Chapter 3

Melanie played that humiliating video on loop, right in front of my grandma, making sure she watched every second.

The doctor called, "She already had a heart condition. So she died right there. I'm so sorry."

My mind went blank. My ears rang. It felt like my heart had been crushed into pieces.

The moment the white sheet was pulled over my grandma's face, all I could see in the glass was my own pale, ugly, ghostly reflection.

I called the police and demanded that Melanie pay with her life for what she did to my grandma.

But Edward blocked me. He found someone else to take the blame for Melanie and let her walk free. Even though he knew my grandma raised me, he did it anyway.

At my grandma's funeral, Edward and Melanie were hooking up in their car right outside the funeral hall. The whole vehicle was rocking with their passion.

Blinded by rage and hatred, with all my emotions boiling over, I lost control and slammed my car straight into theirs.

Blood ran down Edward's face. He stared at my bloodshot, crazed eyes and said nothing for a long time.

Then he looked at me, defeated. "What will it take for you to let us go?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "Only when I'm dead."

Edward finally gave in. He sent Melanie away, scared I might hurt her when he wasn't looking.

For four years, he tried everything to go back to being the man who once loved me.

But only I knew the truth, he hid all that love for Melanie deep in his heart.

Now I was done with it. I couldn't keep hurting myself like this anymore.

*****

The next morning, Edward woke up, his tone much softer as he tried to soothe me. "I had to drink with clients last night. I ended up having a bit too much. I didn't mean to come home late.

"Let's eat out today, maybe at that place you mentioned before."

I said yes, thinking it'd be a good chance to finally clear things up about the divorce.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant, Edward froze.

I glanced inside. Melanie and her new husband were sitting by the window. Melanie was the only one who could stir his emotions.

Edward's voice came out a little hoarse, like he was struggling to keep his feelings under control. "She and her husband are here for their honeymoon. What a coincidence. Hey, why don't we join them at their table?"

Before I could respond, Edward eagerly headed straight over, barely able to hold himself back.

He didn't pay any attention to me, moving so fast that he nearly pulled me off my feet as he dragged me along by the hand.

I staggered a couple of steps and banged my knee hard against a nearby table and chair. The pain shot through my knee and made me wince.

But Edward had already made his way over to Melanie without glancing at me.

I clung to whatever composure I had left and made my way to the restroom.

As I stepped out of the restroom, I ran right into Melanie's "husband".

He shot me a nasty look, pressed his hand over my mouth and nose, and pulled me into the women's bathroom.

Then he grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the wall.

He sneered, "So you're the bitch my cousin told me about? If it weren't for you, she'd already be with Edward. He would've been my connection. You filthy bitch, how dare you get in my way?"

With every word, he grabbed my hair tighter and kept smashing my head into the wall.

Blood from my forehead streamed into my eyes, and my vision went crimson.

He pressed his hand over my mouth and nose so hard that I couldn't scream.

His breath was hot and reptilian against my ear, each word dripping with venom. "You really think Edward's over Melanie? Don't kid yourself. Melanie's plan was brilliant. She said she was getting married, and Edward came running over without a second thought.

"Bet you didn't know Edward's been with Melanie all week. Didn't bother with protection."

My whole body was shaking so hard I couldn't tell if it was anger, desperation, or maybe both.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar moan from the stall next door.

Melanie's voice was choked with sobs. "Ed, please. I'm married now. And Mia, that psycho, she'll never let me off."

Edward's voice came through, full of longing.

"Mel, why do you keep saying things like that? You know I only love you. It doesn't matter that you're married. Let me be your secret lover, please?

"If your husband finds out, tell him it was all my fault. Come on, I miss you like crazy."

My blood ran cold. A chill shot up my spine. Edward was crazy about Melanie. Despite his pride, he was willing to be her secret lover.

Melanie's cousin smacked me hard across the face.

I let out a pained grunt.

Then he rained punches on me, each blow hitting like hail.

The commotion next door kept getting louder. Melanie's shrill cries echoed in my ears like a curse, making my ears throb with pain.

I lay there on the floor, battered and helpless, my face pale as a ghost.

I lost track of time before the commotion from the next stall finally faded away.

Melanie's cousin flashed a sleazy grin, tore my clothes off, and dragged me out of the women's bathroom, right into Edward.

"Mr. Pierce, your wife is shameless. She came in here to seduce me," he sneered. "She said Melanie ruined your family, so now she wants to ruin Melanie's too. She got naked and tried to seduce me. So, what are you gonna do about it?"

I looked up weakly and spotted the kiss mark on Edward's chin. My voice came out hoarse and shattered. "Edward, he's not Melanie's real husband. It's all fake—"

Before I could finish, Edward cut me off, his expression turning cold and furious. "Mia, that's enough. Melanie finally got married, and you still can't leave her alone. Why do you have to be so damn cruel?

"If you won't let Melanie go, then don't expect me to go easy on you anymore."

He was furious, and the disgust in his eyes was real. Not an ounce of it was fake.

I was so exhausted that I didn't have the energy to explain myself. He only believed Melanie. Nothing I said ever mattered.

Melanie shot me a vicious glare, walked over, and slapped me hard across the face. "Mia, do you know what shame is? You got between Ed and me back then. Now that I'm married, you're here trying to steal my husband too?"

I tried to fight back, but Edward gripped my left hand so hard that I couldn't move.

"This is what you owe her," he said, his tone cold.

He stood there, letting Melanie rain slap after slap across my face, not trying to stop her.

I was the one getting slapped, but Melanie was wailing louder, putting on a show for the whole room.

Edward kept comforting Melanie, completely ignoring me as her cousin tore away the last bit of fabric covering my chest.

The scornful looks from everyone around cut right into me.

In the end, I couldn't hold on any longer. I collapsed and passed out cold.

*****

When I finally woke up again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed.

My boss called, "Mia, about that interview we talked about last time, I've assigned it to someone else."