The Day She Killed Me
After thirty days of the silent treatment from my wife, Janet, she suddenly proposed a trip to mend our relationship.
But the moment we landed, she snapped my ID card in half, smashed my phone, and stranded me on a deserted island, leaving me to my own devices.
Someone asked her if she wasn’t going too far, but she just stroked her belly, a look of disdain on her face.
“It’s his own fault for being so petty. I just wanted to have an IVF baby for Ryan, to leave him a child, and he started screaming for a divorce.”
“The baby’s due in eight months. The island has fresh water and food. He won’t starve, it’s just a little hardship.”
Eight months later, cradling her newborn son, Janet looked utterly content.
She asked her assistant, for the first time in ages:
“It’s been so long, hasn’t he been begging to come home?”
She didn’t know I died on the very first day on that island.
1
When I opened my eyes again, my soul was in Janet’s delivery room.
Janet, her face pale, held the baby tenderly, her eyes full of maternal love.
Her childhood sweetheart, Ryan, wiped the sweat from Janet’s forehead, overflowing with gratitude.
“Janet, thank you. We have a son.”
I felt a dizzying wave of realization. I’d been dead for *that* long.
Her and Ryan’s baby was already here.
As Janet was wheeled out, a crowd swarmed around her, celebrating the birth, popping confetti and showering her with gifts and cash.
“Janet, this baby is so adorable, a perfect blend of you and Ryan! He’s going to be such a handsome man when he grows up!”
These same people, who used to suck up to me as “Janet’s husband,” angrily claimed her IVF decision was wrong, and mocked Ryan for being a phony.
Well, they only flattered me because I was Janet’s husband.
A faint smile played on Janet’s lips, but her eyes kept darting to the end of the hall, a restless flicker in their depths.
Distractedly, she picked up her phone and checked it.
Then, she frowned, asking her assistant:
“Didn’t I tell you to buy him a new phone? Why hasn’t he contacted me these past few months, or begged to come home?”
Mr. Jones calmly lied:
“Mr. Liam always curses you and Mr. Ryan, saying he doesn’t want any contact with you.”
Janet’s frown deepened, a frustrated crease forming between her brows:
“He’s so incredibly stubborn, never listens to reason.”
“Tell him I’ve had the baby, my mission is complete.”
“If he sincerely calls to apologize and agrees to be the child’s godfather, I’ll bring him back home.”
A bitter, self-deprecating laugh escaped me. Even in death, I felt the sting of it.
She had no idea I was already long gone.
Nine months ago, Janet gave up on our child, just to make room for her IVF baby with Ryan.
She said Ryan had a terminal illness and she wanted to leave him a child.
A cold despair settled in my chest, and I suggested divorce.
For that, Janet gave me the silent treatment for a month, then, uncharacteristically, approached me.
She proposed a trip to repair our relationship, promising to abort the IVF baby when we returned.
I believed her, only to be abandoned on that island, where I swiftly perished.
Snapping back to the present, Ryan whimpered pitifully:
“Janet, if Liam comes back, he won’t hit me again, right? You can hurt me, but please, don’t hurt our baby!”
He lowered his head, angling it to reveal a tiny scar on his forehead.
That scar was from when I found out about Janet’s IVF.
Ryan had provoked me, then deliberately smashed his own head against a wall.
Because of that incident, Janet hated me, believing I would even bully a terminally ill patient.
Janet’s heart twisted with pain, and she snapped at him:
“If he dares to lay a hand on you two, I’ll make sure he never comes back!”
Everyone burst into laughter:
“Janet, you’re still as protective of Ryan as ever. Now that the baby’s born, I remember you two were engaged as kids, it’s perfect!”
“That’s right, Janet! A child needs a complete mother’s and father’s love! Liam’s so petty and extreme, I’m genuinely afraid he might harm the baby!”
Janet didn’t respond. She just clenched her fingers, then looked up at Mr. Jones:
“Did you send the message? What did he reply?”
The next second, Janet’s phone, lying beside her, rang.
Janet’s eyes lit up, thinking it was me. She smirked triumphantly:
“Liam, you finally…”
The words from the other end left her frozen:
“Excuse me, are you Mr. Liam’s wife? We were wondering if you have time to pick up a rosary from the church.”
Janet asked back:
“What rosary?”
The person on the other end sighed, a devout tone in their voice:
“A year ago, Mr. Liam came to our church, praying fervently for his critically ill wife’s safety. Later, he came back to give thanks, saying his wife had recovered and was even pregnant. We specially gave him a rosary to bless his child, but we haven’t been able to reach him for months.”
