Dead to Her, Dead Inside

Meghan hung up at the next second.

As expected, even when trying to comfort me, she was perfunctory at best.

I couldn't help looking up at the white ceiling. The emotions I'd been holding back suddenly broke free, and tears streamed down my face.

Meghan and I met in our freshman year of college. We eventually got engaged right after graduation.

Our love story began on campus and continued all the way to the altar. It was the kind of relationship many people envied.

We truly enjoyed eight years of sweet times together. We supported and tolerated each other through thick and thin. Even when we argued occasionally, I always firmly believed we'd grow old together.

Was it not absurd that the woman I loved so deeply could love another, after merely eight short years?

She was even carrying that other man's child. Yet, she still insisted on pretending to be my devoted wife.

…

Not long after, I underwent the skin graft surgery. I was especially grateful as the hospital hadn't let Meghan know about my condition.

After the operation, my arm was hooked up to a pain pump. I lay on the gurney, completely drained. Even opening my eyes felt like a difficult task.

I was utterly weak.

The nurses wheeled me back to the room. However, I didn't expect to be stopped outside my own ward. All the belongings I'd had with me when I was admitted were now messily thrown outside the door.

Anger surged in my chest, and I demanded an explanation in a cold voice.

The nurse on duty stepped forward to explain.

"I'm sorry, but this is a VIP ward. The senior management of the private hospital has the right to decide who can stay in VIP wards. Ms. Hudson is one of our shareholders. Her boyfriend likes rooms with morning sunlight. I'm afraid you'll need to move to another ward, per Ms. Hudson's instruction."

So, this was Meghan's doing?

Yesterday, during the earthquake, all she could see was her new lover. Her heart, her love, and even her child all belonged to him. Did she really have to give him my ward, too?

Wasn't there sunlight in other rooms? Why did it have to be mine?

A surge of fury rushed through me. Holding onto the door frame, I forced my weakened body off the gurney. I picked up my belongings and staggered into the ward.

The moment I stepped in, I saw Gerald lounging on my hospital bed, his legs crossed leisurely.

When he saw me, he wasn't the least bit surprised. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and flashed me a smug smile.

"Julian, the light in this room really is nice. Meghan already arranged everything for me. You can leave now," he said.

My name was on the door of the ward. I didn't believe he chose this room simply because it had ample sunlight.

His smile was full of provocation. I figured he had to know about my relationship with Meghan. He was flaunting it in my face on purpose.

"Gerald, Meghan and I are married. Aren't you afraid that getting involved in our relationship will ruin both your career and hers if word gets out?" I warned him.

I thought he might back off, but he merely scoffed. "Getting involved? That sounds too harsh."

He retorted, "Meghan and I grew up together, so our bond runs deep. Yesterday, in a moment of life and death, she chose me over you. That proves I'm more important than you are.

"The one who isn't loved is the third wheel. The person who should leave is you, Julian." He continued to provoke me.

Without hesitation, I swung my fist at him. He clutched his nose, glaring at me furiously. The rage inside me kept building regardless.

"Get out!" I roared.

Gerald glared at me and snapped, "Why should I leave? Your hand is so badly injured. You can't even work, let alone make Meghan happy. What right do you have to call yourself her husband? Who do you think you are?"

"Julian, just because Meghan can't bring herself to divorce you doesn't mean she doesn't want to. You'd better wise up and back out on your own. Meghan's belly is getting bigger by the day. Do you really want to be the father of my child?

"I'll have you know that she's mine. The baby is mine too, and even your job will be mine sooner or later. As for this hospital room, whether you want to give it up or not, it's mine!" Gerald spat, his tone sharp and aggressive.

I looked at the smug look on his face and sneered. Then, I raised the phone in my hand, which had been recording the whole time.

His expression instantly shifted to one of panic. I stopped the recording and calmly gave him two options.

"Get out of my ward right now. Otherwise, I'll release this recording and expose your and Meghan's affair to the public. I can't guarantee everything, but I can promise the two of you will be utterly ruined."

Gerald clearly hadn't expected me to be recording. Rage flashed across his face as he jabbed a finger at me. "Julian, just so you wait!"

He left in defeat. Exhausted, I sat on the hospital bed and finally felt the searing pain in my body.

I smiled wryly as I called my lawyer to start drafting the divorce papers.

When Meghan called again, I had just ended the call with the lawyer.

I let the phone ring over and over again without answering.

A few minutes later, Meghan sent me a text.

"Julian, when are you coming home? Are you really planning to ignore me all day? I know you blame me for forgetting our anniversary a few days ago. And about the fancy dinner I missed yesterday, I'll make it all up to you today. I've even cooked…"

I deleted Meghan's message and blocked her number without expression. Then, I closed my eyes and tried to rest.

I was healing the wounds on my body and also the ones in my heart.

Meanwhile, after leaving my ward, Gerald hid in the bathroom and called Meghan.

"Meghan, the guy in that ward you transferred me to was so aggressive. He kicked me out and even hit me! I hit my head on the door. I think I might have gotten a concussion.

"If it's such a hassle to change wards, then just forget about it. Yes, the sunlight isn't great in my ward, but I don't want to make things difficult for you…"

Back at home, Meghan was waiting for my reply. She couldn't sit still anymore when she heard this.

She frowned and snapped, "Who would dare bully you? Stay right there at the hospital. I'll come teach them a lesson."

She didn't even remember the candlelit dinner set out on the table. She grabbed her coat and rushed out the door toward the hospital.

Not long after, I heard a commotion outside my ward.

"Didn't I specifically tell you to transfer him to another ward? Gerald likes the one with plenty of sunlight in the morning. How hard could it be to switch his ward?"

The nurse station instantly fell silent.

Seeing Meghan's face grow darker, one of the nurses finally spoke up in a trembling voice.

"Ms. Hudson, it's really not easy for us. The patient in that ward is a special case. He was seriously injured and just came out of surgery this afternoon… Perhaps you should take a look yourself."

"I know he was badly hurt, but that doesn't mean he can't be moved after surgery. Who could possibly be more important than my friend?" Meghan said, clearly displeased.

When no one responded, she suppressed her anger and headed for the ward. "Fine! I'd love to see just who this so-called big shot thinks he is!"

In a fit of anger, she pushed the door open and came face-to-face with me as I was applying ointment to a festering wound.