Chapter 3

At the time, I thought Eric was setting up something special for me.

But in the end, it was just wishful thinking on my part.

"Mr. Bishop gave me this necklace. He said it matches my temperament, pure and elegant," Vicky said.

She was clearly waiting to savor any trace of pain or anger on my face. But I just kept my expression indifferent.

"It's definitely expensive," I replied, my voice flat.

Vicky was taken aback by how unfazed I was.

As she left, she gave me a few lingering looks over her shoulder.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat, and the moment the door clicked shut, I bolted to the bathroom, hugging the toilet as I retched for ages.

I still remembered those early days when we were just starting out. The company needed a quick cash injection, and Eric was running around everywhere, hitting dead end after dead end. He was so stressed he could barely think straight.

Seeing him so overwhelmed, I gave him everything I had saved up.

When Eric took the card from me, his hands were shaking.

He pulled me into his arms so tightly, it felt like he never wanted to let me go, holding me as if I was the most precious thing in his world.

Back then, we didn't have flowers, fancy dates, or expensive gifts. We couldn't even afford a new outfit. But we had each other, a shared dream, and the courage to face every challenge together.

Now, everything changed.

He poured all his kindness and patience into another woman.

The hospital's ultrasound report was still sitting in the drawer, stashed away in a folder I'd put together myself.

I'd planned to surprise Eric with it a few days ago but he never even came home.

I curled up on the couch, gently stroking my belly. This baby came at the worst possible moment.

Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

Some time later, I was jolted awake by the sound of a door slamming shut.

When I opened my eyes, Eric was standing right in front of me, his eyes dark and stormy.

His white shirt was stained with blood, but he didn't look hurt at all.

I was wondering why there was blood on his shirt when he yanked me up from the couch, his hands digging into my shoulders so hard it hurt.

"Suzanna, how can you be so heartless?" he spat. "Vicky was just bringing me some clean clothes. Was it really necessary for you to be so nasty to her?

"You've been giving me the cold shoulder these past few days, acting like I don't even exist. She's the one who's been looking after me every day. Is it such a big deal that I gave her a necklace?

"Haven't I treated you well enough? Do you really have to pick on a girl who's got nothing going for her?

"She's out here all alone, trying to survive in this big city, and you pushed her so far she tried to end her own life. If I hadn't gotten there in time today, Vicky wouldn't even be alive right now."

The blood on his shirt was Vicky's.

His accusations hit me one after another, like grenades going off in my head, leaving my mind reeling.

Nausea surged up, and I slapped a hand over my mouth, racing to the bathroom. I puked my guts out until the room was spinning, then slumped to the floor, totally spent.

Eric leaned against the door, watching me for a while, looking a bit worried. "Are you feeling sick?"

I stood up, rinsed my mouth, and saw my own pale face in the mirror. I looked rough.

Back then, if I so much as sneezed or rubbed my temples, he'd freak out instantly.

If he noticed I wasn't feeling well, he'd drop whatever he was doing, watch me take my medicine, and keep reminding me to lie down and rest.

Even my slightest discomfort was like the end of the world to him. But now, his eyes were full of open contempt for me.

Even seeing how awful I felt, he didn't even try to come near me.

"Stop pretending to be pitiful. Playing the victim won't get you off the hook. You need to go apologize to Vicky," he said coldly.

I pushed aside how sick I felt, my voice coming out rough and dry as I answered, "Eric, when did I ever give you the cold shoulder? Weren't you the one who said I was always meddling in your life?"

Eric and I had been together for nine years, and of course, we'd had our share of fights.

But no matter how heated things got, he never let the silent treatment drag on for long.

Usually, just an hour or two after a blow-up, he'd show up looking all sheepish, gift in hand and full of apologies, doing his best to win me over.

He was never so relentless and unforgiving.

"Suzanna, don't you realize you've changed?" Eric said coldly. "You're way too controlling. You always want to run my life, make me do whatever you say. Living like this is suffocating.

"Vicky hasn't done anything wrong. You're coming with me to the hospital right now, and you're going to apologize to her until she forgives you."

I clenched my fists, staring him down. "And what if I don't go? What are you going to do about it?"

His face darkened.

I knew that look. It was the calm before the storm.

I said, "Eric, you're my husband. You've been staying out for several nights at another woman's place, giving her an expensive necklace.

"You even let her come here to flaunt it in my face. So tell me, why the hell should I apologize to her?"