Chapter 3

Zoe's POV

Just then, Mindy called out to Jayden from outside the door, cutting me off.

"We're having a class reunion tomorrow. Mindy specifically invited you. It might help with your depression, and I'll go with you," Jayden hurriedly interrupted, planted a quick kiss on my forehead, and went after Mindy without hesitation.

…

The next day, Jayden came back to pick me up as promised, giving me no choice in the matter.

When we reached the private dining room, Mindy boldly slammed a glass of liquor down in front of me.

"Let's have a drink and put what happened yesterday behind us."

"Just drink it." Jayden pushed the glass toward me. "Mindy is sincerely apologizing to you. Don't make things difficult for her."

I didn't take it. I just stared at him in disbelief.

I remembered how I had an allergic reaction to alcohol at our wedding and had to be rushed to the hospital that same night.

Jayden had been wearing his scuffed and torn suit, sobbing uncontrollably, "I didn't know you were allergic to alcohol. It's all my fault!"

After that, we never had so much as a drop of alcohol in our home.

I pushed the glass away. "I'm not drinking."

Jayden's expression immediately darkened. "Mindy means well. Don't embarrass her."

The other guys around him chimed in.

"Come on, Zoe! None of us have judged you for acting crazy. Don't make this awkward."

"Honestly, we're risking our lives just to have a drink with you. What's wrong with taking one sip?"

As they spoke, someone suddenly forced the liquor into my mouth. I struggled desperately and grabbed the fruit knife from the table without thinking, forcing them back.

Just then, Mindy pretended to reach for the knife and suddenly brushed her arm against the blade.

"Ouch! I was only trying to help you. How could you turn a knife on me?" She covered her bloody arm and burst into tears, sobbing into her hands.

Everyone in the private dining room gasped.

Jayden snatched the knife away, undisguised hatred clearly showing in his eyes.

"It's one thing for you to try to kill yourself, but how could you hurt someone else with a knife? Do you expect me to spend the rest of my life dealing with your mess?"

The fury in his eyes made my whole body tremble uncontrollably.

Some people screamed. Others bandaged Mindy's wound while some kept their distance from me.

Their mocking voices rang in my ears.

"I can't believe she's really crazy. She's just as terrifying as her mom!"

"A nutcase like her belongs in a psychiatric hospital. If she comes out and injures others, that's on her!"

"What did Mindy ever do to you? She went out of her way to arrange this for you. How could you be so cruel to her?"

My legs went weak, everything in front of me blurred, and the sounds around me became muffled.

Jayden's face slowly came back into focus.

His eyes were blazing with rage. "Zoe, when are you going to leave me alone? Stop ruining other people's lives! Is it so hard to let me live a normal life?"

So every time I had cried for help while barely holding on, all he saw was me ruining his life.

The last bit of hope I had held onto vanished completely. I gave a weak smile, picked up the knife from the floor, and aimed it at my abdomen.

The color drained from Jayden's face. "Don't touch her!"

He thought I was about to hurt Mindy again and charged toward me, knocking me away without hesitation.

I hit the floor hard, and a sharp pain tore through my lower abdomen.

As Jayden stared at me in shock, everything went black.

A horrifying pool of blood spread beneath me.