Countdown to Goodbye: A Wife's Perfect Revenge

"Mrs. Thorne, you will pass away on the fifteenth of next month. Cause of death: car accident. Please sign here after confirming the details."

Elaine Thorne held the pen, carefully reviewing the contract from Phoenix Rebirth Services.

Her phone rang. It was her husband, Patrick Thorne.

Elaine put down the pen and answered. An impatient voice came through the speaker.

"Where are you? What are Julian and I supposed to eat?

"You didn't even wash my clothes from yesterday!

"Are you upset because I took Julian to Karen's birthday? After all these years of marriage, you're still so childish."

Elaine forced a smile, looking at the needle mark on the back of her hand as she recalled yesterday's lonely scene at the hospital.

She had a 104-degree fever and had called Patrick to take her to the hospital.

And what was Patrick doing?

He was taking their son Julian to celebrate his childhood friend Karen Frost's birthday.

Their son Julian Thorne had even shouted through the phone, "Mom, can you stop ruining everything? It's Ms. Frost's birthday today."

"Elaine! I'm talking to you!"

Patrick's voice was stern and brooked no argument.

He was always like this. His word was law at home.

Her eyes burning with unshed tears, Elaine took a deep breath and replied coldly, "You didn't starve before you married me. Throwing clothes in the washing machine is so simple even a monkey could do it."

"You..."

Ignoring Patrick's increasingly furious accusations, Elaine hung up and looked at the sympathetic face of the employee in front of her.

"Sorry for wasting your time. I'll sign now."

With a quick flourish, Elaine signed her name.

...

When she arrived home, it was dinner time.

As Elaine opened the door, she smelled food cooking. She found it strange.

Patrick had fired their housekeeper when their son wasn't even three, claiming he preferred eating meals she prepared herself.

And so it had been for two whole years.

Just as she was wondering if he'd rehired the housekeeper, Karen appeared from inside.

She was wearing Elaine's bunny apron with her hair in a bun, carrying a dish.

"Elaine, you're home!"

Karen smiled brightly and called toward the kitchen, "Patrick, is your soup ready? Elaine's back."

Elaine was shocked. Hadn't Patrick always refused to enter the kitchen?

He had mild germophobia and always complained the kitchen was too greasy and dirty.

Every time Elaine cooked, she had to shower and wash her hair before he would touch her.

But now?

Patrick emerged from the kitchen in his white shirt, carrying a pot of soup, the picture of a devoted husband.

"Tsk." Elaine put down her bag with a mocking laugh. "Anyone would think you three were a family."

"You go out and neglect your son, and now you have the nerve to make snide comments?"

Patrick's expression darkened.

"The teacher said you didn't even pick Julian up. I don't know what kind of mother you are!

"If Karen hadn't helped pick up Julian and rushed back to make dinner, Julian would have starved."

Elaine smiled coldly, meeting Patrick's gaze.

"What, did I have this child by myself? You had nothing to do with it?"

"Patrick, stop it."

Karen intervened, playing peacemaker.

Julian, who had been playing with toys nearby, walked over.

"Dad, I don't want Mom to pick me up anymore. I want Ms. Frost to pick me up. Ms. Frost buys me lots of ice cream."

Elaine smiled at him. "Fine. I won't pick you up anymore. And you can stop calling me Mom while you're at it."

"Dad, Ms. Frost, Mom is scaring me."

Elaine had initially felt her fake death plan was somewhat selfish.

After all, she had a five-year-old son in preschool. Flesh and blood she had carried for ten months.

But hearing these words, her last shred of guilt vanished.

What good was an ungrateful son?

As Elaine turned to go back to her room, she could still hear Karen's sugary words in the living room.

"Patrick, why say such hurtful things? You know Elaine's temperament. Go make up with her."

Patrick snorted. "There's nothing to make up. She's just being dramatic as usual. She'll be fine tomorrow."

Elaine's low fever was flaring up again, but the medicine she'd bought yesterday was in the living room.

Not wanting to see that nauseating scene, she fell into a dizzy sleep.

When she woke up again, it was completely dark.

Elaine checked her phone. The first post on Facebook was from Karen.

[After so many years, it feels like we're back in high school when you used to walk me home.]

