I Left, Glowed Up Now He's Begging For A Second Chance!

Beverly POV

"You're just so fat and ugly. Take a good look at yourself and tell me if you were me would you still be with someone like you?"

His voice cut through the dining room that morning cold, sharp and deliberate. Each word landed like a blade, slicing deeply into me, reminding me once again how miserable my life had become.

I whimpered quietly from where I lay crumpled beside the kitchen cabinet, my body curled in on itself like I was trying to disappear into the floor as I watched him helplessly, my chest tight, my heart aching painfully.

Marcus sat comfortably on our large dining table, eating like nothing was wrong. Like he hadn't just shattered me. He shoveled in the food I'd spent hours cooking standing, sweating and forcing myself through the pain while I lay here with an empty stomach.

He said starving me was one of the ways to make me lose weight.

And I didn't complain infact I never did.

My whole life had revolved around me trying to please him, respect and love him the right way a wife should. But no matter what I did, it never seems to be enough because his cold blue eyes, never left or stopped glaring at me with open disgust every now and then.

Those eyes.

I swallowed the huge lump that had formed in my throat as I adjusted my posture slightly. Yes those eyes, I could still remember when those same eyes had once looked at me like I was the only woman in the world.

That was years ago before the childbirth tragedy. When everything was still normal back when I was still a damsel with soft curves in the right places curves that turned heads, curves that made Marcus proud to hold my hand in public.

I caught my reflection in one of the pots lining the wall and another quiet sob escaped my lips.

The woman staring back at me didn't feel real at all. Puffy, chubby cheeks. Red, hollow eyes and a swollen body which weigh over a hundred pounds heavier than I used to be.

God... how did I become like this?

It started two years ago when I gave birth to our son, Tristan.

My Tristan.

May God rest his soul.

Complications during his birth had damaged parts of my body and my hormones went wild in the process making me add weight.

The weight had came suddenly, settling in all the wrong places before I knew it until my once-perfect figure became shapeless.

The doctors said exercise would help.

But how do you exercise when your heart is buried with your child?

After Tristan died, I wasn't myself anymore. Depression wrapped around me like chains. I barely had the strength to get out of bed, let alone work on my body and even with all that the weight never left.

Marcus had hated it from the beginning. Even before Tristan died, he frowned at my new shape always complaining that I no longer look attractive to him anymore that he had began to find it difficult to show me off in public. That was when he first started pulling away. Turning his back on me his back on me like I was nothing but I didn't mind then because I had Tristan.

But after he died...

I didn't know how to survive anymore.

"And what the f**k are you sitting down there idly for?!"

His voice thundered across the room again, tearing through my thoughts.

"Don't you have work to do?!"

I flinched violently, my body jerking in shock.

"I-I'm sorry... I was just-" My voice trembled, words tangling together before trailing off uselessly because I didn't know what to say. I never did.

"Of course you're sorry," he hissed yet again the sound was sharp and venomous. I lowered my head immediately staring at the floor as I was unable to look at him.

"You're always sorry. F**king pathetic. Is there ever a time you don't apologize for every little thing?"

"Mar... Marcus," I whimpered. Tears streamed freely now, blurring my vision. Although this wasn't the first time he abused me with words but no matter how many times he did, it never hurt less and I'd be lying if I say I'd gotten used to it because this was the same man I'd given up my future for, who had once loved me dearly in return and If someone had told me our marriage would end like this, I would have laughed in disbelief.

"Marcus, I-"

"Don't you f**king dare call my name!"

He slammed his fist against the table so hard the plates rattled. I nearly jumped out of my skin, biting down hard on my lip as I bowed my head even lower.

"You hear me? You're not permitted to call my name. It sounds disgusting coming out of your mouth. Now get your fat, ugly ass out of my sight this minute before I do something you'll regret."

He didn't have to say the words for a second time before I knew he wasn't bluffing the mad, enraged look in his eyes said it all.

I scrambled to my feet immediately, my movements clumsy and unbalanced by my weight and as a result, my foot accidentally slammed into the wall sending a sharp jolt of pain exploding through my toe like wildfire.

I screamed immediately, clutching my foot as agony tore through me.

Marcus didn't even look at me the entire time he just kept eating pretending and acting as if he wasn't there.

My heart shattered all over again. How could someone be so cruel?