2.
When Janet was diagnosed with late-stage heart failure, I tried everything to cure her.
I even prayed to God for blessings, bowing my head so many times I bled, all for Janet’s well-being.
Later, I returned to give thanks, full of joy, believing we had overcome the ordeal.
But in the end, I lost everything, left with nothing.
I clutched at the sharp, aching phantom pain in my chest, a self-mocking laugh escaping me.
Even an artificial heart, it seemed, could feel such pain.
Everyone paused, stunned by the revelation:
“I never would’ve thought Liam was so devoted. When you had heart failure, we all assumed he ran off, afraid of the responsibility. It seems we misunderstood Liam…”
Janet suddenly clutched her own heart, biting her lip so hard it turned white.
After catching her breath, she let out a cold laugh:
“No need. What rosary? Throw it away.”
With that, she hung up.
She lowered her gaze, gritting her teeth:
“This is the difference between Liam and Ryan.”
“Liam only does superficial things, but Ryan saved me with his life! If Ryan hadn’t given me his heart, I’d be dead already!”
“Ryan is dying because of it, but Liam? All he knows is being petty and jealous, even threatening divorce over a trivial matter!”
My mouth felt bitter.
The one who donated their heart to Janet was *me*.
The doctors told me that even with an expensive artificial heart transplant, and daily medication, I’d only live another year or two with current technology.
I didn’t regret it. Instead, I was grateful for the time I had left.
But when I woke from my coma, I found Janet tearfully thanking Ryan for his sacrifice.
I tried to explain, to tell her the truth, but she accused me of trying to steal credit.
It wasn’t until Janet became pregnant that our relationship softened.
That was because when Ryan visited Janet, he clutched his heart, a forlorn look on his face, and said:
“It’s a shame. I don’t have long to live. I probably won’t be able to have my own child, or even see your baby, Janet.”
Janet, without hesitation, decided to have a child for Ryan.
That’s what led to the subsequent tragedy.
Listening to Janet’s accusations, everyone exchanged glances, and the air in the room thickened with tension.
To lighten the mood, someone cheerfully turned on the TV:
“Janet, you just gave birth, don’t get too upset. Relax a little.”
But as fate would have it, a news report came on:
“A drone patrol discovered a skeletal male corpse on a deserted island in the Pacific. This is a breakthrough in drone technology’s…”
Janet’s head snapped up, her eyes widening in stark horror.
“Which island?”
Someone meekly offered:
“Janet, I heard that small island you took Liam to is somewhere around those coordinates…”
Janet’s brow furrowed so deeply, you could almost tie it in a knot. A storm was brewing in her eyes.
A subtle, predatory glint sparked in Ryan’s eyes. He gently stroked Janet’s back:
“There are many similar islands, aren’t there? But that skeleton looks remarkably intact, almost like a model from a hospital.”
Janet snapped back to reality, letting out a cold laugh:
“Hmph, Liam used to fake a heart condition to manipulate people. Now he’s even found a skeleton model to scare me? He has too much time on his hands! I must have made him too comfortable!”
Turning, she instructed Mr. Jones:
“From now on, you are not allowed to agree to Liam’s ridiculous demands! I said to just give him basic survival supplies, you’re enabling his nonsense!”
Mr. Jones’s cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he nodded, affirming.
I knew why he was guilty.
After throwing me onto that deserted island, Janet flew away in a helicopter without a second thought.
Physically and mentally exhausted, my artificial heart couldn’t take the strain.
I had just pulled out my medication, intending to take it.
It was Mr. Jones who kicked my life-saving pills, sending them tumbling into the sea, a look of utter contempt on his face.
“Ms. Janet is right, you really love to act, still pretending to have heart trouble!”
“You, you’ll spend the rest of your life on this island. Ms. Janet is going to have a baby with Mr. Ryan, why would she ever come back for you!”
After saying that, he led everyone away from the deserted island with a sneer.
Eventually, I painfully clawed at the ground.
My fingertips were bloody and mangled, my heart stopped beating, and I died tragically in that foreign land.
My body was left exposed to the wind and sun, torn apart by scavengers.
Even now, that feeling of my heart being squeezed tight felt sickeningly real.
Janet’s mood, for some reason, suddenly plummeted.
Her expression was icy as she turned over and pulled the blanket over herself, dismissing everyone.
“You can all leave now. I’m tired.”
