He Wished My Death, I Make Him Pay

Chapter 3 Bonds That Choke

In a moment that betrayed the true nature of his emotions, Felix cradled Vivian as if they were the ones truly entwined by fate. Almost as suddenly, as if realizing his blunder, Felix let Vivian slip from his embrace.

"Felix, do you not recall why I hold such contempt for her? Have you forgotten how she abandoned you to chase dreams abroad? While she toyed with other men overseas, you were left here in tears. And need I remind you, I am the one who's your wife now?"

Each word from me grew louder, sharper, enough to turn the heads of bystanders. Infuriated, Felix charged toward me.

"Nina, you're out of line!"

His hand flew, a sharp sting exploding across my cheek, rendering me speechless. It was the first time he had ever struck me. The shock in his eyes mirrored my own as his face drained of color, remorse and disbelief etched deep.

"N-Nina, I didn't mean it," he faltered, his voice trembling.

My cheek throbbed with pain, and the whispers of onlookers droned in my ears, a cacophony that blurred together. Perhaps seeking relief from prying eyes, Vivian pulled Felix towards the car, and they sped off, leaving me to nurse my wounds alone.

As I sat beside the road, messages from both Felix and Vivian flooded in. Felix's consisted of apologies and promises to see me after he dropped Vivian off. Vivian's, however, cut deep, with a reminder that Felix would never truly let her go.

She was right. It made my sacrifice feel meaningless. The leg I lost to save Felix now seemed a wasted token. Instead of nursing my wounds at home, I caught a cab to the hospital where my grandmother was resting.

Grandma lay serenely on the bed. If not for the ventilator's rhythmic hum, she could have been peacefully asleep.

Before things took a turn for the worse, my modest salary had been enough to help support Grandma alongside my parents.

But after the accident, Felix stepped in, generously covering all her medical bills. He had her moved to a top-tier hospital, arranging for the best medical care money could buy. That unwavering support was why I had forgiven him many things, believing that maybe, just maybe, he still had a sliver of care left for me.

I found solace in knowing that Grandma couldn't see my current state. It would have shattered her heart. I laid my head beside her hand and drifted into a fitful slumber, tears rolling onto the crisp white sheets.

In my dreams, I was a little girl again, crying over some hurt, with Grandma whispering soothing words, gently patting my head.

That night, I didn't make it back home, nor did Felix reach out. Instead, Vivian sent me a picture of them cozied up together. Felix lay next to her, enveloped in a contented ease. That searing slap Felix had once given me felt like nothing compared to the raw ache piercing through my heart, leaving me utterly lost for words.

Out of nowhere, a group of nurses hurried into the room.

"Ms. Stone, we're so sorry," one of them addressed me. "We've been ordered to discontinue your grandma's medication."

With that, they moved to take away Grandma's ventilator. Summoning every bit of strength, I blocked their path with my wheelchair.

"Please, just hold on! Let me call someone," I begged desperately.

I realized Felix was the only one with the power to change this course. The call seemed to stretch on forever before he finally picked up.

"Felix, why are you stopping Grandma's treatment? Please, I'm begging you. I'll do anything," I implored, my voice heavy with desperation, my eyes sore from the tears that flowed freely the night before.

On the line, Felix's voice was cold, almost unrecognizable, dripping with cruelty, "Nina, you are truly pathetic!"