With agonizing slowness, I limped toward our bedroom. Every step sent waves of pain through my body and I sobbed harder.

I reached the room and collapsed onto the bed with a painful groan. The mattress dipped under my weight, but I barely noticed.

I opened the bedside drawer, pulled out the healing balm, and applied it to my broken toenail, which was still bleeding.

The menthol burned instantly as it came in contact with the skin I screamed, my fingers digging into the sheets as the sting intensified, tears soaking the pillow. When it finally dulled, I stood up, preparing to leave-

But then the sound of a ringing phone suddenly sliced through the air.

I froze immediately and halted on my track. Turning around, I saw it was Marcus's phone that was lying on the bed.

My breath hitched as I rushed up to pick it up, ready to go give it to him, but then my eyes caught the caller ID, and the name I saw literally punched the breath out of my lungs.

My Missing Rib?

My eyes dimmed immediately alongside the screen as the call ended, my brain trying to process it.

Who could this be?

His mom?

No, she was dead; there was no way this could be her. My chest lightened slightly as the thought of her suddenly crossed my mind.

That woman, she was such a sweet and nice person; she'd practically loved me more than anything, more than I had seen any woman love her daughter-in-law.

She was the main driving force of I and Marcus's wedding, always ready to give her support, and at some point I'd felt like her own daughter. That was before the cold hands of death snatched her away from us too.

My throat tightened. If that woman were alive, she would never watch me suffer under her son's hands like this, and there was no way I'd have gone through the grief of Tristan's death alone because she'd have comforted me...

Before I could stop it, a lone tear rolled down. I didn't know what I did to deserve it and why the people I love and who care about me were always being taken away from me.

Just at that minute the phone started ringing again, cutting through my reverie. I jerked slightly and looked down, only to see it was the same person calling. I moved to go give it to him this time, curious to get the answer from him.

But as I did, one of my tears suddenly fell directly on the phone screen. My eyes widened immediately as I quickly tried to wipe it off, my heart lurching in panic. God forbid I give Marcus another reason to scream at me. He was always one to pick offense with everything I did.

But then my finger slipped.

The tear had landed right on the green button, and in my haste I accidentally answered the call.

I froze immediately, my heart racing.

The last time I mistakenly answered one of his calls... I almost followed his mother to the afterlife.

My breath turned ragged with panic, but before I could think of what to do,

"Hello, baby..." A woman's voice suddenly chimed from the other end of the line, breathy with excitement. "I just did the scan. It's a baby girl and-"

"How dare you f**king pick up my call?" I was still listening when the phone was suddenly snatched from me from behind, and the next thing I knew, I saw stars as a thunderous slap landed hard against my cheeks.

Beverly POV

First came the ringing in my ears sharp and endless then the stars swimming violently in my vision.

The slap came so fast I never saw it coming. One moment I was listening to a woman speak from his phone, the next my face was burning, my head snapping to the side. Yet the pain on my skin was nothing compared to the words that had landed just before it.

I hit the floor hard.

Tears flooded my eyes as my body folded in on itself, my palms scraping the tiles while my mind struggled to catch up.

A baby girl.

Another woman.

In that moment, it felt like the air had been ripped straight out of my lungs. My chest tightened painfully as I gasped, sucking in shallow breaths that did nothing to calm the panic clawing at me.

I had known he was cheating. I'd known for a long time.

Ever since he started calling me unattractive. Ever since he said my weight made him sick to his stomach. Ever since he told me he couldn't bear to share a bed with me that he wouldn't touch me until I lost weight.

The entire time I never complained I swallowed it all.

But then commitment to another woman? A child?

A child-the very thing I had just lost barely a year ago?

"Marcus... you're expecting a child?" I finally managed to lift my tear-streaked face to him as I stood on my feet.

The look he gave me was cold. Empty. It slid over me like I was nothing more than something unpleasant he'd stepped on.

"And so?" he said flatly. "At least now you know. I don't need to hide it anymore."

The casual way he said it like he was talking about the weather killed something inside me. Over and over again, I felt it break.

How had my once sweet and loving husband turned into this man standing over me?

A broken sound tore from my throat before I could stop it. Sobs wracked my body as my shoulders shook violently.

"Marcus... how could you?" I wailed, my heart squeezing painfully with every word.

