Clearly, this wasn't just a gift—it was Suzanne's latest insult.
Every time the three of them attended a party, Suzanne would cling to Kennedy's arm, calling him "Uncle Ken" in the sweetest tone.
But when she addressed Marianne, her voice would rise, making sure everyone could hear loud and clear: "Aunt Marianne!"
Marianne was only 10 years older than her. Calling her "Marianne" or even "Miss Marianne" would've worked just fine.
But no—Suzanne always emphasized "Aunt," highlighting their age gap, rubbing it in like a little jab to remind Marianne how much younger and more desirable Suzanne seemed in comparison. It used to make Marianne's skin crawl.
The anti-aging "gift" might've snapped Marianne or might've made her explode into a scene. But now? She just didn't care anymore.
[Uncle Ken! Does Aunt Marianne like the gift I picked? [smiling face with smiling eyes emoji] [star-struck emoji]]
第3章
A message popped up on Kennedy's phone.
Marianne glanced at it and caught a glimpse of his reply: [Oh, she loves it! Suzie, you did a great job picking that gift!]
She couldn't help but notice how this usually cold and distant man now had a phone full of cute cat emojis.
With a blank expression on her face, she shut the phone and tossed the gift box aside. No yelling, no crying—just a suffocating silence.
For once, Kennedy was caught off guard. Something about Marianne seemed… different.
"Now that I gave you the gift, I should get back—Suzie needs me. She can't handle things on her own."
He said it like he was testing her, waiting for a reaction.
But Marianne's voice came out calm. "Kennedy, let's break up."
Her expression was unreadable. Her words sounded like she'd practiced them a hundred times.
Kennedy blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm serious," Marriane replied. "Let's end this, Kennedy."
Her eyes, usually soft and timid, now gleamed with an unfamiliar resolve.
"You're breaking up with me because I stayed with Suzie when she wasn't feeling well? Is that it?" His face turned red as he grabbed her wrist tightly. "Don't forget—without me, how will you even survive? I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Don't bring it up again."
She didn't understand. 'Isn't this what he wanted? Shouldn't he be relieved I'm the one walking away?'
Before she could say anything, Kennedy's phone buzzed again. This time, a series of texts lit up the screen.
[Uncle Ken, you don't need to come take care of me. I'll be fine.]
[By the way, how do I turn off the gas stove? Uncle Ken, the house smells weird…]
The text made his face pale. Letting go of Marianne's wrist, he grabbed his keys and bolted for the door.
The sudden movement knocked Marianne off balance, and she stumbled, her hand brushing against the gift box she'd prepared. The lid fell open, revealing a tiny pink bunny-themed baby outfit.
Kennedy paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder. "What's that?"
A flicker of panic crossed Marianne's face, but she quickly smirked and said sarcastically, "What else? A bunny costume. Why don't you let your darling Suzie wait, and we can have some fun instead?"
Kennedy scowled. "Suzie might be in danger, and this is what you're thinking about? Marianne, do you even have a heart?"
With that, he slammed the door behind him. The loud bang made Marianne's stomach churn.
"Yeah, I guess I don't have a heart anymore," she muttered to herself. "It's been broken beyond repair long ago."
Slowly, she stood up, gathered the baby clothes, and called an orphanage to come pick up a donation.
If Kennedy had stopped—just for a second—he would've seen what those clothes meant. But he couldn't even spare her a moment.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. A message from Dr. Obrien.
[Marianne, based on your health, it's best to schedule the procedure around the 50th day of your pregnancy.]
Marianne still had to wait 20 more days. That thought made her restless.
Her plan had been simple: break up, get the procedure, and leave Kennedy's place.
But now she had to hide her pregnancy, find work quickly, and build up enough money to escape the Brydens for good.
At the same time, the doctor was texting Kennedy.
[Kennedy, I've been stalling as much as I can. Do something before it's too late. Take care of Marianne and fix this.]
Confused, Kennedy frowned at the message. 'Stalling for what?' he wondered.
But he was so busy that he could only glance at the text and turn his phone off.
He was on set, helping Suzanne prepare for her audition.
Out of respect for the famous actor, the director had agreed to let the young girl play a small supporting role.
"Uncle Ken," she whispered. "I'm so nervous my stomach's acting up. Did you bring the meds?"
Kennedy froze. The painkillers—he'd left them with Marianne the night before.
For a brief moment, her face flashed in his mind, and he felt something heavy settle in his chest.
