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Elias carried Vivian inside, and I clenched the money in my hand as I made my way to the
hospital.
More blood dripped from my nose, cold against my skin.
But with the New Year just around the corner, I couldn’t help but feel a little hope.
After the New Year, I’d turn twenty–five.
The doctor said I was in the final stages of my illness and could die at any moment.
However, they had recently imported an expensive drug that might slow the progression of
my disease.
A thousand bucks wasn’t much, but it would buy me a day’s worth of medicine, and that
alone made me feel a little better.
The streets were crowded on Christmas Eve. As I stepped into the crosswalk, someone
shoved me from behind.
I slipped and fell, feeling like my insides had been jarred, almost getting hit by a car.
The driver cursed at me as I struggled to crawl to the curb.
Vivian stood with her hands on her hips and forcefully grabbed the money from my hand.
“Every penny Elias has is mine! You don’t deserve it!”
Ignoring the pain, I got up and tried to fight her off.
But in the end, I was no match for Vivian, who was healthy and strong.
She shoved me to the ground, slapping my face over and over, and I couldn’t do anything but
lie there.
“Ever since you slept with another man, everything changed. Elias can only love me!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her words.
Of course, Elias loved her the most.
She was getting all his love. Why was she still attacking me, the woman he despised?
The cold wind burned my face, but I couldn’t care about anything else.
1 looked at Vivian, managing to get back on my feet.
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“Give it back!”
Vivian sneered and suddenly collapsed onto the ground, crying in mock despair.
I’ll give it to you! Just don’t hurt me…”
I ignored her drama and bent down to grab the money, but then Elias‘ voice came from
behind me.
“Isn’t that enough money for you? You’re bullying Vivian for it?”
He rushed up, scooping Vivian into his arms and pulling the thousand bucks from my hand.
A thousand bucks? Sure, it was a lot.
Vivian looked at me, smug as ever, her head nestled against Elias‘ chest, looking all warm
and cozy.
My hands were freezing, and my vision was blurry with tears. I remembered when he used to
protect me, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I started crying.
“Do you really have to be this heartless?”
He glared at me coldly, his eyes full of hatred.
“How dare you play the victim? You, who betrayed me? You want money? Fine, but first you’ll kneel and apologize to Vivian.”
His words slapped me across the face. My head spun, and a warm trickle of blood ran from my nose.
Elias must have been so eager to see me like this. But I wouldn’t let him have the satisfaction.
The blood dripped steadily onto my hand as Elias smirked and carried Vivian away.
The bleeding finally stopped. I turned around, but Elias was already gone.
I looked around at the familiar Christmas decorations. Everything was just like it had always been.
But that person, Elias, was no longer the man I once knew.
In the early years, he’d treated me like royalty, never letting anyone hurt me.
Back then, I used to snuggle up to him and ask, “If we weren’t together anymore, would you be sad?”
He’d immediately cover my mouth. “If that happens, I’ll die. You’re the love of my life. It’ll never happen, and I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”
He’d pushed away all the other women for me.
But now, he wanted me to kneel before Vivian.
People were so hard to understand.
I stumbled away toward home, watching couples holding hands in the square. It made me envious.
Last Christmas, Elias had dressed up as Santa and proposed to me.
But now, just one year later, it felt like a lifetime ago.