"How could I?" His expression barely shifted, even as he watched me fall apart. "Seriously, are you trying to pin this on me?"

"Marcus, I've always loved you," I cried. "I did everything you wanted even with all your shortcomings I still did my best to please you and yet...?."

"And whose fault is it that I don't love or find you attractive anymore?" he roared, so loud I flinched violently. "Yes-tell me! Who got fat and ugly that I couldn't even bring myself to touch her anymore?!"

My chest heaved.

"And you think the best you could do was this?" I sobbed. "Get another woman pregnant while we're still married?" I rasped out but he didn't answer Instead, he turned his face away from me dismissive and detached like I wasn't worth the effort.

I sniffed hard, forcing the words out despite the lump in my throat.

"Marcus... our son just died. It hasn't even been a year. You couldn't even respect him-"

"No. Don't do that."

He cut me off sharply, shaking his head as his cold eyes snapped back to mine. I swallowed.

"Don't bring Tristan into this," he growled. "You hear me don't you dare bring the same child you killed with your carelessness and use him to emotionally brainwash me." He spat his jaw locked tight in immense anger and fury.

The words hit me like a blade to the chest.

My heart sank even deeper as those familiar accusations crashed over me once again. Since the tragedy, Marcus had never missed a chance to remind me over and over again that our son's death was my fault.

Heaven knew it wasn't entirely true.

The circumstances surrounding Tristan's death had been complicated triggered by alots of things I still couldn't understand or explain till this day but because I was the mother, the one meant to look after him the blame naturally fell on me.

It always did but If I could turn back the hands of time, I would sacrifice anything I repeat anything myself even just to prevent it from happening.

But Marcus had refused to see that, he'd refused to listen to any explanation I had to give and just chose to believe I caused it.

Over the years, I had swallowed the blame in silence and if it were to be in the past I'd have but not today. Today was different because this wasn't just about a dead child anymore.

He had done something that hurt just as deeply.

"You know that's not what I'm trying to do," I whispered brokenly when I finally found my voice My hands trembling beside me. "God forbid I ever use my son against you. But this, Marcus... this?"

"You should have seen this coming."

His voice remained no less indifferent and nonchalant likewise the expression on his face as he reached for a shirt from the wardrobe besides us, slipping his arms into it and buttoning it up slowly. His movements, just so calm and controlled for someone in the middle of an argument.

"Yes, you should have known this was bound to happen," he continued coldly. "From the moment you couldn't keep a child but could only keep adding weight-Heaven knows I tried to love you again like I used to, Bev. But you seriously suck at everything you do and all you do is turn my stomach instead of excite me."

He glanced at me briefly just as he finished buttoning up, eyes void of anything human.

"That's why I did this. So instead of blaming me, fix yourself."

With that, he turned and walked away.

I collapsed completely. My body crumpled to the floor as sobs tore out of me uncontrollably, his words echoing in my head long after the door slammed shut.

I didn't know how many hours passed before exhaustion finally dragged me into sleep.

When I woke up, the room was dark and unbearably cold. My body ached as I blinked groggily, my head pounding as though someone was beating a drum inside it. I looked at the wall opposite me and the wall clock stared right back at me with the time reading.

8:00 p.m.

I groaned and pushed myself up slowly into a sitting position, confused about how I had ended up sleeping on the floor in the first place. The memories came rushing back at that Instant sharp and unforgiving of how Marcus' words had wrecked me even after he left and all I could do was resort to crying until sleep eventually took me there on the floor.

I stood finally though not without much struggle as the spot where I had hit my foot earlier still stung but I pushed past the pain and limped out of the room.

Marcus wasn't home the unusual silence in the atmosphere told me that obviously he had gone out after our fight earlier.

The house was just as I had left it that morning clean and sparkling except for the dining table where the plates I had served him earlier still remained, untouched, as if mocking me.

I hurried over to pack them up immediately, then proceeded to washing them in the kitchen, the pain in my foot tried to act as an hindrance the entire time as I worked but I didn't let it.

Once done cleaning, I turned to leave for the bedroom straight away already feeling tired and exhausted one of the disadvantage of being fat but then the sound of an engine revving into the driveway stopped me in my tracks.

My heart jumped violently.

Marcus was back.

