They Destroyed Me, Then Begged Me to Come Back Chapter 04

They Destroyed Me, Then Begged Me to Come Back Chapter 04

“I’ve already taken Aunt Margaret as my own godmother. I can’t stand here and watch you hurt her.”

“Godmother?”

My voice cracked.

Mom just looked at me, cold. Not bothering to explain herself.

“Mom, tell me what’s—ah!”

Someone shoved me, hard.

Weston looked down at me from where I’d fallen. One arm shielding Bianca.

The scene drew every eye in the hallway.

I heard the whispers around me.

“That’s Mr. Sterling’s crazy wife, right? God, look at the state of her, making a scene in the hospital lobby.”

“Hair a mess, nothing like Miss Whitmore at all.”

“No wonder he doesn’t want her anymore. I wouldn’t put up with a lunatic torturing herself every day either.”

“Poor Mr. Sterling. He doesn’t even love her anymore, but he’s staying married just so she doesn’t have another breakdown.”

“And poor Mom, having a daughter this out of control.”

…

“No… stop… please stop…”

I backed away, trembling.

The words felt physical. Every syllable landed like a blow.

I felt myself slipping.

“No… no…”

I clutched my head.

A hand closed around my wrist.

I heard Dr. Marsh’s voice.

“Breathe. Come with me.”

I stayed in Dr. Marsh’s office until evening before I could function again.

Standing outside the hospital, I called my best friend.

I couldn’t go home.

Whether it was the traces of my life with Weston, or of my mother—either one would send me spiraling.

When Ruby found me sitting alone on the bench outside the hospital, she put a hand over her mouth and started crying.

“I feel sick for you…”

“Weston knows exactly what you went through. How could he do this to you?”

In the end, somehow, I was the one comforting her.

Ruby had kept a room ready for me at her place the whole time.

The incense was the exact scent I liked.

A pair of cute puppy slippers she’d bought me, still in their packaging, waiting by the door.

Towels, toiletries, everything laid out and ready.

“Stay as long as you want. Forever, if you have to. Just live here.”

“Those people—you don’t owe them anything anymore.”

I never expected hat the one person still standing beside me would be someone with no blood tie to me at all.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Just as I sat down to my first real meal of the day, I heard Ruby’s voice through the wall.

“Don’t worry, I put sleeping pills in her food. She won’t wake up before tomorrow night.”

I stood frozen by the barely closed door, my hand flying to my mouth.

“Of course, Bianca! I’m Theo’s godmother, of course I’ll be at his third birthday party!

“And don’t worry, Aunt Margaret, everything will go exactly as planned tomorrow.

“I measured the dose precisely. there’s no way she’d find out we were throwing a birthday party for Theo and lose it!”

“OK! Bye, Aunt Margaret! Bye, Mr. Sterling! Bye, Bianca!”

The call ended.

Ruby stepped out, a look of sheer delight on her face—only to lock eyes with me at the doorway.

“Why?” I stared at her.

“Ah— you, you heard that.”

“Why!” My voice rose.

Both hands dug into her shoulders.

“You didn’t have a dime to your name when you came to Meridian Bay, and I took you in!

“Why! Even you, doing this to me!

“Why!”