I Missed His Cheat, I Curse His Fate

Chapter 3

After Leon left, I pulled the IV from my hand, watching as blood dripped onto the sterile floor.

Stealthily slipping past the nurses, I exited the hospital, hailed a taxi, and returned to Whispering Pines. Once there, I headed directly to my bedroom.

Inside, Serena was seated at my vanity, fiddling with the flawed pink diamond I'd locked away.

"Sara, you've been discharged too," Serena chirped, her smile annoyingly bright. "Sean mentioned your diamond was just a top-tier replica and didn't want it to embarrass you, so he asked me to get rid of it."

"Set it down," I instructed, maintaining a cool demeanor as I stepped closer.

Just then, Sean entered, casually dressed and carrying a mug of warm water. His expression darkened with concern upon seeing me.

"Why did you leave on your own? The doctor insisted you remain under observation," he scolded.

I pointed at the pink diamond on Serena's wrist and let out a cold laugh.

"The real one goes to her, and the fake goes to me? Is that also a 'necessary compromise'?"

Sean's expression flickered with guilt. 

He handed Serena a glass of warm water and turned to look at me. "Serena needs it to ease her condition. There's no need for you to make a fuss. You can choose something else at the auction tomorrow. Money isn't a concern."

"Tomorrow?" I glanced up at him. "Tomorrow is supposed to be the day of our engagement party."

Sean looked away, focusing on the view outside the window. "The engagement party is off. I have to take Serena to Glacialand. She's not well. I need to give her a wedding to keep her calm."

I studied his face, familiar for eight long years. A knot twisted in my stomach, and I swallowed hard as the bitter taste of betrayal washed over me.

"If I were on my deathbed, would you still leave?"

Sean stared at me in disbelief, then let out a cold laugh.

"Sarah, since when did you learn to play the martyr? I checked the soup last night. There was no seafood in it. Nice performance, Sarah, but I'm worn out. Enough with this act."

Taking Serena's hand, he added, "Let's step outside and let her cool off alone."

The door crashed shut with a resounding thud, leaving the room in a haunting silence. I yanked open the wardrobe and grabbed a hefty black trash bag, sweeping every framed photo from the shelf into it with little regard.

In the bathroom, I collected the couple's toothbrushes, every fancy purse he had ever showered on me, and the set of matching mugs we had picked out together, cramming them all into the bag.

I hauled the bulging sack to the living room hearth and sparked the lighter. Flames sprang up ravenously, consuming the grinning snapshots of us cozying up to one another. The flickering firelight cast shadows on my face, devoid of any comfort.

Back in the study, I flipped on the computer and methodically printed out two critical documents.

Engagement Termination Agreement.

Renunciation of Shares in the Lewis Group.

Sean had started the company from nothing eight years ago, and I had traded my entire inheritance from my parents for a 15% stake in the Lewis Group. Now, I wanted no part of it.

The printer ejected the last page with a mechanical whir. I added my signature to the bottom right corner, my hand steady and unwavering. On my right ring finger, a diamond ring sparkled subtly.

He had given me that ring eight years ago when we lived in a cozy apartment, and he had just received his first paycheck. It was modest, nestled snugly around my finger, but after all these years, it had nearly fused with my skin.

Gritting my teeth, I twisted and yanked at the ring. Instantly, a sharp sting rippled through me as flesh gave way. Blood oozed from my finger, staining the keys below.

With a clink, the ring tumbled onto the desk. An indentation, raw and deep, remained on the skin where it had rested.

I placed the ring gingerly atop the pair of agreements and carefully folded them. I left everything prominently displayed on the coffee table in the living room.

The dull ache in my stomach had faded to nothingness.

I retreated to the bathroom, slipping into clean black attire. Steadfast, I gathered my tarot cards and ID.

I left without taking a single thing from the Lewis family.