I moved toward the window, dread tightening in my chest somehow seeing him again stirred different emotions inside me fear, pain, confusion all of it as I thought about what had happened between us earlier.

What was going to happen now?

The news I had discovered today was going to change everything about our marriage definitely and honestly I don't know what to think.

Life with him had already been unbearable before but now there was another woman and a child in the picture what's would be his plan for me.

Would he divorce me?

I was still lost in my thoughts when the driver's door opened and he--Marcus stepped out, tall and still so devastatingly handsome as always. The same face I had once loved though now my nightmare.

But he didn't head for the front door like I'd expected Instead, he walked around to the passenger side.

My breath caught as my eyes followed his movement and that was when I noticed something my overthinking hadn't made me noticed earlier.

There on the passenger seat sat a very beautiful woman posture confident and relaxed as if she was a queen while Marcus moved to opened the door for her like a perfect gentleman something I couldn't remember him ever doing for me.

But more than the shock of seeing Marcus acting sweet to another woman It was the face of the woman as she slowly climbed out from the car that really hit me.

Vanessa Dews.

My heart skipped painfully as the recognition hit me.

Of course there was no mistaking to her she was the woman who had made my years in college hell for reasons I don't know and not just that she was also his ex-girlfriend. The one who had ditched him and went overseas for reasons only God knows... the one whose absence had finally given me a chance with him after years of crushing on him in silence back then.

It had taken years-years of effort and patience, and his mother's support-to win Marcus over after Vanessa break-up as it happened he had been so madly in-love with her given she was his first love...something like that but in the end I had won him over.

But now she was back and not just on another other time but at the the worst possible moment just when my marriage with Marcus was about to hit rock bottom.

What the hell happened when and how did they get back together?

My breath hitched as realization dawned slowly.

The woman from the other end of the line, the mother of his baby?

It couldn't be her... could it?

The front door opened at that instant and I turned to see Marcus leading her in. One arm wrapped around protectively and possessively around her waist, the other pulling a suitcase behind him.

My heart dropped as they headed for the stairs without Marcus sparing a glance at me.

"What's going on here, Marcus?" I couldn't help but blurt out even though it was obvious what was going on but I was just too hesitant to accept things as expected he ignored me but I didn't give up as I forced my way to their front just before they could climb up the stairs.

"Marcus!"

"Are you really going to act daft after everything we talked about?" he finally stopped to look at me his eyes raking me coldly but I wasn't detered.

"Yes we talked about a child," I cried out my voice shaking. "But not you bringing your mistress into our home when we're still married!" By now I could feel the corner of my eyes burning with tears but I didn't dare let them fall because I didn't want them to see.

"Married?" Marcus intoned with a scowled, from his side Vanessa let out a disdainful scoff but didn't say anything I ignored her though.

"Really you call this a marriage?" He raked a finger through his hair frustrations and disgust tangling in his voice and expression as he spoke. "Jesus, Bev. I'm one step away from kicking you out of my life, so don't f**king push me." He growled and with that shoved me out of the way.

But just before they'd fully mount the stairs Vanessa finally spoke. "That might be a bit rash, babe. Maybe give her time to absorb things since she's clearly slow to do so." Though her voice sounded sweet but the mockery in it was obvious as she turned to smirked briefly at me when Marcus wasn't looking.

I balled my fist in silent fury as I glared at her of course she didn't have to say much just one words from her was enough to throw me off just like it did in the past.

"It's okay you don't have to feel sorry for her" Marcus nodding dismissively fortunately saved me from the moment. "She's not worth it."

His words stung me deeply but in the end all I could do was watch with balled fist and heart constricting painfully as they climbed the stairs together like a perfect couple.

"One more thing," Vanessa said suddenly, turning back. "Move your things to the guest room. I won't be sharing a bed with you. It's bad enough that I'm sharing him" She sniped.

Her words struck like a blade twisting into me deeply and so full of authority as if she owned the house and hell I never saw it coming I looked at Marcus, desperately for help at least the last thing he'd do would be to let a mere outsider throw me his legal wife out of our matrimonial bed.

But heck that was my biggest mistake if I thought he was actually going to help me I was in for a shock because his face didn't change.

"You heard her," he said flatly. "She doesn't want to share a bed with you so do well and move your things"

Just like that they disappeared down the corridor while I stood there, frozen.

