Chapter 5 Two Lives Were Lost
Spencer tightened his grip on his phone. His face suddenly looked gloomier, and his voice became colder.
“What, is Bethany pulling her stunts with you now, too? Are your medical staff even competent? Can’t your equipment detect if there’s actually something wrong with her? Get her over here now!”
He hung up abruptly.
An ambulance soon arrived and quickly transported Maria to the hospital.
The party continued, but this time, Spencer sat off to the side. He was lost in thought, and his gaze was unfocused.
Yunice approached him, holding a glass of red wine. “What’s on your mind?”
He looked up slowly. “Someone just said… It seems Bethany really is dead.”
Yunice sneered, “She’s worthless. Dead or not, who cares? Oh, and speaking of which, I forgot to tell you.
“Remember when you came to see me on the day of Bethany’s surgery? Your phone rang when you went to the restroom, and I answered it for you. It was someone claiming to be from the hospital. I vaguely recall them mentioning Bethany’s death, but I figured she was just a stand–in. Who cares if she’s gone, right? So, I didn’t-”
“Ah! What are you doing?!” The red wine in Yunice’s hand splashed all over her as Spencer sprang to his feet.
She scowled. “Why the heck did you jump up like that?”
Spencer didn’t reply to her and just dashed to the exit.
“Spencer!” She stomped her foot, shouting after him with fury. “You ruined my limited- edition dress! You owe me ten more to make up for this!”
However, this time, the man who had always treated her like she was a treasure didn’t turn
back.
When Spencer barged into the ward, Maria had already woken up. She sat staring blankly out the window and did not even turn around when he entered.
He grabbed her arm abruptly and pulled her up. “Where’s Bethany?”
If one looked closely, one would have noticed an uncharacteristic flicker of anxiety; as though fearing some unbearable truth, in his usually indifferent gaze.
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Chapter 5 Two Lives Were Lost
+25 BONUS
“She’s gone,” Maria replied, her gaze still fixed on the window. “She’s nothing but ashes
now.”
“That’s impossible!” His face contorted in anger. Gripping her arm even tighter, he yanked her closer and threatened, “Get her here. Now!
She looked at him. Her expression was vacant, and her gaze was clouded and hollow. She didn’t respond.
Gradually, he began to realize she might not be lying. When he finally spoke again, his
voice was hoarse.
“Mrs. Frodo, I know you’re unwell and in need of expensive chemotherapy. Tell Bethany if she doesn’t show herself soon, I’ll cut off every bit of funding and support.”
A weak laugh escaped Maria. Her voice trembled as she said, “Good. That’s perfect. At least I can finally go and be with my Bethany!”
She flung his hand away and slapped him hard across the face. The force left his cheek swollen and red, but he didn’t retaliate. He only stood there and stared at Maria in a daze. I didn’t know what he was thinking of.
Maria rubbed her stinging palm and said word by word in a firm voice, “Spencer, do you know? After Bethany died, I lay beside her, and it felt like I couldn’t even breathe…”
A sorrowful smile crept across her face. “The hospital called me to schedule her pre–natal check–up for next week. They said Bethany’s pregnancy wasn’t stable and that we had to be extra careful. But what did they know? She and her baby were long gone–two lives were snuffed out.”
Her voice choked with grief. “This was your second child with her, wasn’t it, Spencer?”
Chapter 6 The Bitter Truth
