Chapter 3
“I just…”
Before I got the chance to speak, Lillian dropped to the floor, clutching
her chest and whining, “Eiden, my heart hurts so much.”
Everyone rushed over to her, their faces full of worry.
t
was left standing there, forgotten, feeling like an unwelcome guest in someone else’s home.
Out of nowhere, he marched toward me, grabbed my wrist tightly, nearly twisting it.
He shoved me toward Lillian and shouted, “Apologize to her!”
I hadn’t done anything, so why should I apologize?
I got up, ready to walk away, but suddenly Callie threw a cup at my head.
“You bad woman! Ugly freak! Apologize to my mommy, now!” she screamed.
Blood ran down my face, and I stared at the cup like I was in a daze.
I had bought that cup when I was pregnant. It had a drawing of a mother and daughter holding hands. I had painted that picture myself.
Now, the little girl was still there, but the mother had been covered with paint and replaced by another woman.
Callie’s small voice felt like a knife, piercing my heart.
08 1300
Chapter 3
I could take a lot, but not this–not my own children treating me like this.
I carried them for nine months each. They were my flesh and blood.
After three years of pain and illness, my mind was already worn down, and this moment broke me completely.
I don’t know where the strength came from, but I stood up and started destroying everything in the living room, shouting over and over, asking them why they abandoned me.
When I picked up our wedding photo, Eiden finally snapped and walked over to hit me across the face.
“Aren’t you tired of causing problems?” he said.
He yanked me by the collar and dragged me, ignoring my resistance, to stand right in front of a tall mirror, forcing me to look at myself.
After going through countless rounds of chemotherapy, my teeth were ruined from all the throwing up, my hair had fallen out, my skin was covered in little red spots from broken blood vessels, my gums were swollen and bloody, and I couldn’t get any sleep at night.
Just so I could come home looking better, I pushed myself to eat even when I didn’t want to. I’d throw up and then keep eating again and again. Slowly, my hair started to grow, I got my teeth fixed, and I gained a bit of weight. I still wasn’t as bright or beautiful as the old Margaret, but at least I looked normal.
But when I finally got back, I saw Lillian walk right into the room that used to be mine and Eiden’s. She smiled and kissed my family like she belonged there. And me? I was stuck in the kitchen, not even allowed to eat at the birthday party.
All because she told everyone my looks were making her lose her appetite.
Being treated like that every day messed with my mind, and the weight I had gained just dropped off again.
Now I don’t even want to see my reflection anymore.
The old Margaret–the one who went to a top college, was confident, full of life, and chased after by major companies–was gone the moment I got sick. Now, there’s only an empty shell left.
Lillian gently coaxed Eiden into letting go of me, playing the part of the peacemaker. Then she leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Pathetic, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it have been better if you had just died abroad? Why did you come back?
“Do you enjoy being the mistress?”
Yeah, pathetic. She wasn’t wrong.
A wave of despair crashed over me, but I didn’t want to let her keep mocking me. I was just about to shove her back when something shiny on her hand caught my eye–a ring on her finger.
That was the same wedding ring Eiden gave me when we got married. I remember how loose it had been, even on my middle finger. Back then, Eiden would frown with worry and say it must be because I’d lost weight.
Now, it fits Lillian’s ring finger just right.
My hands fell down helplessly again.