Everyone exchanged glances and walked out of the hospital room.
Only Ryan remained, cradling the baby and gently holding Janet’s hand, which lay outside the blanket, hooked up to an IV drip.
Since it was a natural birth, Janet was able to get out of bed and discharged within two days.
3.
Ryan followed Janet home like a shadow, holding the baby and pleading pitifully:
“Janet, I know you’ve hired a nanny, but I’m the baby’s father. I have a responsibility to care for you both.”
Afraid she wouldn’t agree, he quickly added:
“I’ll be very discreet. I won’t touch anything in the house, and Liam will never know I’ve been here!”
Janet’s fingers, clenching her purse strap, turned white with the force, a conflicted look on her face.
Ryan then clutched his chest, his voice weak and tearful:
“Janet, I’m dying. I don’t have many chances left to be with you and our son. Can you please give me this opportunity?”
After a long silence, Janet finally nodded slowly.
Watching the sly, triumphant smirk spread across Ryan’s face, I gave a bitter, empty laugh.
Janet and I once made a promise: no matter what, we would never bring outsiders into our home, our sanctuary.
Yet now, she let Ryan in.
He was always the exception, it seemed.
As Janet opened the door, our small dog, Lucky, bounded up to greet her.
But noticing a stranger, he immediately started barking defensively, shielding Janet behind him.
The baby, startled by the barking, began to cry loudly.
Janet frowned:
“Lucky, be good!”
Ryan, however, smiled warmly, though his eyes held no warmth:
“It’s okay, Janet. I love dogs too.”
Saying this, he crouched down and roughly ruffled Lucky’s head.
Lucky was usually gentle, his barking merely a way to scare people off, so he didn’t bite Ryan’s hand.
Janet couldn’t help but sigh:
“Ryan, you’re still as kind as ever.”
Only I saw clearly that Ryan’s palm was tightly clutching a handful of Lucky’s yellow-and-white fur.
How much pain must Lucky have been in!
Hearing Lucky let out a pained whimper, Janet’s expression changed, and she grew instantly annoyed:
“This dog is just like its owner, always unruly and ungrateful!”
She pulled Ryan away, cradling the baby, and walked inside.
Lucky, meanwhile, sat forlornly by the door, chewing on a bouncy ball I used to play with him, seemingly waiting for me.
My nose stung with a sudden ache.
Lucky was just a rescue dog, but Janet and I had rescued him together when we were dating.
He had been abandoned soon after birth, and Janet and I had taken turns staying up all night, bottle-feeding him, raising him as if he were our own child.
He still didn’t know that his dad was never coming back.
Upstairs, Janet handed the baby to the wet nurse, then turned to call Mr. Davies, giving him detailed instructions:
“Mr. Davies, Ryan can’t handle spicy food, no onions or garlic for him. Make sure the kitchen pays attention. Also, he only sleeps on silk sheets, otherwise he’ll get a rash…”
Janet rattled on, remembering all of Ryan’s preferences as if they had been married for ten years.
I used to be jealous of her and Ryan’s childhood bond, but now, it seemed I had underestimated just how deep it went.
Ryan, pretending not to know these things, used the excuse of going to the restroom and quietly snuck into Janet’s and my bedroom.
Lucky, seeing a stranger enter his parents’ room, curiously followed Ryan upstairs.
Ryan sneered at our wedding photo on the dresser, then picked up a marker and defaced my face.
Noticing Lucky nipping at his pant leg, Ryan jumped in surprise.
The next second, a look of brutal rage on his face, he kicked the dog with full force.
Lucky, a mere ten-pound dog, was sent flying against the wall by the heavy kick, then crumpled to the floor.
His limbs twitched a few times, blood oozing from his mouth, and he whimpered softly.
My eyes burned with fury.
I rushed to Lucky’s side, but my soul passed through his body again and again, powerless.
Ryan’s pale, gaunt face was twisted with madness.
He let out a mocking laugh:
“A loyal pet, are we? Then I’ll send you to meet your master in heaven!”
I froze.
Ryan knew I was dead.
Could Mr. Jones be working for him?
Recalling Mr. Jones’s disgust towards me, and how he relentlessly slandered me, I clenched my fists.
Just then, Janet, hearing the commotion, walked into the room.
Her eyes immediately landed on Lucky, still weakly twitching by the wall.
4.
Ryan immediately faked tears:
“I’m so sorry, Janet! The dog bit me, and my heart suddenly ached. I accidentally kicked it. It’s all my fault for being clumsy! Lucky’s not hurt, is he?”
