Chapter 4%
BELLAS
I slowly fluttered my eyes open, registering my surroundings.
I was in a hospital room.N
My arms and hands throbbed with a dull ache, and I could feel the weight of bandages wrapped around them.”
Thank the goddess for the firefighters who arrived at the right time. Else I’d have been dead by now.
As I turned my head to the side, I caught sight of Brad and Lydia in the next room.
One of the pack doctors was tending to Lydia, who had a small plaster on her hand.
Brad was gazing at her with an intensity that made my heart twist with envy.
He was so focused on her, so concerned for her well–being.
I felt a pang of resentment towards him.
Why was he so attentive to Lydia’s minor injury, while I lay here with severe burns?
I tried to push the thought aside.
The two nurses in my room were chatting in hushed tones.
But as I listened more closely, I realized they were talking about Brad and Lydia.”
“Alpha Brad is really something else,” one of the nurses said, her voice full of admiration. “The way he looks at Lydia, it’s like he’s besotted. He’s always treated her like a queen.“>
The other nurse sighed wistfully. “I wish I had a man who would dote on me like that. Luna Bella must feel so sorry for herself, knowing she’ll never have Alpha Brad’s love.”
I felt a surge of anger at their words, but I was too weak to respond.
The nurses continued to chat, oblivious to my growing resentment.
“It’s so sad, really,” the first nurse said. “But I don’t blame Alpha Brad. Luna Bella just isn’t the right fit for him. She looks so out of place beside him.“@
The other nurse nodded in agreement. “I always dreamed of having a taste of the Alpha, back when he was still flirting with different women. I longed for him to pick me, even if it was just for one night. But since Lydia came along, he’s never looked at another woman again.”
I felt a wave of disgust wash over me as I listened to their exchange.
Who were these women to speculate about my marriage and my husband’s feelings?!
And what was with these nasty rumors about me being unable to satisfy Brad?!
I cleared my throat, trying to draw their attention.
The nurses jumped, turning to me with fake smiles plastered on their faces.
“Oh, Luna Bella, thank the Goddess you’re awake!” one of them exclaimed.
I glared at them, my voice sharp. “What’s the state of my injuries?“>
The nurse by my side hesitated before answering. “You might take a while to heal, Luna Bella. The burns are quite severe. But we’ll administer some drugs to help you heal faster.”}
I cut her off, my tone icy. “Focus on that instead of endless babbling.“>
Just then, Brad’s eyes caught mine. He was standing in the doorway, Lydia by his side.
He walked towards me with her, his expression detached.”
“How are you feeling, Bella?” he asked, his voice without any emotion.
I felt a pang of hurt at his tone, but I refused to show it.”
I glared at him, my voice icy. “As you can see, I’m still burned. All because of your mistress.“}
His expression darkened, and he sneered at me. “Didn’t you deserve to be burned, though? Wasn’t it your carelessness that caused the kitchen to catch fire?”
I was taken aback by his words. “What are you talking about? That’s not what happened at all.”
He scoffed. “Don’t play dumb with me, Bella. Lydia told me everything. You were trying to surprise me with some food, and you ended up causing a fire. You’re lucky you didn’t hurt her more than she already was. Else you’d have been in big trouble.”}
Anger sparked up inside me at his accusations. “That’s not true! Lydia started the fire, not me. And she barely got scratched, while I’m the one who’s still suffering.”
Lydia pouted, her voice dripping with innocence. “I warned you to let me cook, Bella. But you didn’t listen. Now look at what’s happened. The kitchen is a mess, and I almost lost my life in that fire.“}
I was shocked by her blatant lies. “How can you be such a liar? You started the fire, not me. And you’re just trying to cover your own
tracks.“@
Brad snapped, his voice loud. “Enough! I know you’re just trying to turn the situation around. You’ve always been jealous of Lydia. But you’re not going to get off the hook that easily. The damages to the kitchen and the renovation will be taken from your account immediately.”
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I stared at him in disbelief. “What? You can’t be serious”
His expression was cold Tm dead serious. It’s expensive, and you’d better be ready to pay up “%
He gently took Lydia’s arm and led her out of the room, leaving me feeling hurt and humiliated.
The nurses who had been watching the exchange whispered to each other as they followed Brad and Lydia out of the room.
I was left all alone feeling nothing but pity for myself.#
The next day, I received a notification on my phone.
Lydia had tagged me in a video online.
I clicked on it, and my heart sank. Lydia was cuddled up next to Brad, and they were celebrating his mom’s birthday in the countryside.
I wasn’t even invited. Of course, who was I kidding?
Brad’s mother never liked me. She always thought I wasn’t good enough for her son.
Lydia sent me a quick message. “Everyone is having so much fun without you. Thought you had to see it for yourself. Don’t worry, I’m taking good care of Brad and your mother–in–law She seems to love all the gifts I brought. Oh, and I told her you said you didn’t care about stupid parties like these and you had something more important to do. She’s very cross with you. My bad. Anyway, get well soon. Or not.“%
I was disgusted and pained by her message. I wanted to throw my phone away and forget about the whole thing
Over the next week, Brad never checked in on me.
All I got were updates from Lydia, flaunting her good time with Brad in my face.
I eventually had to block her.”
But today was the day I was being discharged from the hospital.
I was going to leave on my own and divorce Brad officially.
I had already spoken to my lawyer, and the papers were ready.
I was finally free from the toxic marriage that had been suffocating me.
I called my lawyer and asked him to send the divorce papers to the house.”
When he told me that no one was home, I instructed him to leave them at the mailbox outside.
When Brad returned from his trip with his mistress, he would find the papers waiting for him.
I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of closure. I was starting a new chapter in my life, and I was ready to leave the past behind.
But as I arrived at the house to collect my belongings, I realized that Brad had locked me out. He hadn’t even had the decency to leave the keys behind.”
I shrugged, not caring. I had savings, and I was going to start a new life in a different place.”
I hailed a cab and left the house behind, feeling a sense of freedom that I had never felt before.
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