When Love Burned to Nothing

"No, please don't!" I cried. "Whitney just finished surgery. If you stop her treatment now, it'll kill her."

Ken knew exactly how much Whitney meant to me. And yet, just to punish me, he still cut off the medical payments.

Ignoring my pleading, he finished the call and went back to work, as if nothing had happened.

I dragged my weak body to his office anyway, forcing myself to go beg him in person.

The moment I stepped inside, I realized Bianca had returned. Not only that, she was now the vice president.

That position had been empty all this time. Back then, to thank me for staying home and supporting him, Ken had promised me, "The VP spot will always be yours. Once the kids are grown, you'll come work at the company as vice president."

I never imagined that the position he once promised me would be given to another woman.

Ken froze for a moment when he saw me, but he quickly recovered.

Bianca walked around the desk and sat down on his lap, looking at me with open mockery.

"You want to beg me to save Whitney?" Ken sneered. "You ruined our fun that day. Bianca's still angry. You're better off begging her. As long as she forgives you, I'll save your sister."

I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood.

Ken watched me like a predator, waiting patiently for my choice.

I hesitated for barely a second before groveling in front of Bianca.

"Please forgive me. I'm really sorry!"

My humiliation sent Bianca into loud laughter. Right in front of me, she grabbed Ken's hand and slid it under her blouse.

Ken's eyes went red as he muttered softly, "You little tease."

In that moment, something inside me died completely.

After laughing enough, Bianca finally spoke again.

"I have to admit that was entertaining. Let's try something else. Slap yourself a thousand times, and I'll let it go."

I clenched my teeth and did it. Over and over.

The sharp cracks echoed in the room. My cheeks burned, tears spilling before I could stop them. By the end, my arms were trembling, my body hollowed out, as if there was nothing left inside me.

"I'm bored now," Ken said.

He waved his hand and told his assistant to transfer the money to the hospital account.

I quietly left the office. Just before I closed the door, I saw Ken looking at me in surprise.

At the time, I only had one thought. It didn't matter how much I suffered, as long as Whitney could keep getting treatment.

After I asked for the divorce and left the apartment, I threw away that wish coin and went straight to the hospital to stay with Whitney.

She wasn't doing well. The surgery prognosis was grim.

What I never expected was that just one week after my divorce, Whitney passed away.

The only thing tying me to this world was gone. I couldn't see a reason to keep living.

On the day she was cremated, I carried her ashes back to our hometown. In my family’s empty old house, I placed her urn beside our parents'.

Left without a single attachment, I set the house on fire.

The next morning, Ken's phone rang.

"Mr. Ken Bowen? I'm calling from the hospital. Your wife set her house on fire last night. Please drop by as soon as possible."