Semua Bab My Goodbye Was Their Wake-Up Call: Bab 1 - Bab 10

The stomach pumping nearly killed me.I sank into the hospital bed, numb and motionless. My eyes were empty as I stared at the ceiling.Derek stood by my bedside, breathing hard as he tried to steady himself. Blood still dripped from the raw wound on his hand, where I had bitten him.It looked like he was the one who had just come back from the edge of death."Patricia, is this really how you treat your life? Like some kind of joke?" he said.He reached out like he wanted to touch me, but midway, something made him pull back. He looked strangely hurt, like I had wronged him somehow.Just as I opened my mouth to ask what game he was playing this time, his whole demeanor shifted. He shoved his hands into his pockets. That cocky, infuriating look was back on his face.He scoffed. "I mean it. What the hell were you thinking when you downed those pills? You really think pulling a stunt like that is gonna make Maynard look at you differently? I'm telling you right now—all you're doing

I turned around and there he was again—Derek.The same man who had stopped me from dying, over and over.He collapsed onto the ground, pale and gasping for air. It was as if pulling me back had drained whatever strength he had left."Why is it always you?" I snapped, frowning. "Mind your own damn business. My death would be better for everyone."Derek's jaw clenched tightly. His hand shot up, and he nearly slapped me across the face. But at the last second, he pulled back and slammed his fist into the floor instead.The wound on his palm, still bandaged from before, burst open again. Blood soaked through the gauze, but he didn't even flinch."You're going to throw your life away over that bastard? Why not just divorce him and be done with it?"Patricia, can you have some self-respect? What about the people who actually love you? What are they supposed to do if you're gone?"Derek grabbed my shoulders. His eyes were full of wounded frustration as he looked at me.His voice soft

Maybe Maynard thought I would get bored being locked in alone, because he started sending Waldo to keep me company.Waldo's attitude had completely shifted. He brought all his toys and snacks into my room like he was trying to win me over.He said, "Mom, this is my favorite cake. I saved it just for you."And here's my game console. You didn't let me play games too much, so I'm giving them to you. Please smile, okay? You used to love me the most."Mom…" His rambling grated on my nerves until I snapped. "Shut up! Who told you I'm your mother?"I grabbed the snacks he handed me and threw them on the floor. Crushed chips were scattered everywhere.Waldo looked at me with panic in his eyes. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he cried out, "No, you're my mom. You're the only mom I have!"His wailing echoed through every corner of the room, turning the silence into chaos. All I wanted was some peace, but Maynard had to bring that little troublemaker into my room."Shut up!" I roared

Maynard decided to take us camping to celebrate Darlene's birthday. My mood had been stable lately, so Maynard broke his usual rule and brought me along.That was the day Darlene led me up to the summit.I had seen this moment coming. Maynard had been ignoring her because of me. With Darlene's pride, there was no way she would let me keep existing in her world.Today was her perfect chance to get rid of me."Patricia, you're disgusting. Just to keep Maynard around, you faked being depressed? How far are you willing to go?"Let's find out today who Maynard would really choose—me or you."The words had barely left her mouth when I spotted them in the distance—Maynard, Waldo, and Derek all rushing up the path.Darlene leaned into my ear and whispered, "Didn't you want to die? Let me help you out."Before I could react, she gripped my hand and flung herself backward, dragging me down with her. From where they stood, it would look like I had pushed her.Maynard shouted at me like a

After I died, Maynard spiraled. He drifted through each day in a daze, drinking nonstop and staring into nothing. The house echoed with his manic, hollow laughter.Hansen Group's stock plummeted. Maynard was ousted from the company and eventually committed to a psychiatric facility.Derek seized the opportunity. He took over most of Hansen Group's major contracts and crushed their family business.Just when the scandal had finally quieted down, a shocking report surfaced. Maynard had escaped from the psychiatric facility. Overnight, the Hansen Group was thrown back into the spotlight, right at the center of a public firestorm.With Maynard on the loose and mentally unstable, the public saw him as a serious threat. Hansen Group was under immense pressure to track him down immediately.They launched an aggressive search, mobilizing nearly all their resources. But after a full month with no leads, he simply vanished. Most people assumed he was dead.Even the Hansen family gave up. T