Chapter 2

I lowered my gaze and said, "Let's get a divorce."

Lucas was stunned for a moment, as if he hadn't heard me. He asked, "What?"

"Let's get a divorce," I repeated, "I'll draw up the papers as soon as I can. You just need to sign them."

With that, I stood up and headed inside.

Lucas grabbed my wrist and demanded, "What do you mean?"

I stared up at the pitch-black sky and said coolly, "Isn't it obvious? I want a divorce."

Lucas said, "Is this about Sophia? We grew up together. She's like a sister to me. Her kid is really sick. Can't you just be a little more understanding? Do you have to blow this up like this?"

I shot back, "What does her kid being sick have to do with me? I'm the one who's sick. I'm the one dying here."

My voice was twisted by rage, sounding like I'd totally lost it.

Lucas's eyes turned icy. He said, "Hannah, you're so heartless. No wonder everyone hates you."

I said, "Yeah, guess I'm just that awful. Now that I'm leaving, you can go play hero for Sophia and her kid all you want. What more do you want from me?"

Lucas was about to say something else, but his phone rang.

I yanked my hand away in frustration and stormed inside.

The room was dead quiet until I heard Sophia's frantic voice on the phone. She said, "Lucas, my daughter's coughing up blood again."

Then, I heard the sound of a car engine starting up behind me.

The black car sped off, the sound fading into the night.

I remembered that night when Sophia showed up at our place in the dead of night, cradling her sick daughter in her arms, desperate to see Lucas.

Lucas immediately got dressed and rushed to take Sophia and her daughter to the hospital.

I followed after and snapped at Sophia, "Your daughter's sick, so why come looking for Lucas instead of going straight to the hospital? He's not a doctor."

Sophia hugged her kid, looking all pitiful as tears welled up. She said, "Hannah, my daughter's illness is really hard to treat. She just wants Lucas to go with her to the hospital. She likes being around him."

I let out a cold laugh and shot back, "Having Lucas around isn't going to make her better. Barging into my house in the middle of the night? Don't you think that's a bit much?"

Sophia's daughter started bawling. She said, "Mom, didn't Lucas say he doesn't like his wife? Then why are they still sleeping together? I hate her so much."

Hearing a kid say that hit me like a punch to the gut.

I never thought I'd become the butt of their jokes, the gossip they shared over dinner.

I shot Sophia a look of pure disgust and said, "Maybe all your dirty tricks are finally coming back to bite you, and now your kid's paying the price. You should really try being a better mom, instead of raising another homewrecker just like you."

Before I could even finish, Lucas slapped me hard across the face.

I had no idea how hard he hit me, but I was slammed to the ground. My head was ringing, everything went black, and I just couldn't get up.

Lucas looked at me with disappointment. He said, "Hannah, I never thought you could be this cruel. Cursing a child? That's a new low."

With that, he picked up Sophia's daughter and rushed off. Sophia wiped her tears, gave me a smug, challenging glare, and hurried after them.

They crushed my dignity under their feet. I lost, and I lost hard.

My heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds.

The pain was so cold and sharp, it felt like icy knives were freezing and tearing my soul apart.

I blacked out, collapsing to the ground.

When I finally came to, the first light of dawn was creeping into the sky.

I'd spent the whole night passed out by the door, frozen to the bone, my head pounding like a million ants were chewing through it.

After a long while, I finally managed to haul myself up off the ground.

Nothing but the howling wind surrounded me.

Lucas never came back.

No one gave a damn about me.

All those distant memories from my dreams were just wisps of smoke. Here one moment, gone the next, meaning nothing at all.

With my heart feeling like it was being sliced open, I forced myself up and stumbled off to the hospital, all by myself.

The doctor gave me some meds, and the pain finally eased up. Enough that I wasn't wishing I was dead anymore.

The doctor told me I didn't have much time left. If I started treatment right away, maybe there'd be a miracle.

I didn't say anything.

I knew miracles weren't meant for someone like me.

Fate had never once looked my way.

I asked the doctor for some painkillers, then left the hospital.

I had to go see my dad. He was the only one I couldn't stop worrying about.

At least he'd helped out the Sterling family before. Even if I were not around, they wouldn't just leave him high and dry.

But as soon as I arrived at the hospital where my dad was staying, they rushed him straight into the emergency room.

I just stood there, dazed, watching doctors and nurses frantically wheel my dad down the hall.

The corridor was ice-cold, silent. Overhead, the OR light blazed red, a demon's eye, cold and merciless. And me? Completely helpless.