Janet pursed her lips, forcing her gaze away from Lucky.
“As long as *you’re* okay. How do you feel now? Where did he bite you?”
“Pets carry germs; it’s not good for the baby. I’ve wanted to send him away for a long time. You’ve actually done me a huge favor.”
With that, she ordered Mr. Davies, with a look of disgust, to take the dog to the vet.
Ryan, however, wasn’t entirely satisfied, his lips twisting slightly.
But he quickly composed himself, pulling at Janet’s sleeve:
“It’s good the dog is okay. If Liam found out, he’d skin me alive! I wouldn’t be able to make it up to him even if I died!”
Anyone unfamiliar with the situation would have thought I had abused him in the past.
But Janet’s eyes filled with tenderness, and she softly comforted him:
“If he dares to do anything, I’ll make sure he knows what living hell feels like.”
Ryan paused, then tentatively asked:
“Janet, my parents want to see Leo more often. Will you come with me to visit them tomorrow?”
Janet nodded:
“Of course. The child is meant to be raised by them anyway.”
Ryan’s chest heaved. He reached out to grasp Janet’s hand, whining playfully:
“Janet, why are you becoming so distant with me? We—”
Janet, however, pulled her hand away, a hint of coolness in her voice:
“The guest room is ready. You should get some rest. Leo has been fussy these past few days, and you haven’t been sleeping well either.”
But it was Janet who lay sleepless through the night.
Every now and then, she’d pull out her phone and open my SnapChat chat.
My last message was still there, from eight months ago, my reply of “Okay” to her invitation for a trip abroad.
A sudden flutter of panic seized her.
I worried about Lucky’s health, but my soul couldn’t stray too far from Janet.
I could only stare at Lucky’s dog food and toys, lost in thought.
The next second, Janet suddenly walked beside me.
My heart lurched. I watched as she crouched down and opened Lucky’s favorite dog food.
Then, she opened my SnapChat chat.
“Liam, I’ve handled everything. Come home, Lucky misses you.”
Janet, for once, was softening. But I couldn’t instantly reply this time.
I could never reply to her messages again.
Just then, Mr. Davies opened the door and returned.
Janet saw his empty hands and asked:
“Where’s the dog?”
Mr. Davies hesitated:
“Six ribs broken, pierced his heart. He didn’t make it at the hospital… Miss, should we have him cremated?”
A searing pain tore through my spectral chest.
When we named him, Janet had said gently:
“Of course, we’ll call him Lucky. We’re his mom and dad, the closest people in his tiny world. We have to protect him and keep him safe his whole life!”
Lucky, Lucky… yet he couldn’t live a single safe life.
Janet stood frozen, her fingertips trembling.
After a long moment, she found her voice:
“Okay.”
“Mr. Davies, please find me an identical dog. When Liam comes home in a few days and doesn’t see Lucky, he’ll make a fuss again.”
A phantom spasm seized my dead heart.
She had money to burn; she could find a similar dog.
But our love? That could never be replaced.
The next day, Janet was somewhat distracted on the way to Ryan’s parents’ house, merely patting Leo’s crying form dismissively.
She pursed her lips, sending a message to Mr. Davies:
“Haven’t found it yet? Hurry up.”
When she looked up again, she saw the decorations in Ryan’s parents’ house and her eyes widened in shock.
I watched the scene before me, a bitter laugh on my lips.
The place was festooned with streamers and decorations.
A red carpet was laid on the floor.
Bluetooth speakers blared “Today I’m Gonna Marry You.”
Most striking of all, directly facing the front door, was a banner:
“Janet, please marry me!”
The house was packed with Janet’s and Ryan’s friends and family, all looking at them with eager anticipation.
Janet tightened her arms around Leo, who struggled and cried out loud.
Ryan’s father, however, chuckled:
“Janet, you and Ryan grew up together. You and that poor Liam were never a good match. Now that you have a child, isn’t it time you married Ryan?”
Ryan knelt on one knee, pulling out a sparkling diamond ring, his voice dripping with emotion:
“Janet, I know I don’t have long to live, but I want to give our child a complete father’s love. I want him to know he was born out of love, not as a child with no name or status!”
“Please, marry me. I want to protect you and our son until my last breath!”
At this, everyone began to chant in unison:
“Say yes! Marry him!”
My spectral heart twisted with a bitter ache.
So it had come to this day.
Janet, however, scowled, slapping the diamond ring out of Ryan’s hand:
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