Hearts Beyond Redemption

I propped myself up even though my head was still spinning, determined to find the doctor from yesterday for the abortion.

When passing by another hospital ward, I glimpsed at Raymond through the partially open door. He was carefully feeding Victoria expensive truffle soup one spoonful at a time.

"Ray, I was just startled. Really, I'm fine," she said softly. "You should save this for Minnie to help her recover."

"She's perfectly healthy. She doesn't need anything special," Raymond replied dismissively as if he had not just promised the doctor he would work on my nutrition.

In my previous life, such incidents were commonplace. I had grown numb to them.

His favoritism would have left me heartbroken once, and his intimacy with Victoria would have made me hysterical. Now, I only felt nauseated. I turned away and headed to the doctor's office but learned he was in surgery.

I then returned to my ward, somewhat disappointed.

The sterile space contained only a bowl of cold corn soup that sat forgotten on the nightstand.

Meanwhile, Raymond had vanished again. Whatever. It did not matter anymore.

I picked up the spoon and sipped the cold soup slowly. The chill slid down my throat into my stomach, sending shivers through my body.

Suddenly, the door burst open. Victoria strutted in wearing the pink dress I had spotted in Raymond's bag days earlier. I thought it was my birthday gift. When I tried it on, Raymond sneered, saying that ugly people should not try to look pretty.

She feigned surprise while covering her mouth but could not hide the smugness in her eyes. "Oh my, is this all you're eating? How pitiful."

I ignored her and continued to have my soup.

"Ray's making homemade chicken noodle soup for me right now. I could share a bowl with you later if you'd like," she said.

"No thanks." I stood up and replied coolly, "I don't care for chicken noodle soup, especially when it's someone else's leftovers."

Victoria's expression hardened, and her smile froze. She glanced contemptuously at the bland soup before me. "And I don't like you clinging to my man."

Before I could process her words, a powerful shove sent me backward. My abdomen slammed against the corner of the bed, sending a searing pain through me.

Warm liquid ran down my inner thighs. Looking down, I watched bright red blood rapidly staining my hospital gown.

Victoria leaned in, her words dripping with venom as she snarled. "Ray can only care for my baby. Don't think you can have one too to compete for his attention. Of course, even if you tell him, Ray won't believe you anyway."

I shoved her away with all my strength and screamed, "Doctor! Doctor!"

Pain crashed over me in waves as blood flowed more heavily beneath me. It soaked through the sheets, spreading to the edge of the bed.

Droplets fell to the floor, blooming into horrifying crimson patterns.

Several nurses rushed in, and one exclaimed, "Gosh, she's hemorrhaging! This isn't a normal miscarriage!"

The pain made my consciousness fade. Before being wheeled into the operating room, I heard Raymond's panicked voice.

"What's happening to my wife? Doctor, save our baby!"

As blood drained from my body, I grew increasingly cold. I heard the doctor shouting, "Quickly! Get the family to sign the critical condition notice!"

Then came the nurse's hurried footsteps, leaving and returning.

"We can't find any family members! That man from earlier is gone!"

My supposedly concerned husband had returned to Victoria's side.

The nurse's voice carried clear frustration as she said, "I looked everywhere but couldn't find him."

The doctor growled, "What kind of husband disappears when his wife is in this state?"

My heart turned to ice, despair washing over me like a tide. I was given a second chance at life. Was I truly destined to die this way again?