My hands trembled as I listened to her unfounded accusations and the venomous rumors she spewed. The weight of her words cut through me like a blade, and it took every ounce of strength to quell the searing pain in my chest. Numbly, I pushed her away and walked out, hoping to escape the suffocating atmosphere she had created.
As I passed by Isaiah, his leg shot out, blocking my path. I didn’t have time to react, and before I could brace myself, I tumbled down the stairs. The sickening sound of bones snapping was accompanied by a searing pain that seemed to consume me entirely.
I blacked out, only the heart-wrenching scream of Serena echoing in my ears.
When I came to, the first thing I saw was Serena’s haggard face, drained of its previous beauty. Her eyes were swollen and bruised, the mask of perfection she once wore now shattered. For a brief moment, I saw something in her eyes—was it pity?
"You're awake," she said softly, her voice cold. "The doctor said your internal injuries are severe. Your kidneys... they've been removed. You won’t ever have children."
I stared at her, too numb to feel anything but an overwhelming fatigue. She hesitated before continuing, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "The medical records show you were rushed here yesterday. You didn’t just leave, did you? What were you trying to do?"
I reached for my phone, intent on calling the police, but she grabbed my hand to stop me.
"I’m calling the police," I said in a flat, cold tone. "Isaiah pushed me down the stairs. He should be held accountable."
"I've already punished him," Serena replied, her lips pressed tightly together. "Can you please stop making this harder?"
"Punished him?" My voice was strained. "How?"
She faltered, avoiding my gaze. "I told him... not to get into my bed tonight."
The chill that ran through me almost made me laugh, but it came out more as a bitter, hollow sound.
She frowned at me, visibly frustrated by my lack of reaction. "Can you stop being so sarcastic? You’re useless now. The doctor said you’ll have a hard time ever having children. Why don’t you just look forward to Isaiah giving me one? How do you plan to punish him, huh?"
I didn’t say anything, and her tone shifted, softening in an almost awkward way. "It’s my fault this time. I know you wanted a child. I couldn’t give you one, but when you’re better, I’ll ask Isaiah to let you be the godfather. I’ll make it right."
I remained silent, my mind racing with thoughts of what had been lost, of everything she had stolen. Her patience wore thin. "What’s with this silence? What are you so upset about?" she demanded, her voice rising in anger.
"You think I don’t know?" she continued, her eyes blazing with fury. "You married me because Gwen wanted you. She climbed into your bed, and you were afraid the truth would come out—afraid it would ruin your mother’s chance at marriage. That’s why she picked me as the scapegoat, right?"
She took a breath, gathering her anger. "You made a fool of me, Anthony. You ruined everything we had. My wedding, my marriage… You wanted me to stay quiet, didn’t you? I only had a trainer. Every time I got pregnant, I had to abort it to save your image!"
I felt my chest tighten as she went on, fury and bitterness lacing her every word. "And behind my back, you were sending those texts to Gwen, betraying me, betraying everything we built! If Isaiah hadn’t told me, I would have been played for a fool!"
"I didn’t!"
The words barely escaped me before her gaze hardened, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. She suddenly reached between the sheets and pulled out a plane ticket. My heart sank as I saw the private jet ticket—ANTHNYAIR’s private jet—the one Gwen had named after me.
Serena’s eyes filled with rage, her hand gripping my hair as she slapped me hard across the face.
"Don’t you dare lie! This boarding pass—this ticket—was from Gwen! She wanted you to leave me, to run off with her! You still think I’m stupid enough to believe you didn’t have an affair?"
Her words cut deeper than the slap. It felt like everything had fallen apart at once, and I was powerless to stop it.
"I won’t let you go," she hissed, her grip tightening. "If you think you can leave me for her, think again. You belong to me, Anthony. Even if you die, you’re mine. I won’t let you be happy with anyone else."
She shoved me violently, and I fell off the bed, the IV bottle crashing to the ground. Glass shattered, and blood seeped from the wound beneath me. I winced in pain, my vision blurry.
"Serena, are you really this insecure?" I whispered through the pain, struggling to keep my voice steady. "You think you’re not worthy of love, don’t you?"
She stood over me, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her eyes were wild, a mixture of anger, hurt, and something darker—resentment.
