I propped myself up even though my head was still spinning, determined to find the doctor from yesterday for the abortion.
When passing by another hospital ward, I glimpsed at Raymond through the partially open door. He was carefully feeding Victoria expensive truffle soup one spoonful at a time.
“Ray, I was just startled. Really, I’m fine,” she said softly. “You should save this for Minnie to help her recover.”
“She’s perfectly healthy. She doesn’t need anything special,” Raymond replied dismissively as if he had not just promised the doctor he would work on my nutrition.
In my previous life, such incidents were commonplace. I had grown numb to them.
His favoritism would have left me heartbroken once, and his intimacy with Victoria would have made me hysterical. Now, I only felt nauseated. I turned away and headed to the doctor’s office but learned he was in surgery.
I then returned to my ward, somewhat disappointed.
The sterile space contained only a bowl of cold corn soup that sat forgotten on the nightstand.
Meanwhile, Raymond had vanished again. Whatever. It did not matter anymore.
I picked up the spoon and sipped the cold soup slowly. The chill slid down my throat into my stomach, sending shivers through my body.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Victoria strutted in wearing the pink dress I had spotted in Raymond’s bag days earlier. I thought it was my birthday gift. When I tried it on, Raymond sneered, saying that ugly people should not try to look pretty.
She feigned surprise while covering her mouth but could not hide the smugness in her eyes. “Oh my, is this all you’re eating? How pitiful.”
I ignored her and continued to have my soup.
“Ray’s making homemade chicken noodle soup for me right now. I could share a bowl with you later if you’d like,” she said.
“No thanks.” I stood up and replied coolly, “I don’t care for chicken noodle soup, especially when it’s someone else’s leftovers.”
Victoria’s expression hardened, and her smile froze. She glanced contemptuously at the bland soup before me. “And I don’t like you clinging to my man.”
Before I could process her words, a powerful shove sent me backward. My abdomen slammed against the corner of the bed, sending a searing pain through me.
