Chapter 5
A heavy silence hung in the room.
Their cheerful discussion failed to evoke any response from me.
I stared blankly at the empty space where my womb had once been.
Intense, persistent aches radiated through my body, each pang a stark reminder of the void within.
Next to me, a pair of young lovers exchanged tender words and gestures, their happiness feeling almost oppressive compared to my numb, desolate state. Their radiant warmth seemed like a foreign concept, as distant and cold as the emptiness surrounding me.
Later that day, the doctor came to assess my injuries. His tone carried a hint of sympathy as he delivered the harsh news: the crash had been too severe, and the delayed treatment had resulted in excessive blood loss and irreparable damage. To preserve my life, they had no alternative but to perform a hysterectomy.
His eyes were filled with compassion, but I felt nothing. Compared to the agony of my previous life's demise, this loss seemed trivial. All I could do now was pray that fate would be kind, giving my child an opportunity for a better existence with a truly loving family.
As visitors walked past my hospital bed, their looks were piercing, tinged with condemnation, as if my pain were some sort of public spectacle.
When I looked at my phone, I saw that all hell had broken loose.
Reese had shared a post accusing me of orchestrating the car crash out of envy towards Melissa.
He went as far as to claim that my miscarriage was a consequence of my own actions.
His associates quickly supported him, endorsing every false statement. It was as if Reese had unleashed a tempest, throwing me to the wolves without hesitation.
What began as outrage against the medical staff had now transformed into a tidal wave of anger directed entirely at me.
My profile was exposed, and soon my inbox was inundated with hateful messages, each more vicious than the last. I attempted to create a new account to explain the situation, but it was swiftly banned for "negative influence."
With each passing day, I could sense the hostility seeping into my life.
The glares, whispers, and stares from every direction cut through me like knives.
The hospital staff sneered as they passed, their words laced with sarcasm, their actions rough and careless.
But none of it affected me.
On the day of my discharge, I finally called Reese.
"Meet me at the civil affairs office now."
He chuckled, his tone mocking and frigid. "What's this? A sudden attack of conscience? Realized you've done me wrong and want to set me free? Don't think I'll fall for your little performance."
"If it weren't for Melissa pleading for you, you'd be behind bars. I'm finished. Half an hour, don't make me wait."
Without another word, he ended the call, leaving the silence between us thick with animosity.
I opened a video on my phone, showing footage of Melissa and the driver planning the car accident. After being discharged, I took a cab home to collect my documents.
As I entered my bedroom, I found Melissa sprawled across my bed, wearing a lacy nightgown. The moment our eyes met, she slithered closer, her breath hot and malicious against my ear.
"Do you really think you stand a chance against me? How ridiculous," she taunted, her voice dripping with poison. "Such a shame about your little bastard. In your previous life, she was killed by her own father because of your foolishness. And this time? Suffocated by him again. Don't you think she must be cursed?"
A surge of rage overwhelmed me. My hand instinctively flew up, delivering a resounding slap across her face.
Before I could catch my breath, Reese burst into the room, radiating anger.
He shoved me against the bedside table, causing a glass photo frame to shatter against my face, its sharp fragments cutting into my skin as blood flowed freely from my nose.
Reese immediately pulled Melissa into his embrace, his expression etched with worry. His piercing gaze turned to me, and he looked ready to lash out when his eyes fell on my flat abdomen. He froze, his face draining of color.
"Where's the child?"