Don't Ruin Me.

I slowly opened my eyes, grogginess clouding my mind. The sterile smell of antiseptic stung my nose, and the rhythmic beeping of machines echoed faintly in the background. For a moment, I was lost between dreams and reality—then the pain in my body reminded me exactly where I was.

A Hospital.

I blinked, my vision focusing just enough to see two familiar figures sitting beside my bed—Liam and Melissa. Their faces wore that same mask of concern, the kind people put on when they want to look good, not when they truly care.

For a fleeting second, I thought maybe Liam’s eyes would show warmth. Maybe there would be a trace of the man I once knew. But all I saw was guilt—but distant, and insincere.

I used to lose sleep over his coldness. I used to ask myself what I did wrong, why I was never enough, especially after Melissa came back into our lives. But not anymore. I was tired. Tired of being the one who loved too much, who forgave too quickly, who kept holding together a marriage that was already bleeding out.

“Kyra,” Liam said softly, leaning forward. “Welcome back. You've been unconscious for a while.”

His voice laced with concern made my stomach twist. I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my head like a lightning strike. Liam reached out to steady me, but I shoved his hand away. His touch burned now—an unwanted reminder of everything he had taken and broken.

“What are you doing here?” My voice came out cold and sharp, every word laced with bitterness. “Why couldn’t you just stay away?”

He sighed, the way he always did when he thought I was being “difficult.”

“I brought you to the hospital, Kyra. You were hit by a car.”

“I know that, Liam.” My chest rose and fell rapidly, rage clawing its way out. “You should have left me there. Maybe then I’d be with Hailey. You remember her, right? The daughter your precious ex-girlfriend killed?”

“Kyra—” He rubbed his temples, looking exhausted. “Calm down, please. The deed is done already. There’s nothing we can do now. Stop blaming Melissa.”

I laughed bitterly, a hollow sound that bounced off the sterile white walls.

“Of course. Defend her again. You always do.”

It still shattered me, how easily he could defend the woman who destroyed our lives. Once, he would have torn the world apart to protect me. Now, he couldn’t even stand beside me.

“You’ve changed, Liam,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “This isn’t the man I used to know.”

Melissa shifted forward, her eyes shining with crocodile tears. “Kyra, I’m sorry for what happened. I swear I didn’t mean to—Hailey was such a sweet girl. I never wanted to hurt you.”

I turned to her slowly, feeling the weight of my grief press down on my chest. “Don’t pretend to care, Melissa. You’ve done enough. Ever since you came back from Dallas, my life has been nothing but pain. You took everything from me—my peace, my husband, my daughter.”

Her lips parted. “Kyra, please, don’t say that…”

“I’ll say whatever I damn well please,” I spat. “You are the reason my family is falling apart.”

“Hey, Kyra. Keep your voice down.” Liam’s tone was sharp and threatening.

I froze. That look in his eyes—it was the same one he used when I’d cry after one of his long nights away. That silent command to behave.

Once, I would have apologized. Once, I would have begged him not to be angry. But not today.

“Tell me something, Liam,” I said quietly. “What were you even doing at her house that night when I called you?”

He exhaled loudly, dragging his hand through his hair. “Erica was sick, Kyra. She had a high fever. I couldn’t leave Melissa alone with her. She just got back from the States, she needed someone around.”

I stared at him in disbelief, the words slicing through me.

Melissa’s daughter was sick, so he stayed with them—while our own daughter, our Hailey, was sent on an errand and never came back.

Sometimes, I wondered if I’d always been easy to leave behind. Back in college, I used to follow Liam around like a lost puppy, writing his name in my notebooks while he chased after Melissa. He barely noticed me then, too busy basking in her attention. I thought love would make me his first choice someday, that if I loved him enough, he’d see me.

But even after she left for the States and he settled for me after college, I was never his dream—just the woman who happened to be there when the one he truly wanted was gone.

“Does that mean you never took Hailey out like you promised?” My voice was barely a whisper.

“I was planning to,” he said softly, avoiding my gaze. “Before… she died.”

The air in the room grew heavy. I turned away, pressing my fist against the wall as sobs tore through my chest.

He went to her. He chose her—again. Just like always.

There were nights I stayed awake, waiting for him to come home. Nights he’d disappear and return smelling like a different perfume. I’d ask questions, and he’d silence me with guilt, with cold words that made me feel small.

And I always forgave him.

Because that’s what love was supposed to be—wasn’t it?

“Kyra, please,” Melissa said softly. “Don’t be mad. Erica’s just a child—”

“Shut up, Melissa. Just… shut up!” My voice cracked under the weight of it all. “You disgust me.”

Melissa turned to Liam, whispering something. “Won’t you say anything? Comfort her.”

That stung more than anything else. She had to remind him to care for me. Wasn’t that supposed to come naturally? Wasn’t I his wife?

I exhaled shakily, turning my face to the window. The fading light blurred behind my tears. For a moment, I saw Hailey’s face—my sweet girl, smiling like she used to before bedtime. But it was only my mind playing cruel tricks on me. She was gone. Forever.

Then I felt Liam’s arms around me. His embrace was hesitant, and uncertain, like he was performing empathy instead of feeling it.

“Kyra,” he murmured, “I’m sorry. Please, forgive me. I’ll do better this time.”

A part of me wanted to shove him away. But I was so tired. So broken. I needed someone—anyone—to hold me together, even if it was the same man who had helped break me in the first place.

So I let him hold me, and I cried into his chest.

“It’ll be fine,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Everything will be alright.”

But just then, a small, cheerful voice shattered the fragile illusion.

“Daddy, can you please massage my leg?”

The room went still. My body stiffened in his arms.

“Daddy?” I repeated slowly, turning my head toward the door.

There stood Erica, smiling shyly at Liam—the man who used to belong to me.

My heart stopped. The word echoed in my head like a cruel joke.

Daddy!