第4章
Marianne used to be religious about texting Kennedy reminders—what to wear, how the weather was, what to eat. But today, she didn't send him a single text.
Normally, a quick errand would've been no big deal. Yet Kennedy insisted on dragging Marianne into it.
[Marianne, Suzie's stomach hurts. Bring over that box of meds from last night ASAP.]
He sent the message, but all he got back was a little red exclamation mark.
'Fuck… Did she block me?' Kennedy wondered, his brows pulling together, his face darkening.
'Damn it,' he cursed internally, realizing Marianne did block him. 'When it really came to Suzie, that woman always blew things out of proportion. Completely unreasonable!'
But he knew Marianne—she'd come crawling back soon enough, picking up right where she left off as his walking weather report.
Marianne had a makeup test scheduled with Director Angus, so she'd arrived at the set early. It had been years since she'd worked, and she wasn't exactly A-list anymore. Making people wait on her wasn't an option.
Unfortunately, Kennedy's crew was filming right next door.
"Scene one, take 36. Action!"
Kennedy was playing the male lead, rejecting the supporting actress's confession of love. The scene required her to steal a kiss from him.
It should've been easy—just a quick peck, like a bird snatching a crumb. But Suzanne managed to mess it up 35 times, her lips pressing against his over and over.
"Uncle Ken, I don't know how to kiss. I'm so nervous…"
"Uncle Ken, I still don't know…"
The crew was losing patience, but with Kennedy on set, no one dared to speak up.
"It's okay, Suzie. Let's try again," Kennedy said calmly, ruffling her hair.
When he glanced up—he saw Marianne walking toward him.
'Hah. I knew it,' Kennedy thought to himself. 'She came before I could coax her.'
"Aunt Marianne!" Suzanne called out with a bright smile. "Are you here to visit Uncle Ken? He's teaching me how to act!"
Marianne cursed under her breath but stayed where she was, arms crossed. Suzanne's acting was terrible, and Marianne watched the young girl make a fool of herself
"Uncle Ken, Aunt Marianne doesn't like me hanging around you. Maybe we should skip this scene?" Suzanne suggested.
Kennedy disagreed. "Why should her opinion matter?"
As if to spite Marianne for daring to break up with him, Kennedy suddenly pulled Suzanne into his arms. Their lips met in a heated kiss as they entwined with each other.
"Cut! Perfect!" the director called.
Finally, the scene was done.
Marianne stood frozen, her nails biting into her palms.
The stress must've hit her baby because nausea came rushing in like a tidal wave. She clutched her belly, hand over her mouth, barely holding herself together.
Kennedy pushed Suzanne aside and looked Marianne's way.
Marianne forced herself upright and made her voice sound loud. "God, it's the middle of the day, and some people are already making me want to puke."
Of course, she still couldn't stand Suzanne.
Kennedy let out a long breath, but when he looked again, Suzanne was no longer beside him.
After seeing how seriously he kissed Suzanne, why did Marianne bother them?
Marianne found an empty corner to sit, wiping her mouth clean as her stomach settled.
"Aunt Marianne, I'm sorry! Kissing Uncle Ken is just part of the job," Suzanne chirped as she walked over.
Her tone was sweet, but the smug look on her face gave her away.
"Good for you. Hope it pays off big," Marianne shot back, her face unreadable.
"Then why are you sitting here all alone? Not feeling well?" Suzanne smirked. "Or are you just jealous?"
But Marianne wasn't in the mood to play nice. "If you've got time to worry about me, maybe focus on improving your acting instead. At least then the crew won't look ready to quit."
Suzanne blinked in disbelief. 'Since when did this quiet little mouse grow her claws?'
Then, she fired back, "No matter how bad my acting is, Uncle Ken will always back me up. What about you? What do you even have?"
第5章
Marianne stayed quiet, and Suzanne knew she had won.
"Uncle Ken will always remember his late first love and love me," Suzanne added. "I'm her daughter, and I look just like her. But you? Nobody loves you."
She flashed a sly smile and gave Marianne a pitiful look. "You need to realize, the living can never beat the dead."
'True,' Marianne thought, 'the living couldn't compete with the dead.'
But a person with a dead heart didn't need to compete.
"Well, good luck trying to take my place. I hope you and your dear Uncle Ken end up happy together," Marianne said coolly as she stood to leave.
But as she stepped away, Suzanne stuck out her foot.
