Hatred Born, Parted Forever

When Felix noticed the bandages on my knees, his eyes flickered with an emotion I could not decipher. “Ruby has an art exhibition today. She’s always wanted you to see it, so you’re coming with us,” he said.

He sounded so high and mighty about it, as though he was being nice and giving me this opportunity.

Since when did going out with them become a generous reward?

I could feel my heart fighting to work.

Suddenly, I remembered how the three of us had gone to a theme park in the past.

Mandy had fed me some cotton candy with a smile, and Felix had used a fan to blow away the heat.

Unfortunately, times had changed.

“Daddy, why is she coming to the art exhibition with us? She’ll just ruin my mood!” Mandy grumbled in displeasure.

Felix pinched her cheek. “I’m around, and I won’t let her bully Ruby.”

I wanted to avoid conflict with Ruby, but she refused to spare me.

She pretended to be friendly and grabbed my arm as if she did not see me avoiding her. “Liana, look at the painting that won me the International Gold Award. Doesn’t it look familiar?”

I stared at the painting named “Heartbeat” hanging on the wall.

When I was pregnant with Mandy, I painted it as I listened to her heartbeat.

Ruby stared at me smugly and whispered, “You blind, useless piece of trash. When Felix brings you out, people laugh at him and Mandy.

“Your broken body is disgusting. If you have any sense, you’ll get lost.

“You have no right to be so skilled in art and have a happy family. I hate letting you have your way in life.

“Your husband and daughter will belong to me, just like that painting.”

In the past, I pitied Ruby for being an orphan. Since she was also my underclassman, I brought her back home, only to realize later that I had brought back a thief.

Ruby smiled at me ruthlessly.

Out of the blue, she brought out a knife and cut her palm before crying out in pain.

When Felix came over, he saw me panicking while Ruby bled from her hand.

“Felix, don’t blame Liana for this. It’s all my fault. She can’t paint anymore. I shouldn’t have invited her to the art exhibition and triggered her.”

At that, Felix angrily punched me.

I could taste blood with every breath I took. My heart trembled, and the blood that it pumped out rushed to my temple.

“I didn’t hurt her. Ruby—”

Before I could finish defending myself, Felix stomped down on the fingers of my left hand and broke them.

“Damn you, Liana! If anything happens to Ruby’s hand, I’m breaking the tendons in yours!”

He picked up the crying Ruby and ran out of the art exhibition. He did not spare me a single glance, even after I fainted from the pain.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying in the hospital.

“The alarm in your heart monitor has rung for the fifth time. You have to get your family to sign the documents and proceed for an examination,” the doctor sternly said.

I gave him a self-deprecating and dejected smile. I no longer had any family left.

However, this time, Felix was quick to answer his phone. “Liana, what tricks are you playing this time? You hurt Ruby’s hand, and you’re still pretending to be pitiful?”

I sighed and said, “Felix, my heart hurts…”

After a moment’s hesitation, he agreed to come. “Once Ruby’s stitches are done, I’ll accompany you for the examination.”

Yet, even after the sun set, Felix never came.

Instead, I received a message from Ruby.

[Liana, Felix is cooking dinner for me, and Mandy is playing the piano for me.

[Don’t you get it? You could die in front of them, and they wouldn’t care.]