I snorted. “Don’t bother staring. They’re both
<
gone. Light a stick of incense instead.”
Josh opened and closed his mouth, speechless.
Mia, seeing his distress, jumped in. “Olivia, what
does our baby and your mom have to do with
us? We’re here, aren’t we? That’s more than
you deserve. Don’t push it!”
My voice was ice. “Nothing to do with you?”
Mia faltered, but pressed on. “Josh didn’t cause
your miscarriage. And your mom… If Josh hadn’t paid for her treatment, she’d have died
years ago. Shouldn’t you be thanking him for
giving her four more years?”
I’d never encountered such audacity. Four years
ago, my mom saved Josh and Mia from a
speeding car, injuring her leg in the process.
The accident revealed her cancer. That’s how
we met Josh. I was a student, broke. Josh, to
repay Mom, offered to cover her medical expenses. It was a promise, not a favor.
<
“If it weren’t for my mom, you and Josh would
be dead. She made a mistake saving you.”
Josh stood frozen, his voice hoarse. The funeral
bell tolled. Mia, oblivious to Mom’s sacrifice,
glared at me. “So? Your mom and your baby’s
death have nothing to do with me!”
I smirked and walked towards her, pressing a
button on a remote. A projector screen
descended.
On my eighth day in the hospital, I’d run into
Mia and our housekeeper. Mia’s voice was cold,
dismissive. “Good work. I’ll transfer the money
today.”
The housekeeper’s face was grim. “Asking me
to take time off was one thing, but telling me to
put oil on the stairs? Someone could have
died!”
My blood ran cold. I’d quickly recorded their
<
conversation.
“Her life is a life, but your son’s isn’t?” Mia,
wearing sunglasses, still couldn’t hide her
disdain. “Your son needs surgery, right? He
needs the money I’m giving you. Does Olivia
have that kind of money?”
The housekeeper looked down. “Keep this
quiet. Understand?” She clutched her phone,
nodding.
I’d planned to settle Mom before dealing with
the video, but then they killed her.
“You’re always so smug, so cruel.”
Mia’s face paled as the truth was revealed.
Josh stared at the video, looping on screens by
the coffins, his eyes bloodshot. “Mia, care to
explain?” He turned to her, lifeless.
Mia stammered, “…That’s not me! Videos can
<
be faked!”
Josh wasn’t fooled. “So that day… You posted
that picture on purpose to get rid of me?”
Mia, seeing the jig was up, dropped the act.
“Yes! I did it on purpose!” Her face twisted.
“My baby died, so hers had to die too! She
stole you from me! She stole my happiness!”
Josh’s voice was a weak whisper. “And Olivia’s
mom? Why did you tell me to stop her
treatment?”
Mia’s eyes were red, her voice shrill. “She
deserved to die! If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t
have lost my baby! You wouldn’t have met that
bitch! You wouldn’t have left me! They’re both
leeches, a gold digger and her mother! They
deserved it!”
Four years ago, Mom saved two people. Josh.
And a pregnant Mia, her early pregnancy not
<
yet showing. Mom pushed them out of the way.
Mia’s stomach hit a stone pillar. They were both
taken to the same hospital. Years of hard
partying and the impact caused Mia to lose her
baby. Her uterus was damaged; she couldn’t
have children. The Walker family wouldn’t
accept a barren woman. So they broke up. I’d
felt sorry for her, never imagining she’d blame
my mom.
“Mia, my mom shouldn’t have saved you.”
Mia looked distraught, as if she were the victim.
“I asked her to? She jumped in, then latched
onto Josh and caused my miscarriage!” She
paused, her breathing ragged. “You planned
this, didn’t you? You and your mom! You
wanted his money! You set me up!”
Ethan, silent until now, cut her off. His face was
dark. “Your miscarriage was your fault. The
drinking, the partying. Not your mom. You
didn’t even listen to the doctors. You’re stupid.
<
Or just looking for someone to blame.” “Josh
left you because his family told him to. Because
he was too weak to stand up for you.” Ethan
scoffed. “You two are truly pathetic.”
