Goodbye Toxic Ex

Chapter 4

When Riley's eyes snapped open, his gaze pulsated for a while before it adjusted to the lights.

He tried to sit up and the pain rattled through his body, causing him to groan.

"I don't think you want to move, mate!" Another man from the earthquake said with a smile that revealed all his golden teeth.

"You're worse off than the rest of us folks and you will need as much rest as you can get. Are you unmarried? Orphaned? Why haven't you got anyone here to help you out, mate?" the man continued.

The memories of the previous day, or however long he had been unconscious, instantly rushed through his mind.

The pain was real, and he gritted his teeth just from remembering.

His head still rang from the tumor and his eyes burned bright red like he had been up for days without sleep.

However, what pained him most was the betrayal. Watching his wife abandon him like he was nothing.

That pain was far greater than any physical or internal pain he had faced during the past few days, and it was one he was never going to forget in a hurry.

"How long has it been since the earthquake happened?" he finally asked the man in return, relaxing on the bed.

"Three days, nineteen hours, and a few moments. Can't keep track of the exact time—we are survivors, you know!"

For the first time, Riley looked around. The halls were packed with people, filling the space to its brim.

They were all taking care of their loved ones, while the person he had spent most of his lifetime on was elsewhere.

Riley's nose caught a scent. For the first time, he hesitated before he looked up.

He saw his wife coming toward him.

Her face was calm and void of the murderous glint that she had in her eyes a few days ago.

There was a flask in her hands and steam rose from it. It was food.

"I made it myself. Hope you're feeling better now?" She dropped it beside him and her face was laced with so much care and attention, more than she had given him over the years combined.

He said nothing.

Riley didn't even know how to react. The woman who had acted like he was nothing a few days ago was thinking that everything could just go back to normal from a simple gesture and a few apologies.

"About Harry, you really don't have to be angry. I just wanted to give him a special treat, as my best friend would if she were still alive!"

Those words caused him to raise a brow.

"Even when it meant that your husband was in the hospital?"

"See, Riley, it was his special day, his birthday actually. That's what has always been done for him.

I promised my friend on her deathbed that I was going to take care of her brother and I wish to keep that promise," she continued.

Riley could barely hear the words she was saying anymore.

"You left me to die, Sophia, and you chose him over me repeatedly!" Riley scoffed.

The number of times she had betrayed him for Harry could barely be counted and her actions were always consistent.

He could see her hesitating, gritting her teeth at the same time.

"I told you already, Riley, he knows nothing about the city and you do, every single place. It would have been easier for you to navigate.

And besides, Harry didn't go through such a hard life. He stayed overseas all his life—he's soft, tender and gentle. He needs all the care in the world or he would not be able to survive.

While you're strong and basically reinforced steel. A few minutes of waiting for a new ambulance would have done nothing to you, Riley. It was the only logical thing to do!"

Riley tightened his stomach to suppress the laughter that threatened to burst from him at that moment.

She knew every single detail about him, but for the one she was supposed to be married to, she barely knew anything. How ironic.

"You know him that much, don't you!"

Something flashed again in her eyes. However, she shifted her gaze back to Riley before finally dropping it downward. She had been afraid to make eye contact.

"I am sorry!" she said and Riley instantly stopped.

That was the first time in three years that she had apologized to him, despite the multiple times of being wrong.

Every other time, she just played cool and pretended that it never happened or she manipulated her way into making it seem like he was the one at fault instead.

And here she was, with a gesture.

He looked into her eyes, deeper than any stare he had given her before, and his body screamed at him to accept the fact that she was back to him.

And she wasn't just back—she was ready to make amends and cherish the relationship they had, just like he wanted.

However, her phone suddenly chimed and the caller caused his stomach to twist into a knot.

Harry's face was displayed on it and the instant she saw it, all the muscles in her body straightened.

Sophia took the phone with a swiftness unlike anything Riley had seen a human do and she answered the call.

Harry was coughing through the phone and his voice was clearly forced, in between rushed breaths.

Everyone else could see it apart from her.

"Sophia, I think I am having a migraine!"

Her eyes shifted and her body trembled with a rising sense of urgency instantly cutting through her veins.

"I will be there right now!" she rasped and scrambled to her feet.

Once the call had come, she had forgotten about Riley once again and quickly rushed toward the VIP section.

For a brief moment, he actually thought that things would change. They would live happily and he wouldn't have to divorce her as he had already planned.

However, right now, nothing could change his mind anymore. They needed to go their separate ways as they were not meant for each other anymore.