And in that moment, I knew I had lost my husband.

Beverly POV

That night, sleep refused to come.

Every time I closed my eyes, the same image forced its way back into my mind Vanessa in Marcus's arms. The way she fit against him so easily. The way his hand rested on her waist like it had always belonged there.

And the worst part?

They were in the master bedroom now, my bedroom the same room I had shared with him just yesterday. The same bed where I had cried myself to sleep countless nights, hoping tomorrow would be kinder. Now it belonged to her.

Vanessa.

The same Vanessa who had almost ruined his life.

How and when did they even get back together?

My chest tightened painfully as the questions crowded my mind.

Was I really not good enough?

Was it just about my weight, or was there something else something Marcus hadn't had the courage to say? Something that made bringing his ex back into our lives unavoidable?

The same ex he knew had a way of bullying me. Of belittling me with her looks alone.

I could already imagine how unbearable my life was about to become now that she was back under the same roof.

But I had been diligent faithful and loyal to him aside from my weight which I couldn't magically fix overnight I had done everything right. I had cooked, cleaned, supported him, stood by him when everyone else walked away.

So why couldn't he just look past my body and love me for the woman I was inside?

Or... had he never loved me at all?

Had he only been attracted to my beauty back before the weight, and stress of life wore me down.

No.

That couldn't be it.

I wiped my face roughly, sniffling as tears and mucus ran freely down my cheeks. My chest felt raw, sore from crying.

My gaze drifted down to the photo frame I was holding in my hand the one I had picked up earlier while packing a few of my things from the master bedroom.

The photo showed him, me, and his mother on our marriage day.

Our smiles were wide real and genuine bright enough to light up an entire room as we posed for the camera.

When did we stop looking like that?

How did things get so bad?

No-why did things get this bad?

Was I perhaps cursed or something?

As if growing up an orphan wasn't enough, marriage to the man I loved the man I believed would be my saving grace was now collapsing right before my eyes with him only inches away from throwing me out, meanwhile I had nowhere to go.

No damn where.

I cried for a long time that night. Hard, broken sobs that shook my entire body until my eyes burned and swelled, until my throat felt dry and scratchy from dehydration. When the thirst became unbearable, I finally forced myself to stand and go get some water.

As I passed the master bedroom, laughter floated out joyful and happy.

The sound pierced straight through my chest like a knife.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the ache, and made my way towards the water dispenser opposite the staircase.

Just water, I told myself.

Get the water and go back to the guest room which had noe becoming my new abode.

I grabbed a cup from a tray nearby and turned on the tap but before I could think of drinking, I heard soft footsteps behind me.

I didn't need to turn around the thick sickly sweet smell of her perfume filled the air announcing her presence even before her voice did.

"Well, if it isn't the dutiful wife."

I ignored her, turned off the tap, and took a long gulp of water. Today had already broken me enough and the last thing I needed was to engage with her.

But then she spoke again.

"Marcus said he already talked to you," she continued calmly. "And as someone with self-respect and decency, I expected you to have packed your bags and left by now. Now that the rightful owner of the man you call your husband is back."

That did it.

"Rightful owner?"

I slammed the cup onto the table I had picked it from so hard rattled my blood boiliing hot as I turned sharply to face her.

She shrugged lazily. "Of course. It was obvious Marcus was mine from the beginning. You were just a little bitch who sneaked her way into his life after a misunderstanding pulled us apart. Despite how much I tried to make you understand that he was mine, you stayed"

Her lips curved into a smug smile.

"Well, I'm here now and I think it's time I remind you of your place."

"My place?" I scoffed a bitter laugh tearing out of my chest."You're forgetting something. I'm no longer the girl silently crushing on him while you flaunted him back then in college. I'm his woman now. His wife."

I lifted my hand deliberately, flashing the expensive diamond ring he'd wedded me with before her.

I didn't miss the dark flicker of jealously that flashed in her eyes as she stared at it sharp and unmasked. For a moment, satisfaction stirred inside me and I thought I'd won but then her expression soon twisted into a scowl.

"Wife?" she sneered suddenly. "You mean the wife he treats like trash? Oh, I was here when he insulted you, Beverly. You're only his wife in name."

Her words cut deeply into me, but I refused to give her the satisfaction.

"At least what I do with him has a name," I shot back. "Unlike you. You can't even show your face with him in public, can you?"

