5
When I finished, the room was silent. Even the reporter seemed at a loss for words, her eyes filled with pity. As the nurse wheeled me away, a few of the fans whispered, “I’m sorry.”
I ignored them. I could never forgive people who had so viciously slandered me online just because of a
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single apology.
16:17
I enjoyed two weeks of peace in my hospital room. I heard that Alex, in a grand gesture to protect his true love, had taken all the blame. The rescue team issued a public statement and fired him for gross negligence
My accusation of attempted murder didn’t stick, but he was found guilty of dereliction of duty resulting ir near–fatal injury.
His parents, who had refused to help me find a decent lawyer after my own parents died, spared no expense for their son.
They also came to find me.
I had just finished a physical therapy session and was practicing walking in the hospital corridor when Alex’s mother, Diane, stormed up and slapped me across the face.
I stumbled, nearly falling. A few quick–thinking nurses caught me, preventing my wounds from tearing oper
again.
“You bitch!” she shrieked. “After everything our family has done for you, you call the police on my son?”
“He’s your husband! How could you be so cruel? I never liked you! If my son hadn’t insisted on marrying you Isabelle would have been my daughter–in–law years ago!”
She had always adored Isabelle. The first time I met her, she deliberately invited Isabelle over to put me in my place, forcing me to do chores while she held Isabelle’s hand and gossiped. When I declined to wash the dishes because I was on my period, she smiled sweetly and said it was fine, then immediately sent Alex a
ext complaining about me.
saw it by chance, when I borrowed his phone to send his mother a holiday gift.
Her message read: Even if Isabelle’s parents disapproved, all you had to do was knock her up. They wouldn’t have said no then. Isabelle is so much better than that penniless tramp you found!
To her, I was just a penniless tramp.
She had never been shy about her disapproval, but she had never been this brazen.
She pointed a finger at my face. “You will sign this letter of forgiveness right now, or you’ll regret it.”
The letter was nearly identical to the one Alex had written to forgive Isabelle after I had died in my past life. Every word made my stomach turn.
Sign it!”
She thrust a pen at me while Alex’s father shut the door behind them, trapping me. It was clear they wouldn’t et me leave until I signed.
threw the pen on the floor. “No.”
Her eyes widened, as if she wanted to tear me to pieces. Just then, her rage triggered an attack. She began
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Chapter 2
to tremble violently, like an epileptic fit. Her husband quickly pulled out the “special medicine” they had gott- en from Isabelle’s family.
Seeing the vial, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” she wheezed. “How can you be so heartless? I’m your mother–in–law, I’m having an attack, and you’re laughing? Have you no conscience?”
I watched her cradle the vial like a precious jewel, even picking up a pill she dropped and putting it back in.
“Have you ever noticed,” I said calmly, “that after all this time taking this ‘special medicine,’ your asthma hasn’t gotten any better?”
