At the lowest point in Sue’s life, it was Irwin, her childhood friend, who rushed back from Ohio overnight to personally perform surgery on her mom.
Even after her mom passed, during the darkest year of her life, he never once left her side.
So, when he proposed, she said yes.
She never imagined the truth would be this disgusting.
Her ex-fiancé and her now-husband—their hearts had never belonged to her. It was always Ava’s!
There was never any redemption. She was never the one they loved!
“Sue… why are you crying? Does it hurt?”
Irwin clumsily kissed away her tears, his voice soft as he comforted her.
“Sue, you need to rest well. In a couple of days, we’ll be replacing your artificial heart. You have to take care of yourself, or I’ll be heartbroken.”
Sue wiped her tears, pulled away from his embrace, and said flatly, “Okay, I’m going to take a shower.”
In the bathroom, in front of the mirror, she traced the ugly scar on her chest.
It shouldn’t have been this deep.
But Irwin had kept telling her he couldn’t find a suitable donor heart, so Sue had no choice but to keep relying on artificial ones to survive.
Artificial hearts were only temporary. Every so often, they had to be replaced.
For five years, she had endured the agony of having her chest cut open again and again.
And only now did she learn—Irwin had several donor hearts.
He just refused to use one on her. He was saving them for Ava.
‘Ha. What a joke.’
While he was in the shower, she unlocked his phone.
Of course. The passcode was Ava’s birthday.
Even his chat background was a picture of the two of them.
Expressionless, Sue opened their chat.
The screen was filled with explicit, flirty messages and photos.
Her eyes stung.
Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
[See you at our usual place tonight, babe!]
Attached was a picture of Ava sprawled on a bed, wearing black lace stockings.
Sue’s hands trembled as she scrolled.
When she heard movement outside, she calmly put the phone back in place.
Irwin glanced at his phone out of habit, and a flicker of lust appeared in his eyes.
“Sue, an emergency surgery just came up. I need to go to the hospital. You’ll have to sleep alone again tonight.”
For once, Sue didn’t just nod and let him go.
She looked at him, long and hard.
“Can’t you stay?” Her big, beautiful eyes shimmered with sadness. “You haven’t spent time with me in so long.”
Irwin’s heart clenched. He was about to come up with an excuse when he saw the light in her eyes dim.
“Forget it,” she murmured. “Saving lives is more important. Go ahead.”
Guilt flashed across his face. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her gently.
“Sue, you’re really such an understanding wife. I’ll bring you a gift when I get back, okay?”
Sue said nothing.
As soon as her husband left, she hailed a cab and followed him.
The hotel’s walls weren’t soundproofed.
Irwin and Ava were at it all night, and Sue stood outside, listening.
Like a pathetic coward spying on someone else’s happiness.
Pathetic.
And ridiculous.
Later, she wandered aimlessly through the streets. Passersby recognized her—Irwin’s wife, the B. Global’s CEO’s beloved woman.
They looked at her with envy.
“That’s Sue Bondi, right? The woman who got Irwin Bondi? Dang, she’s not even that pretty!”
“Hey, don’t be so harsh. I heard she had to get an artificial heart five years ago to save her mom. She’s been sick ever since. Of course, she looks a little worn out.”
