Loved Him 10 Years, I Walked Away

Chapter 4

Passersby who witnessed the scene couldn't help whispering among themselves, and some even pulled out their phones to record.

Arabella frowned deeply, her expression turning cold. "This isn't the place for you to throw a tantrum."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Arabella. I know you've misunderstood me, but I really only asked Dr. Wrenford to treat my illness. I still need to survive, so please leave me a way out. Please don't make the housekeeping agency fire me!" She cried so hard she could barely catch her breath, looking pitiful beyond words. "Now the entire domestic service industry is saying I'm a mistress. Someone anonymously reported that I seduced my male employer, so no one dares hire me anymore!" Evelina looked up at her through tear-filled eyes, her tone carrying a subtle accusation. "Other than you, I can't think of anyone else, so I can only beg you!"

Passersby stopped one after another, pointing and whispering as phone cameras aimed at the two women.

"Is that the mistress begging for forgiveness?"

"She does look pitiful, but ruining someone else's family is still wrong."

Arabella's expression darkened instantly. "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm not so idle that I'd waste my time dealing with you!"

"Evelina!" 

A familiar voice rang out as Dorian hurried over and immediately shielded Evelina behind him. His eyes were as cold as ice as he glared warily at Arabella.

"Arabella, Evelina is just a pitiful patient. Why would you use such dirty tricks to ruin her job?"

At that moment, it felt as if her heart had been ruthlessly crushed in someone's grip, the pain so intense she could barely breathe.

"Dorian, we've known each other for ten years, and you still don't trust me? I already told you, I didn't do it!"

"Didn't do it?" Dorian looked utterly disappointed, his tone tinged with mockery. "Evelina has always worked diligently and had a great reputation in the domestic service circle. Other than you, who would deliberately target her like this? Are you saying she framed herself?"

Arabella suddenly laughed, tears nearly spilling from her eyes. "Dorian, I've always acted honorably and openly. If I really wanted to deal with her, I'd do it directly. I would never stoop to sneaky schemes behind someone's back!"

"Stop explaining yourself. The more you explain, the guiltier you sound." His eyes were as cold as frozen steel, every word sharp as poison. "Arabella, you should understand that jealousy will only destroy yourself." Dorian pulled Evelina away.

Ten years of wholehearted devotion, only to be repaid with a single accusation of jealousy. 

As she stared at his retreating figure, anger surged through her chest, and she wanted to stop him to discuss the divorce.

But in the next second, a sharp pain exploded simultaneously in her head and lower abdomen, causing her vision to darken.

"Miss, are you alright? Someone call an ambulance!"

The shocked cries of strangers exploded around her ears, yet Dorian only protected Evelina as they walked away, never once turning back.

Arabella arrived at the hospital. After a thorough examination, the doctor sighed heavily while looking at the report.

"Mrs. Wrenford, the tumor in your brain is like a ticking time bomb. You absolutely cannot become emotionally agitated, or the consequences could be unimaginable."

The doctor seemed hesitant to continue, but his gaze drifted toward her lower abdomen. It was obvious he still recommended terminating the pregnancy.

Arabella nodded numbly, then stood up and left with the report in hand.

When she arrived at Dorian's clinic and pushed open the door, she immediately saw Evelina.

A trace of smugness flashed through Evelina's eyes, though she still spoke in a weak and timid tone.

"Mrs. Wrenford, s-shouldn't I have appeared here without informing you first...?"

Dorian removed his glasses and spoke expressionlessly, "Arabella, Evelina doesn't have a job right now, so I've hired her as an assistant at my clinic."

"That has nothing to do with me." Arabella looked at him calmly. "Dorian, let's get divorced."

Dorian froze mid-motion while cleaning his glasses. "Arabella, I don't agree. Everything between us is just a misunderstanding!"

Arabella let out a cold laugh, her tone dripping with ridicule. "So, in your eyes, sleeping with her under the excuse of treating her illness is also just a misunderstanding? Dorian, maybe you don't find her filthy, but I do. Before you slept with her, did you even check whether she had any sexually transmitted diseases?" she asked.