In an instant, Marianne lost her balance. She fell straight into the lake, and cold water quickly surged around her.
"Ahhh!" she cried. "Help! Hel—"
The foul, freezing water rushed into her mouth, choking her, and leaving her unable to scream properly.
Her limbs went numb, and a sharp ache pierced her stomach.
Even though she knew the baby would eventually leave her body, she instinctively curled around her belly.
"My baby… my baby… hang on," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the splashing.
"Marianne!" a voice broke through her panic.
'Am I hearing things? It sounds like…' she thought, 'Kennedy?'
Just as she was about to sink completely, she felt a hand grab her, pulling her toward the surface.
From the shore, voices shouted.
"Mr. Bryden, don't jump in! You can't swim!"
"Sir, stop! We've already called for help!"
It was indeed Kennedy saving her.
His hand didn't stop gripping hers, pulling her up while the people on the shore reached for her.
That moment was like deja vu 10 years ago.
Back then, he jumped in without thinking, knowing he couldn't swim, just to save her.
"Marianne, don't worry. I'm here!"
Today, he made the same choice.
'Why?' She wanted to ask him so badly. 'Why save me when you don't even love me anymore?'
Before she could speak, Suzanne screamed and jumped into the water.
"Uncle Ken! You can't swim—what if you drown? I'll save you!"
Then she started flailing in the water.
"Uncle Ken… help me…"
"Suzanne! Where are you?" Kennedy immediately let go of Marianne and turned to where Suzanne had fallen.
Marianne reached for him, but he pushed her away.
The shore was so close. If only he had held on for one more second, she could've made it.
But without him to hold her up, the icy water dragged her back under, the shore and the shouting voices becoming distant.
As darkness enveloped her, one thought echoed in her mind.
'Suzanne was right. I can't win against her.'
Ten years ago, Kennedy had jumped in to save her without hesitation.
Now, 10 years later, he let her go just as easily to save Suzanne.
If that's how it was, what was left for Marianne to hold on to?
When she opened her eyes again, the blinding hospital lights made her dizzy.
Dr. Obrien came rushing over, immediately scolding her. "Marianne, do you realize how reckless you were? You almost lost the baby!"
"Whatever. If it's gone, it's gone." Marianne said, giving a half-hearted, lifeless smile. She couldn't even force a real one.
The doctor was stunned.
Marianne had been coming to her for years. Just recently, when Marianne got her pregnancy results, her eyes lit up with joy.
But now… all that light was gone.
"It's that damn Kennedy, isn't it?" the doctor muttered angrily. "Stop saying things out of spite. I'll call him right now and tell him to come stay with you!"
"No need. Don't bother him," Marianne interrupted.
'Don't bother him while he's with someone else,' she wanted to add.
"Marianne, what are you saying?!" the doctor snapped. "If something's wrong with the baby, he needs to know! It's his child! What's he so busy with?"
第6章
The usually mild-tempered doctor lost her cool and grabbed her phone, ready to make a call.
But when her eyes landed on Marianne lying on the bed, her resolve softened.
Dr. Obrien was scared. If Suzanne's voice came through on the other end, it might push Marianne over the edge. The baby in her womb would truly be in danger.
"Ugh, forget it, I won't call him. Don't stress yourself out." Dr. Obrien let out a heavy sigh, one after another.
"Okay." Marianne wiped away her tears and turned over, only to see her phone screen light up.
Message after message from Director Angus popped up.
[Marianne, where are you?!]
[Marianne, the sponsor has been waiting for three hours!]
Quickly brushing away her tears, Marianne turned to the doctor. "I can leave now, right?"
Dr. Obrien panicked. "What are you planning to do? Your body can't handle this!"
"Marianne, listen to me!" she added. "The baby's the priority! I'll call Kennedy to pick you up…"
"Marianne! Marianne!"
The heavy sound of the door slamming shut silenced Dr. Obrien's shouts, cutting them off behind the hospital room door.
Meanwhile, Marianne texted the director. [Director Angus, I'm so sorry. I've had some health issues and couldn't make it earlier. If I come now, will it still be okay?]
The reply came swiftly. [What happened? Are you alright?]
Director Angus's concern seemed uncharacteristic. Normally, he wasn't the type to fuss. Still, the warmth in his words tugged at Marianne's heart.
[You've probably heard about someone falling into the lake on set, right? That… that was me.]
