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Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Wife Who Was Never Mine: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 8

8 Kabanata

Chapter 1

The familiar suffocating feeling rushed in. I grabbed at my throat and dragged in air, one breath at a time.Olivia Jones handed me a bottle of water out of habit, rubbing my back, her voice still cool. "The day you were diagnosed, Randall called and said he felt terrible. Turns out he just needed someone to take it out on. To be exact, we were just sleeping together. Legally."I forced the water down. My stomach turned.My mind slipped back to the day of the crash. I was waiting outside the OR, and Olivia never showed.The doctors tried calling her over and over, but she didn't pick up.The hallway was empty. I was left there alone, crying until my voice went hoarse.After that, I couldn't stand being by myself. Work would set me off. Even a baby crying could push me over the edge.The doctor called it severe depression.Olivia pulled the car over, grabbed a couple of tissues, and wiped my face."So…" I swallowed. "You already had a husband. Why have a kid with me?"Her ha

Chapter 2

My stomach seized, cramping in waves as fragments of memory flashed through my head.After Olivia had the baby, I lost my job, then got into a car accident. I kept thinking I couldn't hold this family together.That was when the depression set in.I used to lock myself in the bathroom while the baby cried outside the door. Olivia would take it again and again when I lashed out, then smooth my hair like nothing had happened. "I'm here. It's okay."She kept a close eye on my moods, like I might fall apart at any second, and still handled the baby on her own.Just like she said, she was a good wife. A good mother.Maybe she was too good. Maybe that was why I chose the slow kind of pills. I thought I could fade out instead of ending it all at once.The next morning, a loud crash downstairs pulled me out of sleep. I went down and stopped at the bottom of the stairs.There was a naked man in my living room.Randall met my eyes, startled for a second, then pressed his lips together

Chapter 3

By the time I stumbled into the hospital, my mom was already on the bed, barely holding on. An oxygen mask covered most of her face. Even through it, I could see the faint anger in her eyes."Olivia told me," she said, her voice thin behind the mask. "Why would you go and break up someone else's family…?"The world spun.I remembered how happy my mom had been at our wedding, how she had placed all her hopes on us. If she knew Olivia already had another family, it should have hurt her far more than it hurt me.My whole body shook as I cried. "Mom, listen to me. It's not like that. I…"She turned her head away before I could finish, refusing to look at me. Tears soaked into the pillow.They wheeled her into the OR. I drifted out in a daze and somehow ended up at Randall's house.The moment I pushed the door open, I stopped.A family dinner was underway, loud and lively.I ignored the stares and stepped in, eyes burning. "Olivia, did you tell my mom that our marriage is fake?

Chapter 4

Olivia's words hit me hard.She met my bloodshot eyes, her voice soft, almost gentle, which only made it worse. "It's just a few hits to calm my mom down. She knows when to stop."There was a time she would fuss over a tiny cut on my finger.Now, she felt like a stranger.My fists clenched until my knuckles popped, barely holding back what was building inside me.I raised my hand and slapped myself again and again. "I'm the one who broke up your family. I'm shameless…""Hit him harder! Maybe he'll learn something!"At Miranda's command, the bodyguards stepped in.Each blow landed heavy, pain ripping through me like it was breaking me from the inside out. I screamed until my voice gave out.By the time it stopped, I was already on the ground, my body barely holding together.Ninety-seven. Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine…"That's enough." Olivia took a step forward, then stopped when she caught the look from Miranda and pulled back.Randall walked over, a polite smile on his face

Chapter 5

It was a call from the hospital."Ms. Jones? Mr. Brooks has overdosed on sleeping pills. Please come to the hospital. We need your authorization for treatment."The words landed, and Olivia froze.Her eyes went to the empty bottle by the trash.Wasn't Elliot's depression under control? Why would he hurt himself again?She didn't have time to think. She rushed to the hospital, barely steady on her feet.By the time she arrived, a nurse handed her a report and said, "Ms. Jones, Mr. Brooks is still in surgery, but there's a buildup of long-term sedatives in his system. I'm afraid…""Afraid of what? He's not dying!"Her voice shook as she gripped the paper.The report was clear. Overdose from long-acting sleeping pills. A note at the bottom read, [Possible severe depression].So that was why he had coughed up blood, why he had been so hard to control. His depression had never gone away.Then why did he lie?Olivia leaned against the wall, her whole body trembling.Had she gone

Chapter 6

"Honey? How long have you been standing there?"Randall forced a smile.Olivia walked straight to him, grabbed his phone, and saw the video he had recorded.The slap cracked across his face. She didn't hold back. "Since when did you get this manipulative?"His parents rushed in and pulled him behind them. "Olivia, watch yourself!""I'll admit our son went too far, but you started all of this! You had no business being involved with two men at once!"The words froze her in place. After a long time, she drew a slow breath. "Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, even if I was in the wrong, Randall had no right to drive Elliot's mother to her death!"The change in how she addressed them made Randall step forward, stunned. "Why are you calling them that? Are you…"Olivia cut him off with a short, cold laugh. "We're getting divorced. I see it clearly now. The person I love is Elliot, not someone as cold as you."Right in front of him, she called the company lawyer and started arranging the pap

Chapter 7

I didn't think I would ever open my eyes again.The doctors looked relieved and were already calling Olivia to tell her the news. I still lifted my hand, fingers trembling, trying to pull the oxygen tube out.Olivia rushed in and grabbed my hand, forcing it down. "Elliot, what are you doing? We just got you back! Stop hurting yourself, okay?"I had heard those words too many times.Every episode these past few years ended the same way. I broke down, and she showed up, pulling me back like she had done it a hundred times before.I didn't need that anymore.A cold chill seeped through me, and I started to shake. "Let go. I don't need your concern anymore!"She tightened her grip, her voice unsteady. "You're not dying. I won't let you. Please, Elliot."It sounded like she couldn't stand to lose me, but I knew the truth. That wasn't love. It was pity.I ran out of strength and lay still, staring up at the ceiling."Never thought I'd end up being called the other man online. I'm

Chapter 8

"What right do you have to interfere? What are you to Elliot? Say it!"Olivia's voice trailed down the hallway as the door was pushed open. It was my childhood friend, Genevieve Hart."So you were the one who brought me to the hospital?" I asked. Genevieve nodded and tucked the blanket around me. "No matter what happens, don't give up on yourself. I'll be here from now on."She had always felt like an older sister to me. Just being around her made me feel steadier.Over the next few days, Genevieve took me out for short walks, brought up stories from when we were kids, and somehow always got me to laugh.I went back to therapy, took my medication on time, and tried to piece together something close to a normal life.Then Randall showed up, looking a mess, eyes bloodshot."Elliot, you're the other man. You're so desperate to take my place that it's pathetic. How dare you push Olivia to divorce me! Where did you hide her?"I stepped back, keeping my tone calm. "Relax. I'm not m

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