*"Is this the CEO's husband? A beggar?"*
*"Disgusting."*
Mockery. Disgust. Memes.
The malice washed over me. I looked up at Jade's smug face.
Something inside me died.
"Jade." My voice sounded hollow, even to my own ears. "I want a divorce."
"What did you say?" She frowned.
Before she could argue, her phone rang. Max's voice drifted from the speaker, weak and trembling.
"Jade... thank you for everything these past few months."
"But I can't go on like this." Max sobbed on the other end of the line. "Let me say goodbye properly."
"No, Max! Don't do anything stupid! Wait for me, I'm coming right now!"
Panic seized Jade. She grabbed her coat and rushed out the door without a backward glance.
I opened my mouth to call out to her.
A sudden, searing pain ripped through my stomach.
I doubled over, clutching my abdomen.
*Retch.*
A massive mouthful of blood splattered onto the floor.
The smell of disinfectant stung my nose. Antiseptic white ceiling. Rhythmic beep of monitors.
Simon Chavez, my assistant, stood by the bed. His eyes were rimmed with red, and he looked like he was holding back tears.
I tried to smile. Probably looked more like a grimace. "Say it."