Chapter 4

Harvey's Pov

“So… You've had abortions in the past? Is that why you can't get pregnant?” Derek asked, his arms tightening against Olivia's arm.

“No! It's a lie, I've never had an abortion! I’ve never done anything like that! She's lying!”

“Harvey, the truth is out so there's no need to lie anymore. We were classmates back in the university and everyone knows what kind of person you are. You slept with so many men in the past, that's why you're like this now. I didn't want to tell Derek because I didn't want to come in between the both of you but now, I can't help you continue to deceive him.”

The murmurs from the crowd turned hostile. I could feel their judgmental eyes digging into me.

“How awful,” a woman nearby whispered. “To abort your own babies and then harass your husband’s new family.”

“O…Olivia…” I didn't even know what to say. Back in school, there were rumours flying around about me but nothing was ever confirmed. No one was ever able to confront me about it either so things just died down. I thought I had finally escaped that but now, Olivia just revealed everything again?!

“Harvey… I had no idea what kind of woman you were before I married you. I thought you were very innocent and lovely, but it turns out that you're this kind of person?”

"No! No, no." I rushed towards Derek, holding his arms, "She's lying, Derek! I didn't do anything like that."

Derek pushed me away immediately, his brows so furrowed that he now looked like another person completely, "You're so disgusting, Harvey. Let's get a divorce."

"Wait... Wait no! I don't want a divorce. Derek, please believe me. This is all her plan! She wants to push me out of the picture, so that she can take my place. Derek, please!"

“No, that's not true!” Olivia shook her head, her face pale, “I'm scared, Derek. My… My stomach hurts. My stomach hurts so much. I'm so scared.” She cried out, doubling over.

“Someone should call security to drag her out. She's a nuisance to the patients here.”

“No, please. Derek…” The security men grabbed me by my arms and within minutes, they dragged me all the way to the hospital entrance and threw me out onto the cold, hard concrete. I landed on my knees, scraping them.

I sat there on the ground for what seemed like a long time, the cold wind blowing against my tear-stained face. When I slowly lifted my head, I looked through the glass doors of the lobby.

Standing there, watching me, was Olivia. The worried, scared expression she had worn inside was completely gone. She was looking right at me, and on her lips was a dark, triumphant smirk. I clenched my fists but I couldn't turn my head away.

I threw away my dignity to beg him but the only thing he repaid me with was divorce. I couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled in my throat and soon it turned into a full blown laughter.

It took me a long time to gather the strength to stand up. I didn't have my purse, my phone, or my keys, they were still scattered on the hospital floor. I had to walk all the way back to the apartment on foot.

By the time I finally reached the building and walked up the stairs, my legs were numb and my mind was blank. I pushed the front door open, only to find that it was already unlocked.

I stepped inside, and my heart dropped.

Derek and Olivia were sitting on the living room sofa. Several large cardboard boxes were stacked near the door.

Derek looked up, his face instantly turning cold when he saw me. “What are you doing here, Harvey? Why haven’t you packed up your things and left yet?”

I stared at him, my voice barely a whisper. “Derek... Why are you doing this to me? After three years... after everything I’ve done for you, how can you treat me like this?”

Derek let out a loud, mocking laugh. He stood up from the sofa and walked over to me, looking down at me with sheer amusement.

“Did you actually think I loved you, Harvey?” he asked, shaking his head. “Marrying you was just a bet I made with my buddies back in college. They said I couldn't get the 'perfect, untouchable' Harvey to fall for me. So, I did it. And once we got married, the game was over. You were very boring.”

“A… A Bet?” I felt as if the world was crumbling around me. My entire marriage... our three years together... It was all just a bet?

“You should have just agreed when I suggested the open marriage,” Derek sneered, crossing his arms. “It would have been better for both of us. If you had just stayed quiet and let me do what I wanted, you wouldn't be in this position right now.”

“You monster!” I shrieked. “I loved you all these years and I was just a bet to you?!” I lunged at him, my hands raised, wanting to scratch his smug face, wanting to hurt him the way he had hurt me.

But Derek was much stronger. With a look of disgust, he grabbed my wrists and violently pushed me away. I slipped on the polished wooden floor, my feet flying out from under me. I fell backward, and my head slammed violently against the sharp edge of the marble coffee table.

Crack! A sharp, blinding pain exploded in the back of my head. I fell to the floor, gasping. I slowly reached a hand up to touch the back of my head, and when I pulled it away, my palm was covered in bright red blood. The room began to spin rapidly. My vision started to blur at the edges.

“Derek...” I choked out, my voice weak as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. “Please... take me to the hospital. I’m bleeding... please...”

Derek stood over me, looking down at the pool of blood forming around my head. There was no panic in his eyes. There was only a cold, calculating look.

“Take you to the hospital?” Derek murmured, a dark smile spreading across his face. “Why would I do that? Honestly, Harvey, if you finally die, it works out perfectly for me. The life insurance policy I took out on you last year is going to make me very rich. After all, you’re already quite sick. No one will suspect a thing.”

"Life insurance....You took life insurance on me...?" I coughed, surprise filling my system. "So... You've been waiting for me to die a long time ago? You really never loved me. Never." I whispered the last part, realization finally dawning on me.

"Love you? What a joke."