Chapter 3
John paused, and for a split second, it felt like someone had grabbed his heart.
Just as he was about to reach out and wipe away her tears, Sienna suddenly appeared outside the hospital room.
Sobbing, she collapsed into John's arms.
She said, "John, I'm so sorry for what I did to Mandy. This morning, I saw the bedsheet was snagged and tried to sew it up, but I'm so clumsy. I messed it up, and even left the pins tangled up in the sheet."
She lifted her right hand, revealing a pale red scratch on her wrist.
"An eye for an eye. I used cut my wrist with a needle. I just hope Mandy can forgive me," she said.
"Stop this nonsense." John shot up, worry and anger flashing across his face as he pulled Sienna into his arms, his eyes filled with concern and pain for her.
He said, "Is Mandy really worth hurting yourself over? She's just got minor injuries. How could you bring yourself to do this?"
He didn't even spare Mandy a glance. Instead, he scooped Sienna up and rushed out to find a doctor.
Mandy glanced at her hand, swaddled in thick gauze, and a faint, bitter smile played at her lips.
In the past, if she so much as nicked herself trimming her nails, John would get so anxious he wouldn't even let her do it anymore.
In winter, he'd personally knit her mittens and slip them onto her hands, just to keep them warm.
But now, he just brushed off her hands covered in frostbites and cuts with a casual, "It's just minor injuries."
Three hours later, the doctor finally arrived, running late and grumbling as he checked her over.
"Unbelievable. Just now, a patient barely nicked herself with a needle, and her boyfriend freaked out and demanded a full-body exam. Can you believe it? Total waste of time," he muttered.
After he examined Mandy, his frown grew even deeper. "Your situation is critical. You were already in bad shape, and now, I doubt you'll last even half a month."
"Half a month? What are you talking about?" John's voice cut in from just outside the door.
Mandy grabbed the doctor's hand, her face pale as she shook her head.
She didn't want John to learn the truth about how little time she had left.
'Better he hates me than watch him fall apart over me,' she thought.
The doctor let out a sigh and left the room.
John sat down on the edge of the bed, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips. "What, already cozying up to the doctor?"
His words felt like a red-hot blade stabbing straight into Mandy's heart, leaving her gasping for air.
"I didn't..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"You'd better not," John said coldly. "There's a party tonight, and they want my wife there, no exceptions. Get ready. Someone will come pick you up."
Just hearing "my wife" sent a wave of bitterness rising in her throat.
The next morning after he found Mandy in Matthew's bed, John dragged her straight to the city hall to get their marriage certificate.
There was no romantic wedding like she'd dreamed of and no beautiful dress. Just his harsh words and resentment.
"Mandy, we're tied together for life. I want you to suffer every single day," he'd said.
A bitter laugh escaped Mandy's throat. "I'll be there."
Outside the hospital room, Sienna showed up with an evening gown draped over her arm.
"Mandy, I rented this dress just for you. It's perfect for you," she chirped.
John took Sienna's hand, his eyes soft with affection. "Silly girl, why are you fussing over her and not yourself? What about your own dress?"
"Mandy always looked out for me before. I just want to return the favor," Sienna replied.
Sienna playfully pushed John toward the door, grinning. "No peeking, okay? I'll help Mandy get changed."
Mandy's hands were too weak, so she just let Sienna do everything without resistance.
Sienna had great taste. The deep blue mermaid gown suited Mandy perfectly.
"Do you have any idea how long I've been jealous of you?" Sienna said, adjusting the hem of Mandy's dress.
She kept fussing with the skirt as she spoke.
"Six years and ninety-nine days." Sienna's eyes flashed with a sharp, almost ruthless glint as she looked at Mandy.
She had never imagined that Sienna, six years younger than her, had secretly been in love with John since six years ago.
Sienna said, "Ever since you started supporting me, I've been insanely jealous of you for having a boyfriend who loved you so much. I thought I'd never stand a chance, but then you went and slept with his brother.
"Do you know that even though John has a different woman in his bed every night, deep down, he's absolutely miserable.
"Mandy, you stomped all over his feelings. You don't deserve him.
"From now on, I want to be the only one he cares about, the only one he keeps close.
"And I want to be his wife."
After fixing the hem of Mandy's dress, Sienna suddenly, without warning, slammed her head straight into the floor-length mirror. She shrieked.
Her scream brought John running in from outside.
John didn't even care that shards of glass might pierce his shoes. He rushed straight to Sienna and scooped her up in his arms.
Sienna clutched her bleeding forehead, tears streaming down her face as she wailed, "Mandy, I was just trying to help you get dressed. Why did you smash my head into the mirror right after?"
Mandy was still in shock, but when she looked up, all she saw in John's eyes was pure loathing.
Without warning, John swung his hand and slapped Mandy hard across the face.