Chapter 3

The ravioli filling was packed with shattered glass.

Every time I swallowed, it felt like thousands of needles were ripping through my throat.

I gagged, spitting out the ravioli, and glared at Naomi. "Is mixing glass into the ravioli your idea of an apology?"

Joe looked at my agony in confusion, then turned to Naomi for answers.

Right on cue, tears welled up in Naomi's eyes. She collapsed limp against Joe's chest. "I didn't… Joe watched me make the ravioli the entire time. How could there be glass in them?

"Lilly, I came here to genuinely apologize. Why are you making up such a flimsy lie to frame me? Do the baby and I really have to die for you to forgive me?"

With just a few words from Naomi, Joe had already pronounced me guilty. "Lilly, I am so disappointed in you… You are apologizing to Naomi today whether you like it or not."

My mind suddenly drifted back to years ago.

Not long after we got married, I visited his office, and his secretary accused me of ruining her documents on purpose.

While I stood there helpless, Joe stepped in and fired the secretary right in front of everyone.

Back then, he had said, "I will always trust my wife, no matter what."

Now, the person he trusted unconditionally was someone else.

"I didn't do anything wrong! Why the hell should I apologize?" I screamed through the searing pain in my chest.

My defiance seemed to snap something in Joe.

Like a man possessed, he forced the ravioli back into my mouth.

It wasn't until I spat up a mouthful of blood that he snapped back to reality.

"Lilly, what's wrong with you?" His voice shook.

But I didn't even have the strength to answer him.

Right before darkness took over, I heard Joe yelling frantically, "Call an ambulance! Hurry!"

…

When I opened my eyes again, Joe's anxious face was the first thing I saw. But the moment he spoke, his words cut like a blade. "I know you're mad at me and Naomi, but you shouldn't hurt yourself just to frame her."

I opened my mouth to speak, only to realize no sound came out.

Maybe the glass shredded my vocal cords, or maybe it was something else. Either way, I was completely mute.

Realizing something was wrong, Joe rushed out to grab a doctor.

The moment he left, Naomi leaned down and whispered into my ear, "Wondering why you can't speak? I poisoned the ravioli. Too bad you can't say a word, and Joe wouldn't believe you anyway. Oh, Lilly, you're just like that pathetic mother of yours, born to suffer."

I snapped. Gathering every ounce of strength left in my body, I shoved her away.

She flashed me a triumphant smirk before tumbling onto the floor. Blood began to seep out from between her legs.

Joe walked back into the room right in time to see her fall. He instantly scooped Naomi into his arms and bolted out.

Before slamming the door, he glared at me and said viciously, "If anything happens to Naomi, I'll make you pay."

The doctors said Naomi suffered a severe secondary hemorrhage triggered by physical trauma so soon after giving birth.

Joe pinned all the blame on me. "You two are best friends! How could you be so cruel? Lilly, you're a monster…"

He pointed a finger at my face, screaming accusations.

I just sat there, utterly numb. I pulled out my phone and typed a single message. "I've made up my mind. Send someone to pick me up ASAP."

The message had barely gone through when a doctor rushed in, announcing that the hospital's blood bank was running low and Naomi urgently needed a transfusion.

"Take hers!" Joe didn't hesitate for a single second.

A thick needle pierced my vein, and my blood began to drain away.

I looked at Joe in total despair, but he only said coldly, "You owe this to Naomi."

I had no idea how many vials of blood they drew. All I knew was that my vision was growing dimmer by the second.

Afterward, they discarded me in the ward like trash.

I pulled up Joe's infertility diagnosis on my phone and used the last of my strength to hit send.

"Joe, consider this my final gift to you," I thought.