Broken Happiness
Chapter 1
Eight months pregnant, and my husband’s
trying to strong–arm me into donating my
corneas to his childhood sweetheart.
I blew up.
No way was I losing my eyesight, especially
as a surgeon.
He lost it, shoved me down into the
basement, just to give me a taste of what it’s
like to be blind.
“You messed up Ashley’s vision, so you’re
gonna pay! See how you like being in the
dark.”
く
Claustrophobia kicked in, and I panicked,
begged him to let me out.
He just sneered. “Getting scared now, huh?
Ashley was right, should’ve put you in your
place before the kid came along, so you
wouldn’t get any ideas about pulling the
‘mommy card‘ and acting like you’re so
special.”
To really freak me out, he had some goons
board up the last window in the basement.
Fear triggered contractions.
A ripping pain started, and my baby was born
right there on the cold concrete floor.
I begged them to help my kid, but all I got
was a lecture on how dramatic I was being.
<
Then, to really twist the knife, he ordered
them to cut off the oxygen to the basement.
“You hurt Ashley’s feelings, so when she’s
feeling better, I’ll think about letting you out.”
Later that night, he was giving blind Ashley a
bath, all gentle and tender. “Hazel still won’t
budge? How’s Ashley gonna see again if she
doesn’t sign the donor form?”
“Hand her the papers. It’s an honor for her
corneas to go to Ashley. What is she even
hesitating about?”
The housekeeper was standing in the
doorway, shaking like a leaf.
“Sir, Mrs. Hayes…I don’t think she can sign
anymore
“Sir… It’s been awfully quiet in the basement
for a long time, and she’s not answering. I’m
afraid Mrs. Hayes… might be gone.”
Chad snapped, annoyed.
“That’s just Hazel being a drama queen again,
always acting. She’s faking it. She’ll agree to
give Ashley her eyes when she’s really
scared.”
The housekeeper went white, her voice
trembling.
“Sir, Mrs. Hayes…she was pregnant, she has
claustrophobia, and we heard a baby crying.
For the baby’s sake, please let her out.”
“She’s been playing the pregnancy card way
too often lately, she makes me look bad in
front of Ashley. I’ll show her! She won’t dare
to challenge me if I punish her a little. The kid
still has two months to go. I just want to
teach her a lesson, just leave her alone.”
The housekeeper hesitated, then picked up
the cornea donation form from the floor and
tossed it in the trash, walking away with
concern.
In the bathroom, Chad was bathing Ashley,
admiring her delicate features.
Ashley coughed, startled by the steam.
Chad nervously picked Ashley up,-who
wrapped around Chad’s neck and cried.
“It’s all my fault that I’m a useless blind
woman, making Chad work so hard.”
<
Chad swiftly put her back on their
matrimonial bed.
Ashley raised her hand, about to beat her
head, but Chad stopped her right away.
“Silly girl, I’m willing to do anything for you.
It’s nothing compared to what you gave me.”
Chad kissed the tear on Ashley’s cheek, dried
her hair, and placed her on his chest.
“I envy Hazel, that she has a gentle husband
like you. She’s pregnant with your child, while I’m a useless cripple.”
“I don’t want my eyes back, just please don’t
leave me alone because of Hazel and her
child, okay?”
く
Chad pinched Ashley’s nose with his hand.
“Ashley is the most precious gift God gave
- me. I’ll never leave you, even for a second.”
“I’ll have Hazel give you her cornea soon. If
you want children, you can raise Hazel’s
child.”
Ashley felt touched and couldn’t help but start
crying.
Ashley reached for Chad’s chest and then his
legs.
I was floating above them, looking at Chad
swallow hard, pulling Ashley on top of him.
He kept calling Ashley’s name.
く
A wedding photo with me and Chad hung
right above their heads.
Our bed was now being used by someone
else.
I thought it wouldn’t hurt anymore when
people die, but watching Chad betray me like
this, my heart was aching.
Afterward, Ashley stayed in Chad’s arms.
“Chad, what if Hazel finds out? She’ll never
give me her cornea!”
Chad wasn’t worried.
“Don’t worry, Hazel loves me and listens to
- me. She would give me her life, let alone her
eyes. She’ll be more obedient after what I did
to her.”
They breathed heavily.
Yesterday, my child and I were dying in the
basement.
The claustrophobia took over.
I knocked on the basement door, begging
them to give me some light.
Chad became angry, because I was
screaming so loudly, Ashley got worried.
Chad, who told me that he’d always love me, ordered the men to take away the oxygen.
My baby was suffering, and I had to fight for
the baby.
My baby was nice, and must have felt the
pain.
He was born in the basement.
I couldn’t help but scream.
I can give my cornea to Ashley.
I can give my life to Ashley, I can stop fighting
for Chad’s love.
Just let my baby live.
There was only darkness.
The water around the baby’s body became a
weapon.
My baby’s body grew cold.
I wrapped my clothes around him, trying to
make him warm.
I was heard, and the door was about to open,
when Ashley yelled.
“I’m sure that Hazel can simulate a baby’s cry,
since she’s always listening to them in the
hospital. She’s only eight months pregnant,
how can she give birth? Chad isn’t dumb.”
Ashley was arrogant, but became worried
when she saw Chad.
“Chad, Hazel is mocking me for being
someone who can’t be loved, that’s why I
can’t have a child. I know that’s why she’s
cursing her child just to hurt me.”
く
Ashley began to cry and ran into the table,
blood dripping.
Chad got even more angry.
