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CHAPTER 3: Stranger

"Thank God, you're finally awake!"

I slowly opened my eyes, and the scene before me had changed. It wasn't hard to realize that I was in a hospital, and the girl who had just spoken was likely a nurse at the hospital.

"You know, you've been unconscious for more than a day!" The young nurse cheerfully grasped my slightly trembling hands. She was so young, so beautiful, I could feel the vitality in her. It was just like how I had been a few years ago. No, to be more accurate, just a few days ago, when I still had a perfect family.

"How did I end up here?"

Yes, that was my biggest question. I still remembered driving when the abdominal pain hit, and then I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found myself lying here. Perhaps someone kind-hearted had helped me. Or maybe heaven couldn't bear to see me and my child die.

"I don't know either. A man brought you here. After completing the admission procedures and paying the fees, he left."

"Oh right, he left this for you!" The nurse suddenly remembered something and quickly reached into her pocket. After rummaging around, she found a neatly folded piece of paper.

"Here it is, I found it! Before leaving, he asked me to give you this note!"

I took the note from her hand and immediately unfolded it to read. I thought the man might have written a lot, or at least left a phone number or address. But no, the only thing on the paper was a single word: "Daje."

Yes, "Daje." In the center of the pristine white paper, the word "Daje" stood out boldly.

I couldn't find the words to accurately describe my feelings at that moment. All I know is that as soon as I opened that note, my heart skipped a beat. "Daje" in Italian means "go ahead," often shouted out loud. During wartime, it was used as a word to boost the soldiers' morale, to stir up courage within them.

That man was encouraging me! Yes, in the moment of my greatest weakness, a stranger was cheering me on!

"Thank you, truly thank you!"

I clutched the note to my chest and burst into tears. All the bitterness, resentment, and sorrow poured out. In just one day, I had lost everything. Trust, family, everything—I had nothing left. The man I trusted most had betrayed me, and when I was at my weakest, no one was there. The only warmth I received was from a stranger—how bitter it is

to think of that!

"Thank you, thank you so much!"

I said with a choking voice. I knew that the man might never hear my words of thanks in his life, but I still wanted to say them. At least, he was my rare light in this moment.

That entire night, I held onto that note and cried. It wasn't until the dawn began to break that I finally stopped. Partly because I had started to see things more clearly, and partly because I simply had no more tears left to shed.

As usual, the doctor treating me came in this morning to check on my condition. After answering a few questions, the doctor seemed more certain about my condition.

"You can rest assured. Both you and the baby are fine. However, you should take better care of the pregnancy. If this happens again, there could be serious consequences!"

"Thank you, doctor. I understand."

Hearing that the baby was okay, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least, I still had my child.

After finishing his examination, the doctor turned to leave. However, after taking only two steps, he suddenly turned back and looked at me with a thoughtful expression.

"Everything will pass. I don't know what you've been through, but I believe everything will be okay. No shock can break a mother's spirit."

"Thank you, I understand," I replied to the doctor with a smile. His words reminded me once again that I am no longer alone; I am a mother, and I have my child. No matter what happens, I must stay strong for my baby. A mother's instinct won't allow me to give up!

I stayed in the hospital for two more days, then followed the nurse's guidance and completed the discharge procedures.

I had already made plans for myself. I couldn't continue living aimlessly like this. I vowed to give my child the best life possible. I had already deprived them of their father's love; I couldn't let them lack material things as well.

"Goodbye!"

Yes, this hospital was the last place I stayed in this city. And today is the last day I will be here. I will move to a new city and start over from scratch, to a place where no one knows who I am. I will show that despicable man that I am not as useless as he said. Whatever he can do, I can do. Whatever he has, I will have too.

Absolutely.

That day was an incredibly long day. On the deserted road, the figure of an unyielding woman could be seen—a woman who could do anything for her child...

Time flies. Five years have passed in the blink of an eye...

"Ms. Elwyn, we must thank your company for this collaboration!"

"You're welcome; it's our duty."

I looked at the man in front of me and smiled slightly. This was the final negotiation before closing the deal.

"Truly remarkable at such a young age. Who would have thought that a talent like Ms. Elwyn is still not even thirty!" The man said with a laugh.

This wasn't the first time I'd received such compliments. My emotions had grown numb, and such praise didn't bring me any joy.

"Thank you," I replied politely.

After seeing off the business partner, I drove straight to the kindergarten. Yes, I was going to pick up my child. The baby from that day is now five years old.

"Five more minutes."

I glanced at the watch on my wrist. As always, I arrived five minutes before my son's class ended. I was always worried that one day he might be released early, and when he looked for me at the gate, he wouldn't find me. That would make him very sad. Besides, giving myself five minutes of quiet was also a good thing.

At exactly 11 o'clock, the school bell rang. By reflex, I immediately looked toward my son's classroom.

"Dennis, mommy's here!" I called out to my son.

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