I took thirteen stab wounds for Jacob. After I got out of the hospital, he married me. But at the wedding, right after he slipped a ring on my finger, he pulled out an even bigger diamond ring and walked straight toward his first love, Celeste. “Celeste,” he choked out, “I never forgot my promise to put a wedding ring on your finger. I’m sorry I failed you.” Jacob started sobbing in front of everyone. Celeste held him gently, her eyes lifting over his shoulder and locking on mine. “Maya, you saved Jacob, so he should marry you. Besides… I’m dying. Promise me you’ll take care of him. I’ll watch over you both from heaven.” Then the two of them kissed—completely lost in each other. Everyone laughed at me. I slipped off my ring. “Jacob, go marry this bitch. I wish you both the best.” My few words seemed to infuriate Celeste. She clutched her heart, coughing and twitching violently. I knew it was an act. But Jacob didn’t. “Maya Hayes, you are absolutely vicious!” He roared, his voice raw. “I’m marrying you! What else could you possibly want? Celeste is dying, and you’d curse her? Do you have any heart? Are you even human?” He screamed these words at me in front of all our friends and family. Then, gnoring the desperate pleas from both our parents, he scooped Celeste into his arms and stormed out of the wedding. His exit was absolute. There wasn’t a shred of hesitation. Not a flicker of regret for me. It was as if he’d forgotten the story behind every scar that marked my skin. In the lavish wedding hall, only I, the bride, remained. The mocking whispers of the guests echoed in my ears. “This was supposed to be a beautiful wedding, and she ruined everything. Couldn’t she just suck it up? She had to make such a scene, it’s completely disgraced the Reed family.” “She can’t keep a man’s heart, and then she throws tantrums. She’s hopeless. We should have just made some food at home, just a casual meal, instead of this ridiculous wedding.” “We’re out of patience. You’re on your own.” Jacob’s parents unleashed all their anger on me, making me their scapegoat. No matter what, the Reed family was blameless, Jacob was blameless. No one spoke up for me. Because I grew up in an orphanage, with no family, no connections. My eyes welled up as I watched Jacob’s parents and the guests leave. I looked up at the bright chandeliers. My pristine white wedding dress, at this moment, felt like a shroud, mourning seven years of my pathetic, unrequited love.
Seven years. I alone knew the truth of my sorrow. Thinking back, I couldn’t hold back my tears. Jacob had told me his family was old money, and his parents valued heritage. To gain their approval, I had to work hard. I loved Jacob, and I knew the path ahead was difficult, but I rushed headfirst into it, like a moth to a flame. I always obeyed Jacob’s parents, giving up my dream of becoming a detective to be a housewife. Even then, I wasn’t allowed to sit at the dinner table. Because of my humble origins, Jacob’s parents found me ‘unclean’. They saw me as beneath them, tainted by my background. I thought with time, I could warm them up. But Jacob’s passion for me steadily dwindled, while his interactions with Celeste became more frequent. Even so, I clung to a sliver of hope. So, when Jacob was attacked by thugs, I didn’t hesitate, shielding him and fighting them off, taking thirteen knife wounds! Blood soaked my clothes, blurring my vision. As I lay bleeding, consciousness fading, I heard Jacob screaming my name. In that second, I felt Jacob’s love and thought dying for him was worth it. But it was all my hallucination. Jacob had always truly loved Celeste… I sighed, wiping away my tears, and was the last to leave the hotel. To my surprise, Jacob’s father was waiting outside. “I’ll arrange a press conference. You’ll admit your mistake and take all the blame, don’t you dare affect Jacob.” He saw me and spoke, his tone an order.
“Mistake? What mistake have I made?” I shot back. “If you still want to remain a Reed, and be Mrs. Reed, then do as I say. Otherwise, don’t bother coming home!” Mr. Reed’s face darkened. He delivered his harsh ultimatum, then got into his car and drove away. I clenched my fists. Even if I was as obedient as a dog, wagging my tail at their slightest gesture, overjoyed by a scrap they threw me. Even if I offered my life, I still wouldn’t get their approval. Celeste’s status would always be higher than mine. The weather bureau had announced a possible hailstorm today, but I didn’t call the Reed family to beg for forgiveness as I usually would. I refused to be threatened, refused to compromise anymore. I thought about finding shelter back inside the hotel, but the security guard stopped me. It was definitely the Reed family’s doing again. They wanted to force me to behave like a dog. I still refused to comply, walking alone on the street. My phone was in my car, so I couldn’t call a ride. The sky grew darker, and finally, the hail began to fall. I had nowhere to hide. I let the hailstones pelt me, feeling like I was being stoned. My head was bleeding, and I collapsed onto the ground. My white wedding dress was stained red again. Suddenly, I felt ridiculous. Seven years of my youth had led to this pathetic, desolate end. My consciousness started to fade. “The choice I gambled my life on… in the end, it was wrong…” I finally succumbed and passed out. When I woke up, I was in a hospital’s VIP room. My entire body was wrapped in bandages. I asked the nurse and learned that a patrol officer had happened to pass by and saved me. Otherwise, I might have been killed by the hail. After all, my old wounds hadn’t fully healed, and now I had new ones. Even a person of iron couldn’t endure it. “Mr. Reed, there’s already someone in this room. She’s very badly injured.” “So what? The last VIP room is for Celeste! I’m Jacob Reed, the heir to the Reed fortune, and the hospital has my family’s shares. Who dares defy me will be fired!” Suddenly, I heard Jacob and a nurse arguing outside. Before I could even process it, the door flew open. Jacob stormed in, carrying Celeste in his arms. Without so much as a glance toward the bed, he yelled, “You! Move the patient in this bed to another room, now! I’ll take full responsibility for any consequences!” “And I want Celeste taken care of immediately! Or everyone gets fired!” Only when his orders were given did he finally look up and saw me. He froze, startled. “What are you doing here?”
His surprise lasted only two seconds before Jacob frowned, an impatient expression on his face. “Maya, you must be very angry for following us here!” “I’m so sorry, I had an episode, that’s why Jacob dropped the wedding and rushed me to the hospital.” “Blame me, don’t blame Jacob.” Celeste squeezed out a few tears, looking pitifully at me. She acted like she was apologizing, but her saccharine words were pure poison. This, of course, made Jacob’s heart ache all over again. “Maya! Celeste is like this, how can you still blame her? Can’t you be more understanding?” He snapped at me, annoyed. “Have I said a single word since you both walked in?” I retorted, my voice cold. My entire body was wrapped in bandages, an IV drip in my arm, yet Jacob didn’t ask about my condition or show any concern. His eyes were only on Celeste. True love, indeed. Jacob was momentarily speechless, knowing I had a point, but he quickly went back to his accusing tone. “Even if you didn’t say anything, you deliberately followed us, then faked an injury to compete with Celeste for the VIP room. You’re truly malicious.” “I honestly regret ever knowing you!” “Give up the bed to Celeste immediately, and I might still forgive you!” His icy words were like a command to a dog. “Jacob, don’t be angry. Maya certainly didn’t mean it…” Celeste feigned concern, tugging on Jacob’s clothes, trying to ‘calm’ him. In reality, she was just adding fuel to the fire. “Celeste, you’re just too kind.” Jacob’s gaze softened the moment it landed on Celeste. When it flicked back to me, it had iced over completely. “Maya, stop this nonsense. Move.” He urged. He was desperate to appease his first love. The old me would have shuffled aside without a word, anxious not to cause him any trouble. But not this time. “I’m a patient here, too,” I said, holding his cold stare. “Why should I be the one to move?”
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