The two of them stood close—too close.
When Mason caught me staring, he shifted uncomfortably and took a small step away from Fiona. His awkwardness should’ve felt like a victory, but instead, it fueled my disgust.
“Serves you right,” I said coldly, my voice cutting through the room like a blade.
Mason’s eyes widened in disbelief. He opened his mouth to respond, but Fiona was quicker.
“Elder Sister,” she said, her tone dripping with false concern. “I know it’s hard for you to cope with... this. But don’t take it out on Mason, okay? He’s just trying to help.”
The contrast between her tearful, innocent demeanor and her smug attitude the day before made my stomach churn. I couldn’t hold it back any longer—I dry-heaved, my body recoiling from the sheer nausea she inspired.
“Get out,” I snapped, pointing at the door. “Both of you. If you’re going to be disgusting, do it somewhere else. Just get out!”
Mason’s expression darkened, his brow furrowing in frustration. “That’s enough!” he barked. “I’ve tried to be patient because I know you’re upset, but Fiona hasn’t done anything wrong! You’re being unreasonable!”
And with that, he slammed the door on his way out, leaving me alone in a suffocating silence.
The tears came before I could stop them, blurring my vision as my chest tightened in pain. It wasn’t just my body that hurt anymore—it was my entire being.
After that fight, Mason stopped visiting altogether. He hired a nurse to look after me instead.
I had cared for him like a devoted housekeeper for years, tending to his every need. Now, ironically, it was my turn to be looked after by someone else. At least the nurse didn’t pretend to love me.
The doctor told me I needed plenty of rest, so their absence was a relief in some ways. No more dramatic confrontations. No more pain from seeing them together. Just the quiet, empty routine of recovery.
***
Almost a week had passed when I finally asked the nurse to take me outside. The weather was beautiful, the sunlight streaming through the hospital courtyard. But as I sat in the wheelchair, staring at my now-useless legs, reality hit me again.
It had been a week since the accident and I still couldn’t accept it.
The nurse pushed me through the garden, where couples laughed and played together. Watching them brought back a memory—one I thought I’d buried.
I remembered the day Mason collapsed at work. When the doctor said he had a brain tumor and needed surgery, I was terrified, trembling at the thought of losing him. But I stayed by his side, vowing to take care of him no matter what.
The surgery went well and we walked in this garden as he recovered. He held my hand and promised he would love me forever.
Forever. What an empty word. It hadn’t even lasted a few years before he forgot.
The memory weighed on me and I asked the nurse to take me back to my room. But on the way, a strange sound stopped us.
In the corner of the courtyard, I spotted two familiar figures.
Even from a distance, I recognized Mason immediately. His broad shoulders, the way he tilted his head—it was unmistakable. Fiona stood in front of him, clutching his hand tightly as if her life depended on it.
“Mason, you’re taking on too much. Let me help you take care of her,” she pleaded. “It’s my fault she ended up like this. I owe it to her.”
Mason hesitated for a moment. I saw the flicker of emotion in his face. Then, he reached out and gently touched her head.
Fiona fell into his arms, burying her face in his chest. And he wrapped his arms around her.
The sight was like a dagger to my heart.
I wasn’t someone who cried quickly, but the tears came anyway. Lately, they seemed to flow on their own.
It would’ve been a beautiful scene—a man and a woman supporting each other through difficult times. If only that man weren’t my husband.
But I didn’t scream or cause a scene. What was the point? Instead, I asked the nurse to take me back to my room.
***
Over the next few days, I spent a lot of time thinking.
For years, I believed I had a happy marriage. But looking back, I realized it was all in my head. My life revolved around Mason. He was my center, my everything.
But in his world, there was already someone else.
If that’s the case, then he isn’t worth it. I’m done with him.
