Chapter 8

Stacy's last week in Balmora was spent in the hospital.

The whole time, Joseph never contacted her even once.

But on the day she was discharged from the hospital, Joseph somehow found out, and came hurrying over at last.

Seeing her head all wrapped up with bandages, Joseph was visibly stricken with guilt and concern. "Stacy, I've been so preoccupied lately, I wasn't even aware you'd gotten hurt! What happened to you?!"

"Some guy yelled something about vengeance, and whacked me with a glass bottle," Stacy answered vaguely. Who cared anymore, at this point?

Joseph gaped at her, eyes alight with outrage. "Which hooligan dared to lay a hand on you? I'll kill him!"

Stacy lowered her gaze, but decided to tell him after all, how he'd abandoned her and left her at the mercy of that bloodthirsty thug…

Just then, however, Charlotte strode in. "Stacy, I heard that you were in the hospital again! Are you alright?"

At the sight of her, Stacy changed her mind once again. "It's nothing. I've already been cleared to leave," she announced coldly.

They exchanged a few more lines of polite courtesy, and then a nurse came out and called for her. In her stead, Joseph went off with the nurse to handle some minor formalities.

Stacy checked that she had all her things with her. When she looked up again, she found herself looking into Charlotte's icy glare.

"Well then, now that Joseph's gone, you can drop the pitiful act. Let's get something straight. Joseph's been in love with me forever, since we were in high school together. You'll never stand a chance against me, so you might as well just forget about him!"

Stacy somehow found it easier to contend with Charlotte, now that she'd dropped her usual angelic facade. As serene as a moonlit pool on a quiet night, she replied, "I know. I know all that, already. I never planned to compete with you."

"So you say… and yet, you're still hanging around him. You think you still have a chance to turn this all around in your favor. I know your sort, gold-diggers whose only value is a pretty face and an eager body. He probably got tired of you long before you even began to sag!"

Coming under such vicious assault, Stacy frowned, and decided to return fire. "I've heard that you've slept around with plenty of guys at your university. You're no angel, yourself."

At this, Charlotte's countenance became a nasty sight, indeed. "What's it to you?"

"So it's true, then."

Incensed, Charlotte slapped her hard across the face. "It's none of your damned business! You're better off worrying about finding an honest man to latch yourself on to! You're not getting any younger, and before much longer your womb will be all dried up, and you'll spend the rest of your days childless and alone!"

Stacy exhaled sharply in pain. Her face stung. She reached up and felt the spot where she'd been slapped. Already, it was beginning to swell up.

She wiggled her fingers idly for a moment… and then, with every ounce of strength she could muster, she slapped her rival right back.

Charlotte wouldn't stand for this. She lunged forward and seized a fistful of Stacy's hair, just as a door was opened nearby.

Joseph appeared. Immediately, Charlotte flung herself into his arms, tears welling up on command. "Joseph! Stacy told me some tale about being your lover in secret, and when I said I didn't believe her, she lost her temper and slapped me!"

Sure enough, there was a visible handprint on the side of Charlotte's face. Joseph could feel his blood coming swiftly to a boil. He enveloped Charlotte in a protective embrace, then glared darkly at the other woman, behind her.

"What's the matter with you, Stacy Rivers?!" he growled menacingly.

In their five years together, it was the first time Joseph had ever raised his voice to her.

All because of Charlotte.

However, it was far from the first time Stacy had seen him placing Charlotte above all, so she didn't actually feel any disappointment, sorrow, or anger over this.

Instead, with a frigid tone of voice, utterly devoid of any trace of emotion, she replied, "I hit her, as retaliation for her hitting me. An eye for an eye. Why didn't you try to find out the whole story beforehand?"

It was only after she'd said this that Joseph noticed Stacy's face was swollen on one side.

Realizing that he might be missing something, he was just about to ask… but then Charlotte passed out in his arms.

Alarmed, he picked her up, and hurried to get help for her. He only paused long enough to say to Stacy, "You can head back first. We'll discuss this further next time."

Stacy watched him hurry off down the hospital corridor, and chuckled wryly as she muttered beneath her breath, "There'll be no next time."

She returned to her condominium apartment, and turned the key over to her agent.

"I've left a bag inside. Could I trouble you to have it delivered to No. 4015, in West Hills? Payment on receipt, that's fine."

The real estate agent observed the veritable fleet of luggage Stacy was herding about. "Are you leaving Balmora, Ms. Rivers? Do you suppose you'll be back someday?"

"No, I'm leaving for good."

There was nothing more for Stacy in this city.

She gave the place one last, long look, then headed downstairs, and hailed a taxi to the airport.

Before taking off, the stewardesses went up and down the aisles, reminding passengers to switch off their phones. Stacy sent a final message to Joseph.

[I heard what everyone was talking about at that party.]

[Hatred is born from affection, but I no longer hate you as much, these days. I suppose that means I don't love you anymore.]

[We began this relationship without anyone knowing, so let's break up as well without any drama.]

[I wish you every happiness in this world, with the true love of your life.]

And then she deleted his number.

She put her phone away, just as the plane began rumbling down the tarmac.