She glared at me.

"Even so," she said calmly, "I'm the key to his heart. One word from me and you'll be gone from his life."

That one hurt because I knew it was true and I couldn't help but glare at her.

"And what do you even take me for huh?" I let out a bitter laugh my chest burning. "A joke? You think you can ruin his life and come back whenever you want?"

"Seems like it" She retorted coolly tilting her head to the side. "But you saying I ruined his life is kind of a stretch. But you know the funniest thing? Even after everything I did... the moment I returned, he ran straight into my arms."

Her smiled widened this time as her eyes bored into mine.

"Doesn't that remind you who he truly belongs to?"

This time I had no reply because it was true.

I was the one who stayed when she left him was the one who endured with him when he was going through hard times and yet, the moment she returned he didn't hesitate to take her back.

"Though, if I must say," she added again after a brief silence, "you did a good job, Beverly."

"Got something else to say to me?" I growled immediately as I looked up to her my patience and self control wearing thin now with the more time I spent with her.

She was deliberately pushing my buttons with her words and as a matter of fact I should have walked away at this point but for some reasons I stayed behind.

"Oh, plenty." She set the glass of milk she'd been sipping from down and turned fully toward me. The shirt she was wearing I now recongnised to be Marcus's rode up slightly as she leaned against the wall opposite me comfortably.

"First, thank you for taking care of Marcus for me," she started sweetly. "The Marcus I dated back then, it wasn't certain he'd amount to anything. But look at him now-he now has a business of his own."

There was something sharp in her eyes when she said it something calculative and full of greed.

"You don't love him, do you?" I asked quietly already figuring her out.

She shrugged casually. "Who knows?"

It hurt more than it should have and I didn't know why I mean I should have found it pleasing that the woman he loves was just fooling him but all I felt was this immense anger and hate towards her.

"You gold-digging bitch." My hands curled into fists as I stepped closer to her.

"Say whatever you want," she smirked. "But why do you even care? With everything he's done to you, why do you care what I do with him?"

"You don't love him," I repeated, ignoring her words as I continued my strides towards her.

Her eyes suddenly flicked behind me but I was to consumed by rage to look at what she was staring at but when she looked at me again pure fear and terror was written on her face one I knew she was faking.

"You don't care about him," I continued irregardless.

"No please that's enough Beverly" She shook her head already stepping back her eyes glistening but I was just too enraged to care.

"All you care about is his money. You scam!" I screeched out the last part as I crossed the last distance to her but before I could get her.

"And what the hell is going on here?"

Marcus's voice suddenly snapped through the air and I regained my senses almost immediately.

I looked at him shocked as to how he suddenly got here while he stared at us his gaze cutting from me to Vanessa with me in the most implicating position on the verge of grabbing her.

"Marcus..." Vanessa voice broke the silence as she suddenly broke into tears and Marcus didn't hesitate before rushing to her side.

"What happened babe?"

"We were just talking," she sobbed quietly. "When she tried to attack me I think she's trying to hurt the baby!" She accused her hands moving to her belly as she finally looked at me.

"What?" I whispered in shock my heart dropping to the floor at the accusations, that wasn't the case.

"What did you do?" Marcus without waiting to hear me out growled as he spurned around to face me.

"She's lying," I whispered already backing away in fear because I knew what that lie could do to me. "We were just talking I didn't-"

"Liar!"

He didn't wait for me to explain as he lurched at me.

I moved back instinctively trying to escape him but shit my luck as my my foot unexpectedly caught the edge of the stairwell. My weight betrayed me and before I knew it I fell hard from the staircase to the living the impact knocked the breath from my lungs and I felt the familiar liquid rushing out of my head.

From up the stairs Marcus and Vanessa stared at me with a shocked look written on their face but none of them made any attempt to help.

"Marcus... please," I begged him already feeling weak and dizzy with the amount of blood I was losing.

But the shock faded from his face in that instant replaced by cold contempt and without a word or any sign of help he grabbed Vanessa and walked away and that was the last thing I saw before darkness took over me.

* * *

I opened my eyes slowly, my head pounding as if someone had struck it with a hammer. The first thing I saw was a familiar face one of Marcus's men standing beside the bed, watching me closely.

