Love in the Eye of the Storm

Chapter 12

Tanya hugged me tighter, her sobs growing heavier. She didn't need to say a word. Her silence told me everything, I had lost the baby.

I knew my days were numbered. Even if I hadn't miscarried, there was no way I could've carried the baby to term. But now that it was gone, an overwhelming sadness washed over me. It felt like everything I cared about was slipping away.

"Tanya, I want some cotton candy," I said, trying to lighten the mood. I couldn't bear to see her crying like that. Plus, I really wanted some. My brother used to bring me cotton candy when I was upset, it was the one thing that always made me feel better. And right now, with the bitter taste in my mouth, I longed for something sweet.

"There's a stand right outside the hospital. I'll go get you some!" Tanya wiped her tears, grabbing her phone as she rushed out.

My phone was sitting on the bedside table. I was so exhausted that I didn't even want to move, but there were still things I had to take care of. After a moment's hesitation, I reached for it.

I sent the video Chelsea had texted me, along with a recording of her sickening voice, to my lawyer. This was my final gift to Alexander.

Even though he had cheated on me, I knew him well enough to understand that he wouldn't have called me while in the middle of being with Chelsea. That phone call was Chelsea's doing, deliberate and calculated.

I wasn't innocent. Chelsea had killed my dog, desecrated my brother's grave, and now she was trying to destroy whatever dignity I had left. I couldn't let her get away with it.

Despite everything, Alexander would feel guilty after I was gone. We had been together for years, and I was dying young. But once he found out Chelsea had provoked me in such a twisted way, I knew his pride would never let him stay with her.

As I finished sending the message, I was about to set my phone down when a news alert popped up. It was about me, about Chelsea and Alexander. I couldn't resist clicking on it.

The video of my interview had gone viral. The tide had completely turned. People who had once insulted and condemned me were now turning on Chelsea.

"Chelsea is disgusting. How can she ruin someone's marriage and still act like the victim?"

"Yeah, and she dug up her savior's grave?! How do you repay a hero by desecrating his final resting place?"

"It's like a real-life version of 'The Farmer and the Snake.' She's so ungrateful! Karma's going to catch up to her!"

"Have you seen Madeline's old college photos? Chelsea's fans were mocking her for being ugly, but Madeline was gorgeous before she got sick."

"She looks way better than Chelsea ever did! Chelsea tried to make her look ugly in that video, but even then, she wasn't as bad as they made her out to be."

I scrolled through the comments, feeling strangely calm. I had expected this outcome when the reporters confronted me. Chelsea had tried to manipulate public opinion to ruin me, but she had forgotten one crucial thing, she was the mistress.

Mistresses were despised, no matter how much they tried to justify themselves. And no amount of crying or playing the victim could change that.

Suddenly, the hospital door swung open. Chelsea stormed in, followed by her mother, Ms. Harris. Both of them glared at me with pure hatred.

"You homewrecker!" Ms. Harris spat. "How dare you spread lies about my daughter online and turn the public against her?"

Chelsea sneered, her eyes filled with malice. "You just love playing the victim, don't you, Madeline? No wonder you're dying of cancer. It's karma."

I couldn't help but laugh. It was absurd.

"Chelsea, aren't you the mistress?" I asked, my voice cold.

"You!" Chelsea's face turned red with anger, but she quickly regained her composure. Placing a hand on her belly, she smirked.

"The real mistress is the one who's not loved," she said smugly. "Alexander loves me. I'm not the other woman."

"Oh, and by the way," she added, her smile growing wider, "I'm pregnant. Almost two months now. Alexander promised me a wedding before the baby bump starts to show."

She sneered, her voice dripping with mock pity. "And you... you lost your baby, didn't you? How unlucky. No wonder you couldn't keep Alexander. What man would want an infertile woman like you?"