"Arabella!" Dorian roared furiously. "Apologize to Evelina!"

In the next second, Evelina's face turned pale as she dropped to her knees before Arabella with a thud. "Mrs. Wrenford, it's all my fault! I shouldn't have appeared between you and Dr. Wrenford. I'm the reason you two are fighting! Please don't blame Dr. Wrenford!"

She immediately slapped herself hard across the face. The force was so strong that half her face instantly turned red. "I'm not human. I never should've begged Dr. Wrenford to treat me. Please don't divorce him!"

Arabella sneered coldly, unwilling to watch her pathetic performance any longer as she turned to leave.

"Mrs. Wrenford, wait!" Evelina suddenly grabbed her arm, but her body unexpectedly swayed. Then, while still clutching Arabella, she threw herself backward down the staircase.

"Ah!"

A shrill scream echoed through the building as both Arabella and Evelina tumbled down the stairs together.

Evelina ended up sprawled at the bottom of the staircase, her face deathly pale and horrifying to behold.

Panic filled Dorian's eyes as he hurried downstairs and held Evelina tightly in his arms. Then he turned sharply toward Arabella, fury in his gaze so intense it seemed ready to devour her whole.

"Arabella, you... what has gotten into you? She's already so pitiful, so why won't you leave her alone?"

Suppressing the hatred raging inside her chest, Arabella clutched her abdomen that hurt so badly it felt as though it might split apart.

Her voice trembled violently. "I didn't do it. You can check the surveillance cameras!"

"The cameras broke a long time ago." Dorian's gaze turned glacial as he forced the words through clenched teeth. "You deliberately chose the perfect opportunity to push her!"

Evelina weakly grabbed Dorian's shoulder, her tone humble and fragile. "Dr. Wrenford, it's alright. I don't blame Mrs. Arabella. She didn't do it on purpose..."

Arabella's heart skipped violently. She had clearly seen it. The instant Evelina fell down the stairs, there had been a triumphant smile hidden in her eyes.

Yet Dorian couldn't see it at all.

Blood suddenly began flowing from beneath Arabella, and with trembling fingers, she reached toward Dorian. "Dorian, hurry and take me to the hospital. My baby... my baby..."

But Dorian's entire attention remained fixed on Evelina's injuries. He carefully lifted her into his arms and strode quickly toward the exit.

"Dorian!" Arabella let out a desperate cry, causing his footsteps to pause momentarily. "I'm begging you," she said in a shattered voice as tears mixed with cold sweat slid down her face. "I'm pregnant... my stomach really hurts right now..."

The moment he heard the word pregnant, Dorian's pupils contracted sharply as he opened his mouth to question her. 

But Evelina, in his arms, suddenly began sobbing weakly. "Dr. Wrenford, it hurts so much. The places where Gideon hit me before are starting to hurt again..."

So Dorian immediately continued walking without another glance backward, leaving behind only cold and heartless words. "Arabella, stop throwing a tantrum. Evelina is a patient. She needs care more than you do!"

The door slammed shut heavily, leaving Arabella alone in the room.

She collapsed weakly onto the floor, staring at the glaring blood gradually spreading from beneath her abdomen.

The baby... her baby was gone.

Arabella slowly closed her eyes, her heart sinking completely into despair, cold beyond all warmth.

All those years of deep devotion had been painfully, devastatingly wrong.

When Arabella opened her eyes again, she was lying on a hospital bed, her entire body aching as though she had been hollowed out from the inside.

It was only because Dorian's former assistant had happened to stop by the clinic to pick something up that she had been rushed to the hospital in time.

The nurse regretfully informed her that the baby was gone. After reviewing her previous medical records, the doctor advised her to undergo tumor surgery as soon as possible. They also repeatedly reminded her to rest properly and avoid any further emotional distress.

Yet from beginning to end, Dorian never appeared, not even a single phone call came from him.

Instead, a new post from Evelina popped up on her phone. In the photo, Dorian was gently massaging her ankle.

"I never expected that, even nearing forty, I’d still meet someone who truly cherishes me," Arabella read the captions.

