My mother stood frozen in place, her tears falling harder and faster.
“Mia has been married to you for five years, and now she’s gone without a trace. If I don’t ask you, who else should I ask?” Her voice trembled with rage. “Mia never lies! She must have found out about your affair. The woman lying in that ward—that’s your mistress, isn’t it? Mia didn’t run away. You drove her away, time after time, until she couldn’t take it anymore.”
Her accusations echoed through the hospital corridor. “Love whoever you want, but at least let my daughter go. What did she do wrong? Why should she bear the blame for you and that woman?” Her voice broke, and the anger melted into helpless sorrow.
I stood beside her, my vision blurred with tears. I wanted to reach out and wipe the tears from her face, but no matter how much I tried, my hands passed through her like air.
Her cries grew louder, each word heavy with grief. When her strength failed, she collapsed to her knees, pleading with everything she had left.
Allen lost his patience. He called security and had her thrown out of the hospital.
Back in the hospital room, he smashed the cup on the table. The veins on his neck stood out as he pulled out his phone and sent me a voice message.
“Mia, is it not enough for you to stir up trouble alone? Now you have to drag your mother into this too?” His voice was cold. “I told you already, Sadie is like a sister to me. She’s had a heart condition since birth, and it just so happens that my hospital specializes in cardiology. That’s all there is to it. What exactly are you trying to prove?
“When will you admit you’re wrong? When will you stop lying? What happened to you? You used to be better than this. I’m beyond disappointed.”
Without waiting for a reply, he blocked my number.
His words cut through me like shards of glass, each one lodging deeper in my heart. My chest ached with a pain so heavy, I could hardly breathe. I was right there, in his hospital, lying on a surgical bed.
If he had only checked, the truth would have been obvious. But he didn’t bother. He didn’t care enough to find out.
A helplessness spread through me, cold and unyielding. I slid down against the wall, curling my arms around my head as if that could shield me from the pain.
Outside, a nurse rushed past, preparing to handle my body. Sadie gasped softly from her bed, and Allen pulled her into his arms, fear flashing through his eyes.