As soon as she sent the message, a wave of embarrassment hit her. Anyone on set could tell him what happened—that she had been provoked by his boyfriend's other woman and abandoned by her boyfriend, left humiliated and soaked.
[I'm glad you're safe now. Send me your location. I'll send a car to pick you up.]
Marianne thought he was just being polite, but five minutes later, a sleek Maybach pulled up outside the hospital.
'Director Angus' she thought. 'When did he get so rich?'
"Miss Marlowe, please get in." The driver, wearing white gloves, carefully opened the door for her.
The car's interior carried a light, pleasant fragrance—familiar yet soothing. Marianne couldn't recall where she had smelled it before, but it did calm her nerves.
As the car left the city, the roads became wider, and so did her mood. Soon, she'd be able to restart her career. Her path would only grow brighter.
If she had never paused her acting career to play housewife, who knows how many Best Actress trophies she'd have by now?
Lost in her daydream, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden call from Alissa Cross, Kennedy's manager.
"Marianne, where are you? Hurry over! Kennedy's in danger!"
Marianne's voice was steady. "Alissa, whatever happens to Kennedy has nothing to do with me. You should talk to Suzanne instead."
"Please, don't be like this, Marianne. I'm begging you, come talk some sense into him!"
"I'm busy right now."
"This is serious! He's going to die! Kennedy's gone mad—he's refusing to use a harness for a rooftop stunt. It's suicide…"
The phone slipped from Marianne's hand and fell to the floor.
She had thought about breaking up with Kennedy. She had thought about never seeing him again. But she had never, not once, thought about him dying.
'Fine. This time, I'd treat it as our final goodbye,' she decided.
"Excuse me, could you take a detour to Skyline Studios?"
Clenching the fabric of her coat, Marianne's palms were damp with cold sweat.
第7章
When Marianne showed up at Kennedy's set, it hit her just how bad things really were.
The place was packed—people everywhere, gawking at the chaos like it was the hottest show in town.
The second Alissa saw her, she rushed over and practically dragged her inside.
The moment Marianne met Kennedy's eyes, he looked away first.
"Kennedy, I brought her here! You always listen to her, right? She'll talk some sense into you!" Alissa shoved Marianne forward.
But Kennedy didn't even glance at Marianne. "You shouldn't have come. Don't bother with me."
And then an annoying, child-like voice rang out again.
"Uncle Ken, please come down! Don't risk your life for me!"
Marianne whipped around and stared at Suzanne. 'Risk his life? For her?'
"Oh, so that's Suzanne?" someone whispered nearby. "I heard Kennedy's risking his life just to keep her role."
"Well, the new sponsor's calling the shots now. What can you do? You can't fight the money."
Listening to the discussions around her, Marianne finally pieced everything together.
Apparently, the original investor for Kennedy and Suzanne's film had pulled out. The new sponsor stepped in with one condition: Suzanne could stay in the cast, but only if Kennedy performed a rooftop jump—no harness, no safety net.
So, he was willing to gamble his life… for her career.
And Marianne? Why the hell was she even here?
Alissa's tone softened. "Marianne, I know this is unfair, but come on, it's a life we're talking about here. And he's still your—"
"He's not my anything. We're strangers."
Marianne shook Alissa off, wrapped her coat tighter around herself, and turned to leave.
Just then, Kennedy suddenly leaped off the rooftop.
"Is he okay? Hurry up! Check him!"
"Mr. Bryden!"
"Call an ambulance!"
The crowd lost it. The set was a mess.
Marianne tried to push through, but the panic made it impossible to move. Her breathing got harder and harder.
"Excuse me! Please, let me through—"
But the noisy crowd quickly drowned out her voice. She was shoved and jostled, and the pain in her body was unbearable.
And then she felt it—a warm gush running down her legs.
Could it be…
"Move! Let me through!"
She stumbled through the sea of people, heading toward a car, but the second she got close, a wall of reporters swarmed her.
Flashes blinded her as microphones were shoved in her face.
"Miss Marlowe, is it true your boyfriend jumped off a building for another woman?"
"Miss Marlowe, how do you put up with this? Can you share your experience?"
Seeing that she was alone, the reporter asked more and more harsh questions.
Marianne felt dizzy. "Please make way. It hurts..."
Bur reporter still asked relentlessly.
"Miss Marlowe, are you a doormat in this relationship? Did you just stand by while they were together?"
"Miss Marlowe, who's the real girlfriend here? Are you the side chick? Honestly, you seem like the side chick."
