Chapter 4

"Johnny," she called out in a low voice as her gaze stopped for three seconds on my swollen cheek. Just when I thought she was about to yell at him, Mindy said, "I'm sorry, Eric. I'll apologize on Johnny's behalf. I promise I'll give you a grander wedding a month after this as compensation."

Her answer made Johnny smile, and he put his arm around her shoulder. I froze and felt like I was about to cry. Before I could say another word, she left with Johnny while holding his hand. Only silence was left in the car park as I stood where I was, my cheek hurting so much that I started to feel numb from it.

I finally accepted the truth. Mindy did not care about how Johnny had abandoned her back then. She knew that Johnny punched me and framed me, and she knew how he had schemed against me, but she still loved him.

Johnny was right. I had suffered utter defeat.

It was three years ago when I first lost to Johnny. He had messaged me suddenly, telling me that Mindy kept his picture in her purse, and no one was allowed to touch it. I did not believe him, but I searched for the picture in the middle of the night and found it. When I threw it away, Mindy lost her temper at me for the first time.

The second time I lost was a year ago, when Johnny told me that Mindy would accompany his mother on his behalf on her birthday every year on May 6th. It was the same day my mother had her birthday, and I begged Mindy to cut off all ties with Johnny's family and to return to my parents' home with me. However, Mindy cast me aside coldly and left without looking back.

Our wedding day was the third time I lost. Mindy left me at the altar without hesitation just to go to him, and not long ago, it was the fourth time.

I held back all emotions and was about to start my car when my father called me. He was crying hysterically over the phone. "Eric, your mom… She…"

My eyes widened as my body trembled violently from fear, and I sped toward the hospital, only to face a hospital bed with a piece of white cloth over it. My knees turned weak as I fell, kneeling to the ground while tenderly caressing my mother.

"Mom?" Tears streamed down my face as I roared, "Mom! What happened? Weren't you doing alright yesterday? How did this happen?!"

My father almost passed out from all the crying. "A man messaged your mother, telling her that Mindy doesn't want you anymore, and he wanted your mom to talk you into letting Mindy go."

I closed my eyes. It was Johnny!

That was when Mindy appeared, looking upset. "I'm so sorry, Eric." She hugged me as I trembled with anger. "Johnny didn't do it on purpose. He was just scared, which was why…"

I pushed her away from me while shaking my head. I choked back a sob with sorrow in my eyes. "How did I ever end up falling in love with a woman like you, Mindy? Get out! Get out right now!"

Mindy's face fell, and she sighed with exhaustion. "I'll make it up to you. I've already started organizing the wedding. I'll send Johnny away after a month and spend the rest of my life with you. You should calm down during this time."

She turned away to leave after that.

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, they were filled with coldness and hate.

The next morning, my father and I buried my mother. After that, we bought plane tickets to leave this place forever. Before I left, I contacted the hotel manager in charge of organizing the wedding and paid her 20,000 dollars to pass three gifts to Mindy after a month.

Those were three surprises that Mindy would never forget.