Chapter 3

"Wow, just like your mom, always going after someone else's man," Wendy, Megan's mom, scoffed, her eyes full of contempt as she looked down at me.

"At least your mother knew when she was beaten. Couldn't win against me, so she just threw herself off a building.

"Why don't you try doing what she did? Go ahead, cut your own throat. I bet Gerry would even bat an eye."

Watching her smug, nasty look, I couldn't take it anymore.

I clenched my fists and charged at her, about to push her over, but Gerry pulled me back hard.

"Diana, how long are you going to keep acting crazy?" he snapped, clearly pissed off. "Wendy is Megan's mom and your dad's wife. Are you seriously going to hit her?"

My arm throbbed with pain, and the look of disgust in Gerry's eyes cut right through me, sharp and merciless.

That was when I realized whenever Megan's name came up, Gerry would always take her side, no questions about it, even though he knew Wendy was the mistress, the one who tore my family apart.

And even though he saw with his own eyes that I was the one getting beaten tonight, he'd still turn his accusations on me without hesitation, stabbing me in the heart with every word.

I stared into his furious eyes and gave him a bitter, mocking smile.

"Gerry, if I could turn back time, I wish I'd never met you," I said, my voice cold and distant. "Just so you know, I never wanted to be here. Marry whoever you want, just leave me out of it."

I wrenched my hand free from his grip and stormed out of the Vaughn residence without looking back.

Halfway down the street, my phone started ringing out of nowhere.

When I picked up, my husband Tony's face appeared on the video call.

He took one look at the blood smeared across my face, and his expression instantly darkened.

"Who do they think they are to mess with my woman? They're dead meat!" Tony snapped, his voice brimming with rage. "Diana, don't be afraid. I'm booking a flight home right now. I'll make sure they regret ever touching you!"

All the hurt and frustration inside me finally broke free, stinging tears streaming down my face.

Just then, Gerry came running after me.

Not wanting to cause any misunderstandings, I mumbled a quick excuse and hung up the call.

Gerry came rushing over, holding a cotton swab and some gauze.

There was an edge of urgency in his voice, though he tried to mask it.

"Why are you so damn stubborn? You're bleeding all over and still won't just give in," he said, his voice caught between frustration and concern. "Does it hurt? Let me see..."

I jerked my head away, dodging his hand, and let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Gerry, seriously? Wasn't it you who put me in this mess? Now you want to play the hero?"

With that, I shoved him aside and took off running.

Behind me, Gerry called out, his voice urgent as he tried to explain himself.

I covered my ears and just kept running, desperate to get away.

Just as I reached the street corner, a car came barreling straight at me. There was a loud crash, and blood exploded everywhere.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was Megan's cruel face.

*****

When I woke up, Gerry was right there, keeping watch by my bedside. But the first thing out of his mouth wasn't concern but to defend himself.

"Megan didn't mean it. You were running so fast and ran right into her car," he said, sounding all defensive.

"To make it up to you, I'll put my wedding with Megan on hold. If you just let this go and don't press charges, maybe I'll think about taking you back."

His so-called "compensation" made me want to puke.

Without a second thought, I grabbed my phone and called the cops.

But just as the call connected, Megan and Wendy came in, supporting my dad between them.

They snatched my phone right out of my hand and shattered it on the floor.

"Diana! If you dare call the cops, I'll disown you right here and now!" Nicholas shouted, his face dark with rage.

He jabbed a finger at me, his eyes blazing with fury, like he was pissed I hadn't gotten myself killed on the spot.

Seeing this, Megan put on that wounded puppy look and whined, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "You came back just to steal Gerry from me, didn't you?

"Now that you've got what you wanted, why do you have to go so far and destroy everything for us?"

Seeing her eyes all red and puffy, Gerry pulled her into his arms like he was her knight in shining armor.

"Megan, don't worry. I won't let anyone lay a finger on you," Gerry promised, all concerned.

I let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh at how ridiculous this whole scene was. From start to finish, I was the only one who got hurt.

And yet, they were all busy comforting the person who actually did this to me.

That was when it hit me that every single "I'm sorry" he'd said three years ago was nothing but a lie.

Gerry would never be on my side. Even if I really died, he'd just fake some guilt.

Wendy scoffed, her tone full of disdain.

"You little bitch, you think you can call the cops and set Megan up? Not when I'm alive!" she spat.

Before the words were even cold, a bunch of thugs in black suits stormed in from the hallway.

They grabbed me off the bed and dragged me out, not caring if they hurt me.

The fresh bandages on my wounds tore open instantly, and blood started pouring out again.

I struggled and yelled, "What the hell are you doing? Let me go!" The chaos drew the nurses over; they jumped in, blocking the thugs and demanding, "What's going on here?"