It’s all my fault! Hit me, yell at me, just don’t
let this ruin your relationship!”
Chloe wiped her eyes, kneeling before me.
“Làna, please yell at me! Don’t yell at Mark!
He only did it to help me, he meant well, it
wasn’t intentional!”
Looking at Chloe’s self–flagellation, my blood
boiled. I slapped her.
“Chloe, I’ll kill you, to avenge my baby!”
Chloe didn’t dodge; a scratch appeared on
her face.
She wiped her face, a bitter smile. She
started slapping herself repeatedly.
“As long as you’re not angry, I’ll do anything!
I’ll resign, give you an explanation!”
Mark stood between us, conflicted.
“Chloe, the baby’s death, Lana’s anger is
understandable, but don’t give up! Isn’t
Г
medicine your dream? Every doctor has a
failed surgery. Don’t let this ruin your career!”
Chloe slapped herself again, her gaze
resolute. “Dr. Smith said Lana’s case was
special, I was too arrogant. The baby didn’t
survive, I admit it. My skills were inadequate,
I’ll resign and stop operating.”
Visitors in the hallway whispered, some
recording it as a case of medical malpractice.
“I think Chloe’s fine. Unpredictable things
happen in C–sections. No surgery is 100%
safe. Bullying doctors after an accident…
who would want to be a doctor?”
“I support Chloe! My husband was here last
month, he always praised her kindness, she
treated him like a brother. A doctor like that
wouldn’t kill a baby!”
“Dr. Smith mentioned the breech position;
even he couldn’t guarantee success. Why
blame Chloe? The patient signed the consent
form, now they’re blaming her!
Unreasonable!”
I watched coldly, finding it all absurd.
I didn’t want to stay here a second longer. I
left.
A flicker of triumph crossed Chloe’s face. She
screamed, pulling out a knife.
“Enough!”
“Lana, do you want me to die to satisfy you?
Fine, if that’s what it takes, I’ll die!”
She looked at me, holding the knife high,
waiting for my answer.
I smirked. “Yes, then kill yourself.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. “You… you…”
“Enough!”
Mark yelled, grabbing the knife and throwing
it away. Chloe collapsed into his arms.
“Lana, do you have to drive Chloe to suicide?
We lost the baby, I tolerated your anger, but
this is too much! First the divorce, then
bullying Chloe! What’s wrong with you?”
“Yes, I’ve changed, so let’s divorce, let’s both
move on.”
Leaving the ward, Mark didn’t follow.
“Lana, calm down. I’ll come back. I need to
look after Chloe, I’m afraid she’ll do
something rash.”
“Whatever.”
At the airport, I got a call from Chloe.
“See? Even after this, Mark will fix it for me.
What do you have that I don’t?”
I fiddled with my passport. “Nothing, that’s
why I’m leaving you two lunatics.”
Chloe heard the airport sounds. “You better
get out of the country and stay away from
Mark. Otherwise, I’ll use the video of you
forcing me to self–harm to ruin you online!” I nodded. “Then you better keep Mark away
from me.‘
“Naturally. I wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell
L
him where you are.
99
I boarded the flight to Paris. I wanted a new
life, to pursue my education and dreams, not
depend on a man.
I settled in Paris, bought an apartment, and
got into my dream design school.
If Mark didn’t want a divorce, I’d leave him,
let him believe I was dead.
Two years later, I graduated early and opened
a design firm.
At my grand opening, something crawled onto
the red carpet.
Chloe.
She was disfigured, scarred from burns and
beatings, unrecognizable from the woman
Mark had adored.
She crawled to my feet, kowtowing.
“Lana, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. Please come
back, I won’t compete with you for Mark
anymore! He’s beating me! Save me! I don’t
<
…
Security guards pulled her away. I wiped my
ankle.