The picture showed Patrick, taken from upstairs.

Karen had posted photos of herself with Patrick and Julian after dinner, looking sickeningly cozy.

Elaine's eyes reddened, her chest aching like she'd been stabbed.

Her temperature was rising. Elaine dragged her lead-heavy body to the living room to find some medicine.

She frowned at the mess of leftover food on the table.

Just then, Patrick entered with Julian, who was happily eating an enormous ice cream cone.

Seeing Elaine staring at the table, he explained.

"Karen has eczema on her hands and can't touch detergent. You clean up."

Julian slurped his ice cream, saying with apparent concern.

"Yeah, Mom. Ms. Frost has a small crack on her finger. She made dinner for us despite the pain."

Elaine suddenly wanted to laugh.

She had chronic chapped hands, often with deep, bleeding cracks. How had Julian forgotten that she woke up at seven every morning to make his breakfast?

Ignoring them, Elaine poured a glass of water to take her medicine.

Patrick noticed from the corner of his eye and snorted.

"Still sulking? Playing the victim now? Don't pretend those vitamins are medicine. You'll set a bad example for our son!"

Elaine swallowed her fever reducer, listening to Julian go on about how good Karen was to him. Annoyed, she grabbed his ice cream and tossed it in the trash.

"Mom! Why did you take my things?"

"Every time you eat something cold, you get stomach pain. Don't come crying to me with a stomachache tonight. Go to your room!"

When Elaine lost her temper, Julian was genuinely afraid.

Tears welled in his eyes as he muttered that he wished Karen was his mother before returning to his room.

Patrick frowned. "What's wrong with you? Why take it out on him?"

"Let's get divorced."

This was Elaine's third time bringing up divorce.

Patrick refused without hesitation, as always. "In your dreams. Even if we divorced, you wouldn't get custody!"

"I don't want him. You can have our son."

"What did you say?"

Patrick's eyes widened in shock.

The few times Elaine had previously mentioned divorce, she'd just been throwing a tantrum. As soon as he brought up custody, she would go quiet.

What new game was she playing today?

Patrick gave a cold laugh. "That's impossible. Your only way out of this family is death. I won't divorce you!"

Elaine couldn't help but laugh.

She had guessed as much. Patrick's company was at a critical stage before going public. He couldn't possibly divorce her.

If that's the case, she would grant his wish.

She was done with both of them.

Back in her room, Elaine's phone rang. She glanced at the familiar name on the screen.

"What is it? Did our Professor Reed scold me again?" she answered.

From the other end came a man's voice, frantic and distressed.

"It's an emergency, my fellow, my Savior Elaine! You need to come back right away!"

Elaine's eye twitched as she pulled a suitcase from her closet. "I'm leaving now. Please arrange transportation for me."

...

At 1:00 AM, Patrick was awakened by crying from the next room as he slept in the guest bedroom.

He rolled over irritably, only to find the space beside him empty.

"What's going on?"

Where was Elaine? Why hadn't she come to him?

Usually after their arguments, Patrick would sleep in the guest room, and before long, Elaine would come seeking reconciliation and sleep beside him.

Tonight she hadn't come. How strange.

The crying was coming from the children's room next door. Patrick got up, stifling his annoyance with Elaine.

"What's wrong, Julian?!"

Julian was clutching his stomach and rolling around on the bed, drenched in sweat, his voice hoarse from crying.

"Dad, my stomach hurts so bad. It hurts..." he sobbed.

Patrick quickly gathered his son in his arms, his anger growing stronger.

He turned and kicked open the door to the master bedroom.

"Elaine, what kind of mother are you? Can't you hear..."

His words cut off abruptly when he saw the empty room.

Where was she?!

"Dad, it hurts so much. I want Mom..." Julian cried.

Patrick gritted his teeth.

"She doesn't deserve to be your mother."

"Then I want Ms. Frost..." Julian whimpered through his tears.

"Okay, I'll take you to the hospital first, then we'll call Ms. Frost to come."

As he turned to leave, Patrick shot another hateful glance at the empty room.

Right, Elaine had learned to throw tantrums. He should have kept a tighter leash on her from the start.

At the children's hospital emergency room.

"Your parents need to be more careful. How could you let a child with such a weak stomach eat ice cream?"

