When the Truth Cuts Deep

Valerie said, "Don't be like this, Chucky. I want to see! Show me, please! I'll only take one look, okay?"The nurse gave her a contemptuous look before wiping the sweat from my brow.Ultimately, Chuck gave in and allowed Valerie to take one look. She only moved away after taking a look, appearing pleased.I didn't have the strength to get up, but Chuck merely threw a few tissues at me. "I have something to attend to, so you clean up after yourself."After that, he and Valerie took off their surgical gowns and left the operating theater. The nurse gave me some painkillers and told me to rest for a while before leaving.When I left the operating theater, I saw that Chuck's office door was shut. I had no idea where he was; he didn't even bother sparing me a glance before leaving. I knew his so-called work was just an excuse for him to spend time with Valerie.I headed home and went to the kitchen to make some oatmeal. I only felt better after drinking it. I checked my phone to see

Marge snapped, "Not only do I deeply dislike you, but I'm even going to give Val this bracelet. It's a family heirloom! Only a woman with this bracelet is considered a member of the Gross family!"She removed the bracelet from her wrist and carefully put it around Valerie's wrist. Valerie showed it off, looking smug and challenging. "I'll gracefully accept this, then. Don't blame me for this, Stephanie. You're the one who doesn't have anyone on your side. Your mother-in-law doesn't like you, and your husband doesn't love you…"She clicked her tongue. I cupped my swollen cheek as tears rolled down my face. This wasn't a family gathering—this was an occasion for them to insult me.Chuck only came to me after Valerie and Marge returned to the kitchen. He hadn't spoken up for me at all; I finally gave up on him. I knew he was on Valerie's side."Stop crying. Mom didn't even put any force into that slap. Also, don't be so sensitive. You know she's always been like that. Just grin an

Chuck sounded displeased. "What are you getting at now? Don't tell me you think there's anything between Val and me again."I snorted. "Let's get a divorce. I'll make way for you two to be together. I don't want your mother to keep thinking that I stood between you two."He fell silent. I heard his breathing hitch. Then, he asked, "Divorce? Why? Just because of the abortion? Or is it because Val and I are affectionate with each other? You know that child would bring me bad luck, yet you wanted to keep it around. Do you hate me that much?"I said calmly, "You're letting your diffidence show by overthinking this. I just think it's time for me to back out. I should return you to Valerie after keeping you around for so long. We don't have children, so this will be an easy split. You can have all the money and property. Let's end this on a good note.""Are you being serious, Stephanie?""Of course."…The following day, I signed up for a local tour and went to many places. We went to

I'd long since suspected something was up with that so-called premonition Marge had gotten from the pastor. Sure enough, I got the answer I wanted. After that, I left the church and headed straight to my home with Chuck.Valerie was there. She was curled up on the couch and watching a show. When she saw me return, she threw an apple core at my feet. "My, my, my. Look at what the cat dragged in. Have you returned to continue licking Chucky's boots because no one wanted to take you in?"I ignored her and headed to the study, where Chuck was working. He looked up in surprise. When he saw it was me, he went back to being his usual nasty self. The gentle tone he'd taken with me on the phone was nowhere to be found as he said, "Have you finally decided to come home after going rogue? I'll forgive you this time, but don't do it again."I smiled without saying anything and showed him a video on my phone. It had two voices in it—one belonging to a woman and the other to a man.The woman s

Chuck clenched his fists tightly as he frowned at me. "I know I did many things to hurt you, Stephanie—""It's good that you know. You don't have to say anything else." I shook my head irritably, looking annoyed.Just then, his phone rang. He pulled it out, looking annoyed. He rejected the call after glancing at the screen. "I need to go to work. We can talk about this some other time.""That's what you told me last time," I said.He looked at me sincerely. "I really do have something to do. My patient needs a C-section."I smiled. "Fine, then. Go on. I'm not going to wait for you this time, though."…Jordan dropped me off after dinner. He also helped me buy the things I needed for my new apartment. In the end, he followed me upstairs and stayed by my bedside until I fell asleep. He only left after that.Early the following morning, I heard about Marge getting a stroke upon hearing that Valerie had pulled strings to make her lose her grandchild. Marge hated me, but my child