"Miss Marlowe—"
"Enough! Back off!" Out of nowhere, a team of massive security guards pushed through and surrounded her, forming a human shield.
Then, a strong arm pulled her into a protective hold, a black trench coat blocking out the cameras.
"Don't be scared, Marianne. Come with me."
Even though they got her to the hospital in time, it didn't matter. The baby was gone.
Dr. Obrien slammed her fist against the wall in grief.
She'd saved so many patients over the years, but this… this felt personal.
For 10 years, Marianne had fought so hard for her baby.
The therapy and the awful medicine—she went through it all every day with unwavering hope…
第8章
The needle pierced her skin, and tears streamed down Marianne's face, but she didn't make a sound.
"You silly girl, if it hurts, just cry," Dr. Obrien said softly, her voice tinged with worry.
Marianne even managed to smile. "It's fine. It doesn't hurt. As long as I can have the baby, I'll endure anything."
But that wasn't true; Marianne was terrified—terrified of everything.
She was afraid that Kennedy's promises wouldn't hold. Afraid she wouldn't be able to get pregnant. Afraid she'd never return to the career she loved. Afraid Suzanne would keep haunting her like a shadow.
But no one protected her.
When she said she wanted to end the pregnancy, Dr. Obrien almost lost her mind. She texted Kennedy over and over, begging him to take care of Marianne and to treat her better. She told him how much Marianne had been through to get pregnant.
But there was not a single reply from Kennedy.
And then, the baby was gone.
Marianne lay curled up in bed, trembling like a wet, abandoned puppy. She burned with fever, mumbling, "Baby… my baby…"
"Mr. Cohen, you haven't eaten all day. Should I bring you…?"
Gene Cohen raised a hand, silencing his assistant. The man quickly left, leaving him alone in the hospital room.
Huo sat beside Marianne, gently brushing her face.
"Anne, it's my fault," he whispered. "I was too late."
"Why did you lie to me? You said you were doing fine."
"Anne, I missed you so much. Do you even know?"
Across town, Kennedy wasn't doing much better. He'd broken his leg on set, and if someone hadn't shoved a cushion under him at the last second, it could've been worse.
"Uncle Ken, you're finally awake!"
Suzanne clung to his hand, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
Kennedy slowly pulled his hand away and glanced around the room.
There was Suzanne, his manager, reporters, doctors— even some nosy patients poking their heads in.
But Marianne wasn't there.
"I fell so hard. Who's come to see me?" he asked.
"Everyone's here, Uncle Ken! We've all been waiting for you. Who are you looking for?"
"No one," he said, closing his eyes to hide his disappointment.
Marianne used to care so much. If he got a scrape on set, she'd freak out, crying as she cleaned the wound.
"Kennedy, stop doing these dangerous stunts, okay?" she'd beg.
And he'd laugh, ruffling her hair. "If I don't work, who's going to support you? Who's going to support our baby?"
Those moments felt so close, yet now they were gone in the blink of an eye.
His leg was broken, and where was she? Why didn't she come to check on him?
Kennedy pressed his lips together, his gaze falling to his bare wrist. He remembered how Marianne had saved up for months to buy him a rugged survival bracelet, insisting it would keep him safe.
When he'd jumped from that building during the stunt, the bracelet snapped and was gone just like everything else.
Suzanne leaned closer, breaking his thoughts. "Uncle Ken, stop worrying! I've got good news. Our sponsor agreed to let me keep acting!"
Kennedy barely reacted. "Mm."
"And guess what?" she continued eagerly. "They even gave the show more money and made me the lead! Though… I did see Aunt Marianne getting into his car the other day. I wonder if…"
The second she mentioned Marianne's name, Kennedy's face darkened. His fists clenched so tightly that veins popped, his eyes turning bloodshot.
Suzanne froze, her voice trailing off.
Kennedy didn't need to say what was in his head. Everyone in the room could already guess.
第9章
'So Marianne got into a car with her sugar daddy. Was she going to keep him company?'
'Is that why she broke up with me?'
'No. No way. She can't break up with me!'
When Marianne woke up, she realized she was resting against someone's chest—warm, strong, familiar.
'Kennedy?'
Her first instinct was to push away, and the movement startled the man awake.
"Anne? Anne, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
Gene leaned his forehead against hers as he brushed her cheek with his hand.