Rarely commenting on social media, Dorian replied beneath it.

Dorian: [Don’t say that. In my eyes, you’ll always be a young girl.]

Evelina responded with a kissing emoji.

Arabella felt a wave of nausea as she stared at the screen. Her hand instinctively moved to her lower abdomen, but the sharp pain radiating from there felt as though her heart itself were being torn apart.

She cried so hard that her whole body convulsed, while her heart gradually turned numb inch by inch.

"Baby… I’m sorry. Mommy failed to protect you…"

Her sobs echoed throughout the hospital room, yet no comforting words came from anyone.

Only after dragging her weakened body home did she see Dorian sitting in the living room with a dark expression on his face.

And her slippers were missing from the entrance.

The moment he noticed the bloodstains on her skirt, he frowned deeply, his tone filled with disgust. "Arabella, can’t you be more careful? Your period leaked through, and you didn’t even bother changing your skirt."

Arabella’s body trembled slightly, but she merely glanced at him before lowering her eyes. 

She had lost their child, yet he thought it was only a menstrual leak.

But the doctor had already warned her not to get angry or emotionally agitated, or it might accelerate the tumor’s growth. She neither wanted nor dared to become angry anymore.

The next second, Evelina walked out of the kitchen wearing Arabella’s slippers. She carried a plate of fruit in her hands and smiled brightly.

"Mrs. Wrenford, you’re back? Have some fruit." Her familiar tone made it sound as though she were the true mistress of the house.

Before Arabella could speak, Dorian explained, "Evelina is preparing for a divorce lawsuit. I’ve already helped her find a lawyer. The place she’s staying at right now isn’t safe, so I told her to move into our house temporarily for a few days."

Evelina immediately put on a pitiful expression and softly added, "Mrs. Wrenford, don’t worry. I won’t stay here for free. I used to work as a housekeeper in your home before, so now I can continue being the housekeeper again without any pay."

The two of them played along seamlessly while staring at Arabella, waiting for her response.

Suppressing the urge to slap Evelina across the face, Arabella walked straight into the bedroom to pack her belongings.

"Arabella, what exactly are you making a fuss about now?!" Dorian followed her inside, his voice low and irritated. "Evelina is sensitive and thin-skinned. With you wearing that cold expression, how can she possibly feel at ease staying here? She’s my patient. Can’t you be a little more tolerant toward her?"

"Why should I tolerate the woman who caused my child’s death?"

"Enough already!" Dorian frowned tightly, staring at the bloodstains on her skirt with visible disgust, even wrinkling his nose slightly. "Go clean yourself up already."

At that moment, a startled cry suddenly came from the bathroom.

"Ah! Dr. Wrenford, I accidentally cut my hand!"

The next second, Dorian immediately rushed out.

"You’re still recovering. Go rest first. I’ll wash these myself."

Evelina’s voice carried deliberate humility. "No, no, that won’t do. I’m the housekeeper. These are all the things I’m supposed to do!"

"You’re my patient first," Dorian said gently, yet in a tone that allowed no argument. "Go rest and behave."

Arabella stood frozen by the doorway, staring blankly into the bathroom. Inside, Dorian had rolled up his sleeves and was washing Evelina's underwear by hand.

Looking at his focused expression, Arabella suddenly found him unbearably unfamiliar.

Dorian had severe mysophobia. Even after taking out the trash at home, he would repeatedly wash his hands with disinfectant.

He considered her blood filthy and unlucky, and he would never wash her bloodstained clothes for her.

Yet he had willingly carried Evelina to the hospital after her wrist-cutting incident. He did not mind Evelina’s blood at all, and he even personally washed her underwear.

For Evelina, he had shattered all of his principles and boundaries. So this was how he treated his 'patients.'

Arabella laughed, but her smile looked even uglier than crying.

After finishing packing her belongings, she took out the divorce agreement from her bag and placed it on the coffee table.

"Dorian, I’ve already left the divorce papers here. Remember to sign them." Her words exploded like a thunderclap out of nowhere.