My entire body throbbed as I tried to shift, pain shooting through my skull and down my spine. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled my nose and the steady beeping of a machine echoed faintly in the background. From the sterile white walls and the stiff mattress beneath me, I didn't need anyone to tell me where I was.

I was in the hospital.

"How do you feel, ma'am? Should I get the doctor?" the man asked gently.

I barely heard him. My eyes scanned the room instinctively, searching for one face in particular. Hope foolish and unwanted rose in my chest as the memories of everything that had happened came crashing back.

The fall, the blood and Marcus walking away when I begged him to help me at least tell me he had somehow, had a rethink somewhere along the line and was the one who brought me here.

"No," I said hoarsely. "How long have I been out?"

"Two days since the fall, ma'am," he replied. "Fortunately I found you just in time and brought you here."

The words landed like a dull blow and my eyes dimmed.

"You're the one who brought me here?" I asked disbelieving hoping I had heard wrong.

"Yes, ma'am."

At that, I stopped searching the room. My heart already knew the truth the moment I hadn't seen him. Still, some small part of me had hoped stupidly that maybe it was him.

Did I really not matter to him anymore that he didn't think twice before leaving me to die in the staircase?

"Now how do you feel, ma'am? Should I go get the-" the man started again.

"It's fine," I cut in, my voice tired. "I just need to be alone."

He hesitated, shifting his weight.

"Are you really sure about that ma'am you don't look too good maybe I should call the-"

"I know," I said softly, forcing a small, convincing smile. "I just feel hungry go get me some fruits, okay?"

He studied my face for a moment, then finally nodded and left.

The moment the door clicked shut, I pushed myself upright despite the pain. My teeth clenched as I reached for the IV line and pulled it out in one swift motion.

My mind was already made up.

Marcus had abandoned me on the staircase. He had walked away while I bled and I was sure he hadn't come once during my recovery and if this men hadn't come to my recuse I might have died. Now If that didn't tell me how little my life meant to him, nothing ever would.

I couldn't do this anymore.

I might have nothing. Nowhere to go. But I would be damned if I returned to that house after everything.

I swung my legs off the bed slowly, steadying myself as dizziness washed over me. I looked around me I didn't have my phone neither my credit card with me and at such doing what I had in mind was impossible but then my suddenly my eyes fell on my finger.

The diamond ring wedding Marcus's had gotten me was still there.

A small, bitter smile tugged at my lips as understanding settled in. I slipped it off carefully, holding it between my fingers for a moment before closing my hand around it.

That would be my way out.

After making sure no one was watching, I quietly slipped out of the ward and the hospital as a whole.

Finally, I was ready to leave Michigan for good.

* * *

It was late afternoon when I arrived in Dasu after spending hours on the plane with nothing but a cheap dress and a low-quality handbag I had bought with the money from selling my wedding ring.

The moment my feet touched the ground, a strange mix of emotions washed over m relief, fear, and a hollow ache I couldn't quite name. The air felt different here. Warmer and familiar in a way that made my chest tighten.

An hour later, I stood in front of the one house I hadn't visited in years.

My hands trembled as I raised them to knock. I prayed silently that she would be home. I hadn't been in touch with her for years. I hadn't even called before showing up like this.

"Coming," a familiar voice called from inside.

I exhaled deeply, trying to calm my racing heart as I waited.

Seconds later, the door swung open, and I was met with a face I hadn't seen in a long time. She looked slightly older now, time hardening her features, but she was still the same woman I remembered.

"Who are-?" Her words trailed off as her face twisted into a frown. Her brows furrowed as she assessed me from head to toe, her eyes lingering a little longer than necessary. I couldn't blame her for not recongnising me immediately It had been years. And my weight... it changed everything.

"Wait..." she said slowly. "Beverly?"

My chest loosened instantly the moment she said my name, her eyes finally shining with recognition as they met mine.

"Aunt Camilla," I breathed.

Everything I had been holding in broke free at once the tears spilled down my face before I could stop them.

"Oh my God, what the hell happened to you?" she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug almost immediately.

I didn't hesitate before wrapping my arms around her, her warmth grounded me as I cried into her shoulder.

"It's a long story, Aunt," I sobbed. "You were right. Ditching my dreams of going to medical school just to go after a guy was a big mistake. But now I'm here to make things right. I'm here to focus on myself."