"You're…" Her voice trailed off, her fingers brushing against the warmth of his skin, and for a second, she couldn't even process what was happening.
"Anne," he said gently, pulling her closer. "Say my name."
She thought for a moment, then met his smiling eyes. "G-Gene?"
"That's right! As long as you still remember me, it's enough." He hugged her tighter. "What happened, Anne? Why didn't you come to me when things got hard?"
He waited for her to say something, anything. But she didn't. She just let her tears fall silently.
"Gene," she finally whispered. "Can you take me home?"
"Of course," he said without hesitation. "Whatever you want, I'll do it."
He drove her back to Kennedy's place.
Marianne stepped out and ran her hands along the walls of the home she'd lived in for years. It felt frozen in time like she could still hear the echoes of laughter from when she first moved in.
"Babe, we have a home now! No more bending over backward for anyone!"
"Babe, let's have a daughter, okay? Someone as sweet as you."
"Wait, no, what if she loves me more than you? Would you get jealous?"
Babe, babe… Eventually, that just became Marianne.
"Suzanne's just staying here for a while; she won't bother us."
"I'm only checking on Suzie, why are you upset again?"
Suzanne, Suzanne… Until it was just Suzie.
The only thing in life that doesn't change is that everything changes.
Marianne gave the place one last look before turning to Gene with a small smile.
"Help me pack. It doesn't matter where we go."
And just like that, she began to pack her things.
Clothes from Kennedy? Thrown out.
Jewelry? Packed up to pawn.
"Anne, what about these?" Gene pointed at the wall of photos.
He wanted to rip them down and toss them into the fireplace, but he waited for her answer.
"The ones with me and Kennedy? Trash them. If they have Suzanne in them too, cut me out."
She said it calmly, with great resignation.
Gene didn't question her. He did exactly what she asked. The wall that once held happy memories became empty, torn, and bare in minutes.
When she finished cleaning, Marianne pulled out an old, cracked trophy from the bottom of the box.
It was Kennedy's first award—a Best Supporting Actor win.
She remembered how he promised to take care of her after she jumped into an icy lake and hurt herself. He swore he'd succeed, make her life better, make her happy. He'd even engraved her name on the trophy, along with the word "baby."
"Babe, I'll protect you forever. I'll take care of our little family."
Ten years later, and look where that got them.
Marianne grabbed a small knife off the table and scratched her name and "baby" off the trophy, pressing so hard her hand started to bleed. She didn't even notice.
"It's done," she said finally, looking around the house one last time. A deep breath, a slight smile. "Let's go."
'Let's go. I'm really leaving this time, Kennedy,' she whispered in her head.
Gene draped his coat over her shoulders and silently walked with her out the door.
'Whoever hurt you will pay for it, Anne. I'll make sure of that.'
Moments later, as they drove away, Kennedy's car pulled up outside.
第10章
Kennedy was helped back home by Suzanne, limping as he leaned on her for support. He needed to rest and recover from his injuries.
He was frustrated and planned to question Marianne about what she had been so busy with, wondering why she hadn't come to see him.
But the moment he opened the door, a chilling emptiness washed over him. The house felt… off.
"Marianne? Are you home?"
He hobbled to the master bedroom, only to find the door wide open, and the bed linens for two had been cut in half.
He turned to the wardrobe, yanked it open, and was met with shelves emptied of Marianne's clothes and jewelry.
"Uncle Ken," Suzanne muttered cautiously. "Looks like Aunt Marianne took everything with her. She must have found a rich man. Is she really that short of money…"
She trailed off as soon as she saw the storm brewing in his expression.
Kennedy moved toward the photo wall in the hallway—every picture of Marianne was gone.
Suddenly, her words a few days ago echoed in his mind.
"Kennedy, let's break up."
Could she have meant it?
"Marianne? Where are you?" he called out anxiously, and then his gaze fell on an old trophy on the bookshelf.
The scratches carved into it were deep and jagged. Bloodstains marred the surface, dried but still vivid.
She'd done this. She was serious.
"Why?" he whispered. "Marianne, how could 10 years of love be lost to some sugar daddy?"
In a fit of rage, he slammed his fist into the bookshelf, sending books and newspapers scattering across the floor.
Then something caught his eye—a folded piece of paper with the logo of Seattle Medical Center.
It seemed to be… an ultrasound report.
His hands trembled as he unfolded it, eyes scanning the lines. His hand began trembling uncontrollably, and his expression turned fearful and desperate.