Chapter 4
The wedding was canceled, shattering Allison's dream of elite luxury.
Thanks to my tip, Eric uncovered all about her.
He soon learned Allison Hayes lived wildly abroad and caught an STD.
She escaped alive but weaker.
After coming back home, she started pestering Eric.
She tried the childhood sweetheart card, but it wasn't enough.
Allison staged a car accident to appear as Eric's savior.
After that, Eric couldn't say no to her anymore.
And me? I became a forgotten punchline.
But now, she was the bigger joke.
I didn't know how she found my rehab address.
She was screaming outside my hospital room, losing it.
She yelled, "Mia, you bitch! You can't keep your man, so you spread rumors about me?
"Eric loves me. You're not even divorced, and he's ready to marry me. He doesn't love you.
"Let me tell you! Even if I was a mess before, so what? I saved his life! He'll come back to me, and you, you old hag, are nothing but a complete clown."
"Is that so?" a familiar male voice said behind her.
"Eric, how did you get here?" Allison's voice shook.
I slowly climbed out of bed, giving her a sarcastic look.
Then I glanced up at Eric.
"Are you here to stand up for your girl?" I asked.
"Mia, I came to see you," he said tearfully. To me, he was just a worthless mutt.
I pinched my nose, mocking her.
"She reeks. The hospital air is filthy," I said.
Eric nodded and bowed, "I'll get her out now!"
Allison was dragged out of the rehab center.
Her secrets were online, effectively blacklisting her from entertainment forever.
Eric had become my lapdog, completely whipped. I wasn't sure if he'd lost his mind.
He brought tonics and treats daily, acting lovey-dovey.
He was once too busy to breathe but now makes time to learn cooking for me.
At night, he'd sit by my bed, repeatedly begging for forgiveness and saying sorry.
I absorbed it all without guilt but would never forgive him.
"Mia..." Eric called out nervously, afraid to upset me.
Lying in bed, I tinkered with a new model and huffed impatiently without looking up.
"When are we going home?" he asked quietly, almost pleading.
I bristled the moment he asked.
"Eric, did you forget I almost died in that house?" I snapped.
"You sent me to hell."
After that, he never mentioned going home near me again.
He found some interesting things.
Even when my stomach hurt, I made sure he had food and water daily after his accident.
Even with a fever, I called him to check if he'd taken his meds on time.
I knew he'd run off with Allison again, but I'd still tell him to stay safe.
I was so pathetic back then.
But hey, Eric actually likes groveling now.
To keep me entertained, he found new ways to torment Allison every day.
He showed me videos, asking, "Does this make you happy, Mia?"
I shot back, "When doctors said rush me to the hospital and you told them to starve me, did that make you and her happy?"
I tilted my head and stared at him innocently.
Eric looked away, guilty. "I didn't know anything then," he stammered.