Chapter 4
After Shawn left, I started tidying up the room.
But everywhere I looked, there were memories of us.
The furniture we chose, the balcony plants, and the toy he won for me at the claw machine because I said I liked it.
My eyes were full of gratitude, but he looked at me apologetically.
He said, "I'm sorry, babe. I have no money now, but I'll buy you anything later."
I was genuinely happy. The way he cared for me felt more precious than anything else in the world.
Looking back, it was a joke. He could afford it but used cheap gestures to fool me because he thought I wasn't good enough.
I packed all that held his presence to toss out. My things fit into two suitcases.
Thinking of my dad unconscious in the hospital made me feel slightly better.
At least someone here still mattered to me.
The next day, Nurse Miller urgently called me.
"Ms. Bloom, the hospital said they will disconnect your father's ventilator. Is this your family's decision to stop treatment?"
My heart raced, and my voice trembled.
"No! Don't let anyone near him. I'm coming right now!"
I rushed to the hospital, hands shaking from fear.
As soon as I got there, I saw Shawn standing by my dad's bedside.
I watched him anxiously, tracking every move.
"Shawn, I already said I'd leave. Why are you here at the hospital again?"
He barely hid his fury, his voice cold and dangerous.
"Vera, why can't you just behave?
"Spending years with me doesn't make you special. You're just a toy to kill time, not even worthy of shining Raina's shoes."
Suddenly, he lunged at me, gripping my neck as he growled each word.
"How dare you provoke her? I nearly lost the child I waited for because of you."
I fought with all I had, but it didn't help.
Waves of suffocation overwhelmed me, filling my mind with fear of death.
Just before I blacked out, he threw me to the floor like a rag.
I gasped fresh air, coughed, and barely whispered.
"I didn't! I swear, I never even saw her!"
He just scoffed coldly.
"Still pulling these tricks on me, huh? You really never learn.
"I've been too lenient. Now, you'll learn your lesson. You hurt the person I love, so you'll feel that loss."
Suddenly, I realized his move and fought desperately on the floor.
But the bodyguards slammed me down, pinning me to the ground.
I helplessly watched him shut off my dad's ventilator.
I screamed in pain. "Stop! Shawn, don't touch my dad! I'll beg Raina for forgiveness, and spare him! He's my only family. Please!"
He paused, something cruel flickering in his eyes.
"Does it hurt? Good! Touch Raina again, and I'll make you suffer worse."
My dad's heart monitor flatlined, and my heart broke with him.
I cried until my voice was hoarse, overwhelmed by regret.
How was I so stupid to fall for such a heartless bastard? Why is life so cruel to me?
"This is your last warning. Never show your face here again, or I'll ruin your life completely," he threatened.
After that, he left with his bodyguards without looking back.