Chapter 5
Ignoring the viewers’ protests, Serena abruptly ended the livestream.
Then, she looked up at me. This time, a fawning, almost pleading smile was plastered across her face as she said, “Jolene, you never told me you knew such a big-shot doctor. Isn’t this just one big misunderstanding between friends?
“If I had known you had already seen Dr. Parker, I wouldn’t have made a fool of myself. I was only trying to help, and now I’m the one getting blamed.”
Every word she spoke dripped with fake sweetness. Nausea churned in my gut before I could stop it.
Gordon’s face twisted with frustration when he saw Connor shielding me. However, he quickly composed himself and reached for my arm.
“Jolene, this is all just a misunderstanding,” he began. “I didn’t think you’d actually go through with the surgery. I thought you were kidding.
“And why didn’t you tell me beforehand? My mom’s been dreaming about having grandkids. How’s that supposed to happen now that you’ve had your uterus removed?”
Even as he begged, his voice still carried that same condescending edge. Just like always, he was gaslighting me and trying to keep me under his thumb.
A chill settled in my chest. I fixed my gaze on Gordon. Resentment and heartbreak was simmering just behind my eyes.
We had been together for two years, and not once did I ever look down on him for coming from a poor family. If anything, I supported him in every way I could. I even helped him out financially.
My family wasn’t rich either. Both my parents were teachers who spent their lives raising me to be gentle and sincere. I was never one to play mind games or scheme against others.
But after we got together, Gordon made one unreasonable demand after another. Still, I kept quiet, trying to protect his ego.
Every holiday, I’d send monetary gifts to his parents. Yet, not once did they ever return the gesture.
Worse still, Gordon’s mother would call me during work hours, nagging me to take better care of him. She kept saying I was lucky beyond words to be dating him.
And I put up with all of it, for what I thought was true love. I just didn’t want anything else to come between us.
But looking back now, how could Gordon not have known how his parents treated me? How could he not know everything I went through?
Of course, he knew. He just didn’t care.
He was already reaping all the benefits, yet still wanted to dump more of the burden on me. That way, he could keep living off my money while pursuing his first love. What a carefully calculated scheme.
Just looking at that hypocritical expression on his face made me sick to the stomach. All I wanted was to punch him hard enough to wipe that smug look off.
When I didn’t respond, Gordon started to get uneasy and pleaded, “Come on, Jolene, say something. So what if Serena misdiagnosed you? People make mistakes. Just forgive her, okay? She’s going to be a doctor, and if this blows up, her whole career would be over.
“Can’t you just be the bigger person? Put out a statement online and say that she didn’t misdiagnose you. It’s just that you already had an abortion. Protect her reputation, alright?
“I’m not breaking up with you either. We’ll just go back to how things were. Doesn’t that work out best for everyone?”
I lost it the moment those filthy wonds left his mouth. I stormed up and punched him-left, then right. In no time, both his eyes were swollen and red
He wanted me to be the bigger person? So, Serena’s reputation mattered, but mine didn’t?
They knew how public opinion could destroy someone. Did that mean I deserved to die in my past life?
