Chapter 4
The blow was so fierce that Mandy was knocked off her feet, sent crashing to the ground.
John yelled, "Mandy, I never realized you could be so heartless."
Blood seeped across the hem of her mermaid dress.
Her vision dimmed, and she could barely make out John hurriedly carrying Sienna away in his arms.
Outside the hospital room, another figure showed up. It was someone Mandy hated so much she wished she could devour him alive.
"Mandy, long time no see," Matthew said.
Matthew picked her up and set her down on the bed, his eyes full of pity.
"Looks like these past three years have been hell for you, Mandy," he sneered.
He looked her up and down, tracing his fingers along her cheek. "You know, if you'd stuck with me, you wouldn't have to suffer like this, right?"
Mandy was drenched in blood, her body so weak she could barely move. Summoning every ounce of strength, she spat blood straight into Matthew's face.
"Tsk, Mandy, still got that fire in you, huh?" Matthew grinned.
Suddenly, the hospital room door burst open.
"Matthew, what the hell are you doing here?" John roared.
With a furious shout, John yanked Matthew up by the collar and slammed him to the ground.
John looked absolutely murderous as he smashed his fist right into Matthew's face.
Matthew didn't even get a chance to open his mouth before John started raining punches down on him.
John kept going until Matthew finally blacked out.
Matthew's face was a bloody mess, and John's fists were smeared with blood too.
John looked like he wanted to burn the whole world down. It made Mandy feel dazed and helpless, like she was right back to three years ago, when she was caught "cheating".
"John," Mandy called out softly, making him look up.
His eyes were blood-red, almost blazing with fury, his face twisted in a savage rage.
He stood up and grabbed Mandy by the throat. His grip was so tight it felt like he could snap her neck with just a flick of his wrist.
"Mandy, are you really that low? You called your lover to the hospital? Are you that thirsty you are for a man?" John spat.
His grip tightened around her neck, and she could barely breathe as the air was squeezed out of her lungs.
Mandy's vision swam with stars, everything going black around her. Using every ounce of strength, she rasped out, "I didn't."
"Didn't what?" John demanded.
John's hand loosened just enough for air to rush back into Mandy's lungs. She caught a glimmer of hope in his gaze.
"Didn't call him to the hospital? Or didn't sleep with him three years ago?" John pressed.
Mandy's heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant fist. The pain was almost unbearable.
"I didn't... call him... to the hospital," she gasped out, her voice barely more than a whisper.
The light in John's eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a cold, indifferent stare.
"So you really did sleep with Matthew three years ago? Was I not enough for you, or are you just a born slut?" John spat.
John's words stabbed into her chest like a knife.
Mandy shut her eyes, too drained to say another word.
Her silence only made John's grip grow even harsher.
The lack of air was overwhelming. Mandy felt herself on the verge of blacking out.
Then, suddenly, John let go.
He gave a cold, mocking laugh. "Want to die? Not a chance."
"Johnny," Sienna cooed at the moment.
Sienna wrapped her arms around John's waist and rested her head on his shoulder, the two of them acting all lovey-dovey as if no one else was around.
"Mandy's hurt, so let her rest. Why don't we go to the party, just us?" Sienna suggested.
However, John sneered. "I'm taking her. If I leave her here, she'll probably end up messing around with Matthew again."
"Mandy's dress looks amazing? Let her wear this for the party, okay?" Sienna said.
John's cold eyes lingered on Mandy's dress for a moment before he suddenly grabbed the hem and ripped it to shreds.
The sound of fabric tearing echoed through the hospital room.
In just a few seconds, that gorgeous mermaid dress was reduced to nothing but tatters.
Mandy was stunned, clutching her chest in confusion.
Feeling exposed and humiliated, Mandy tried to make herself as small as possible. She fought back the urge to cry when she caught the look of disgust in John's eyes.
He sneered, "A dress? Is she even worthy of one? No matter how good she looks, she'll just throw herself at any guy.
"Let her go to the party looking like this tonight. Everyone can see just how cheap she really is."
That night, Mandy ended up going to the party in her regular clothes.
She stuck out at a glitzy event where everyone else was dressed to impress, but it was way better than showing up with nothing on.
People gave Mandy a few dirty looks for showing up in a T-shirt and jeans, but soon enough, all eyes were back on John and Sienna.
"Mr. Webb and his lover really do look like a power couple."
"Sure, they're good-looking, but honestly? They're nothing compared to Mandy. Man, Mandy's face is just unreal. She's drop-dead gorgeous."
Some folks glanced over at Mandy, sitting quietly in the corner. Some with pity in their eyes, others with obvious contempt.
"Back then, Mandy had every girl in Garner City jealous out of their minds. Mr. Webb treated her like she was the apple of his eye. Nothing was too good for her."
"I heard when Mr. Webb confessed his love to her, he booked every drone in Garner City just to throw her the wildest fireworks show ever."
"Mr. Webb even bought two satellites, locked together in orbit. One was named after him, one after Mandy. It was his way of saying they'd never be apart."
"For real. All these years, so many girls would have killed to trade places with Mandy. I just don't get why she'd go and hook up with Mr. Webb's brother."