Chapter 2
I got it.
It felt like something was squeezing my heart. I curled up, struggling to breathe.
Tears poured down my face, but I couldn't make a sound.
"Vera, don't cry. You had surgery. You can't get too emotional." Nina hurried to wipe my tears, but her tears were falling faster. "Joe is a selfish bastard. He should go to hell.
"How could he drain your blood to save that bitch? You nearly died. He didn't bother to check on you. He's next door with Elaine and their kid. The whole hospital is talking about you."
Nina was sobbing hard.
I closed my eyes and let the tears soak the pillow. The part of me that once burned for him was dead now. Only hate remained.
"Nina," I said calmly. "Find me a lawyer. I want a divorce. Right now."
Nina froze for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Okay. I'll handle it right away. You should have left him ages ago."
*****
The lawyer arrived that afternoon. His name was Danny Vance, and he was Nina's cousin as well as a well-known divorce lawyer.
After hearing my story, he frowned deeply. "Mrs. Jackson, this doesn't look good for you.
"Joe is the CEO of the Jackson Group, with deep pockets and powerful connections. And you signed a prenup. If he sticks to it in a no-fault divorce, you might not be entitled to much beyond what the agreement guarantees."
Danny paused. "Also, the preliminary investigation into the car accident is out. Elaine was at fault. She was drunk driving, going the wrong way, and hit your car.
"Joe seems to be using his influence to shift the blame onto you, claiming you grabbed the steering wheel and caused the accident."
"What?" Nina slammed her hand on the table, looking furious. "He has no shame at all."
I lay in bed listening, feeling completely numb inside.
Joe, you were not leaving me any way out, were you?
Danny shifted his tone. "But there's something we can do.
"Elaine's drunk driving is a fact, backed by surveillance footage and blood test results. And she gave birth to Joe's child. That proves Joe cheated.
"Also, Joe forced doctors to take your blood for Elaine, which caused you to bleed heavily and lose the baby. That could be considered serious harm, maybe even murder.
"We can proceed from these angles to apply for asset preservation, file for divorce, and pursue criminal charges against him at the same time."
Danny looked at me. "Mrs. Jackson, what's your decision?"
I stayed silent for a long time, then looked at Danny. My gaze was completely cold, but determined.
I said, "Mr. Vance, I want his reputation destroyed and him to leave with nothing. I want him and Elaine to pay the price, no matter the cost."
Danny met my gaze, seeing the hatred and determination in my eyes.
He nodded. "I understand. Leave it to me."
After Danny left, Nina looked at me with concern. "Vera, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said, shaking my head as I pushed myself up. "Nina, do me a favor."
"Sure," she replied.
I said, "Dig up everything on Elaine. Find out everything about her past, what she's done since coming back, and when she got involved with Joe. And especially, whether that baby is really his."
Nina's eyes lit up. "Do you mean—"
"I don't believe it," I said, staring out at the gloomy sky. "Joe is not an idiot. Someone that careful wouldn't let Elaine get pregnant that easily. And the timing is too perfect. She came back three months ago and is already two months pregnant.
"Investigate it. Hire the best private detective. Money is not a problem."
"Got it." Nina nodded firmly. "I'll get right on it."
*****
After Nina left, I was alone in the ward.
I picked up my phone and turned it on. A flood of messages and missed calls came pouring in. Most of them were from Joe.
At first, he was demanding answers, then barking orders, and finally, his messages became desperate and incoherent.
Joe: [Vera, answer your phone.]
Joe: [Elaine and the baby are okay now. Thank you.]
Joe: [Where are you? Why aren't you in the ward?]
Joe: [Please, pick up. We need to talk.]
Joe: [I'm sorry about the baby. It was an emergency, and Elaine—]
Joe: [Vera, I know you hate me, but please, I don't want a divorce. I love you.]
Joe: [Pick up, please. I'm begging you.]
I looked at the messages with a blank face. I almost felt like laughing.
Thank me? For risking my life to save Elaine and her kid?
And who cared whether you loved me or not?
I blocked Joe's number without a second thought. Then I opened WhatsApp and found my chat with him.
Our last conversation ended yesterday afternoon.
Me: [Are you coming home for dinner tonight? It's our anniversary.]
Joe: [Busy. Got a client to meet.]
It was brief and ironic.
I took a screenshot.
Then I pulled out the photos of him going to a prenatal checkup with Elaine, the lipstick on his collar, and the one my friend took of them having dinner before the crash.
One by one, I saved them and backed them up.
Then I set up a new Twitter account. The username was MidsummerBreeze, and the profile picture was my cat, the one that had died.
My bio was simple. [Let me tell a story about betrayal, blood donation, and an unborn child.]
After all that, I put my phone down and lay back, watching the IV drip like a countdown.
Joe, Elaine, the game had begun. Were you ready?