Chapter 4
Simon pulled the car over to the curb. "Get out. Your scent is bothering Valerie."
I protested, "Simon, you know I don't even wear perfume..."
"Get out!" he roared as he dragged me out of the car. I lost my balance, my knees slamming hard onto the pavement.
Valerie walked over with a grin, all traces of her earlier weakness gone.
"Stella, this place is pretty deserted. Looks like you'll have to walk back," she said.
And just like that, they left me stranded by the side of the road.
Night was falling, and a light rain began to soak through my clothes.
Biting back the pain, I managed to stand. Suddenly, blinding headlights came barreling straight at me from down the road.
I dove for the curb, but the car still smashed into me, sending me sprawling. My whole body felt shattered.
The car stopped just up ahead. No one got out. After about ten seconds, it suddenly floored the gas and sped away.
Did they do that on purpose?
I remembered how Valerie had come up to me earlier, smirking, and said, "You should just disappear, just like your mom did."
Could she know something? That really made me start to doubt her.
I tried to move, but the pain made me suck in a sharp breath. My stomach cramped, and I felt a warm rush of blood trickle out.
The rain was coming down in sheets now, and the air reeked of blood. It felt like death was breathing down my neck.
No way! I would not go out like this!
I fumbled my phone out of my pocket, my fingers trembling as I punched in the number, forcing myself to spit out every word.
Just before I blacked out, I finally saw the ambulance. But even then, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
Something was missing... but what?
Memories of Simon kept replaying in my head, one after another.
Back when we were ten, he was this adorable, brave kid who pulled me out of the pool and promised he'd always protect me.
"Stella, from now on, I'll protect you. No one will ever bully you again," he said.
By the time we were twelve, Simon was already a head taller than I was. Feeling sorry for me, he gave me a piggyback ride.
"Idiot, how do you even manage to trip just walking? You really keep me on my toes. Guess I'll have to give you a piggyback ride," he joked.
When we were eighteen, Simon was about to leave for college overseas. Tears shimmered in his eyes as he hugged me tight, holding on like he never wanted to let go.
Simon said, "Promise me you'll look after yourself, Stella. When I come back, I'll bring you something special."
When we were twenty-two, Simon got down on one knee and proposed to me, his eyes filled with that familiar, protective concern.
"Stella, will you marry me?" he asked.
I nodded, thinking maybe the universe was finally cutting me some slack.
But then he went and cheated on me.
"Simon, it hurts so much..." I sobbed, reaching out with all the strength I had left. Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand, holding on tight.
When I woke up, I was in the hospital, and I overheard two nurses venting to each other just outside my door.
"I'm so pissed off! She kept crying out for the heir to the Lester Group. I called him, and he was so impatient. He basically said she might as well just die," one nurse complained.
"That's just awful," the other nurse replied, sounding genuinely disturbed.
Hearing that, I felt completely numb inside. It didn't hurt at all, not like I'd imagined.
If a person got disappointed enough, they just stopped feeling anything at all.
The other nurse chimed in, "Poor girl. She got into a car accident and lost her baby. Honestly, it's a miracle she even survived."
Wait, I lost my baby?
Was it that night, when we were both drunk, and he wouldn't let me go? Was that how I ended up pregnant?
Life really did love screwing with me. I lost my mom, and now my baby too.
I was gasping for air, barely able to breathe. The instant I tried to move, a jolt of pain shot through me, making my whole body shake.
"You're awake! You've got two broken ribs. Don't even think about moving," the nurse warned.
She came over and firmly pressed down on my hand, making sure I stayed put.
After that, everything she said just faded into a blur.
I spent ten long days stuck in the hospital.
Not once did Simon call me during that time, but he sure kept himself busy.
Valerie never missed a chance to show off how sweet things were between them.
Valerie's first post was a nine-photo collage. Simon was right there with her, watching fireworks and even catching the Northern Lights.
Smack dab in the center was a photo of them kissing.
The caption said: [Spoiled by the one I love most. I'm his little princess.]
Her second post was just a single photo, a pregnancy test with two bright lines.
The caption said: [Our love made this happen. He's getting ready to put a ring on my finger.]
How ironic. I had just lost my child, and she was pregnant.
Once my head finally cleared, I shelled out a fortune to hire the most famous hacker I could find.
All I wanted was the surveillance video from right before my mom passed away.
Even the doctors thought it was strange when my mom died. But when I asked to see the security footage, they just shut me down.
"We can't show you the footage unless Mr. Lester says it's okay," the doctor replied, clearly trying to brush me off.
Looking back, things just kept getting weirder.
That night, no matter how many times I called, Simon just ignored me.
All I got was a smug photo from Valerie. She was at the hospital.
When I finally made it to the VIP room, I saw them kissing. The moment I tried to get closer, the bodyguards yanked me out.
That was the night I lost my mom and decided to walk away from Simon for good.