The forty-something female doctor was reviewing Julian's medical records at his bedside, glaring at Patrick repeatedly.

Karen stood nearby, looking apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Patrick. I didn't know about this. Elaine never told me."

Patrick frowned. "It's not your fault. It's Elain as his mother who failed in her duties."

The doctor glanced at them, wanting to say something but deciding it wasn't her place to comment on their personal affairs.

"Well, he should stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. Remember, he can only have bland food during this time."

As soon as the doctor left, Julian pouted and said he wanted fried chicken.

Karen stroked his head.

"Didn't the doctor just say you need bland food? I'll make something good and bring it over, okay?"

Patrick looked at her gratefully.

"Thank you, Karen. If you weren't here to help, I wouldn't know what to do. Usually, Elaine comes to the hospital with us."

"Don't mention it. By the way, Patrick, where is Elaine? Isn't she coming?"

Patrick's face darkened.

"Don't talk about her."

Julian pouted. "My mom threw a tantrum and ran away."

Karen looked surprised. "It's not because of me, is it? Patrick, maybe Elaine misunderstood something. I should apologize to her."

"You've done nothing wrong. She's just being temperamental. Don't worry about it. She'll be back soon enough."

After years of marriage, he knew Elaine's temper well.

Her anger came quickly and left just as fast. She'd probably come back to apologize by morning.

...

At dawn, after a night-long drive, Elaine arrived at Vermilion Peak in Ridgecrest.

Halfway up the mountain stood an obscure small medical research center nestled among the trees.

Seeing the car approach, fifteen or twenty people filed out of the center, lining up to greet her.

A man in his thirties led the group, rushing to open the car door as soon as it stopped.

When he saw Elaine, he was so moved he nearly cried.

"My fellow Elaine, you've finally come back!"

Elaine stepped out of the car and looked around, feeling a rush of emotions.

The last time she'd been here was before Julian was born. After all these years, nothing had changed.

"Wesley, let's go inside and talk."

"Of course."

Everyone crowded around Elaine like they'd found their savior, escorting her inside. The rising sun shone from the east, illuminating the plaque on the medical research center. It bore four golden words: Evergreen Medical Research Center.

Evergreen Medical Research Center was established a century ago and had been passed down through generations, producing many miraculous healers. The current head, Elliot Reed, was said to be able to "determine life or death with a single needle," and people would spend their entire fortunes just for one treatment from him.

Now, Wesley Reed, the eighth-generation successor, Elliot's only son, was humbly pouring coffee for Elaine.

"That's the situation, Elaine. You're the only one who's mastered the advanced acupuncture technique. With my father gone, only you can treat this patient."

Elaine's mouth twitched.

Elliot barely spent a month each year at the research center. This time he had promised to see a patient, but when the day came, he was nowhere to be found.

"You said the appointment is with the Blackwood family in Harborview?"

"Yes..."

Wesley nervously swallowed. "The Blackwood family is extremely wealthy and powerful. We must fulfill this appointment."

Otherwise, the future of Evergreen Medical Research Center would be in jeopardy.

"I understand. Bring me Madame Blackwood's medical records."

"Right away! We've already prepared everything."

Wesley quickly sent someone to fetch the records.

Then he sat down with relief and asked, "Elaine, did your husband say anything about you coming here?"

"Husband?" Elaine scoffed. "What husband?"

"Patrick, and your son Julian..."

Elaine held up a hand to stop him. "From now on, I have no damn husband or son. Oh, and by the way."

She smiled lightly, her eyes twinkling.

"In a month, Elaine won't exist in this world anymore."

"Elaine, what are you planning to do?!" Wesley exclaimed, alarmed.

Had she lost her mind? Wasn't she always the devoted wife and mother who cherished her husband and child above all else?

Wesley rolled up his sleeves. "Did Patrick mistreat you? Tell us, and we'll go teach him a lesson!"

Elaine felt a warmth in her heart. Her eyes and nose stung with emotion. She turned her head and smiled.

"Wesley, do you remember what everyone used to call me?"

"Novem! My father had nine research assistants, and your number was 009. Everyone called you Novem."

Elaine sniffed. "From now on, I won't be Elaine Thorne anymore. I want to be Novem Reed."