Chapter 195: Heart-Piercing
Ever since Daniel's surgery went south, I've been juggling my painting and looking after him, almost losing my mind, and barely keeping in touch with Mia.
Even when she called, I had nothing to say and would hang up fast.
I didn't think that in just a couple of months, Mia would look so worn out. The sadness in her eyes was so deep, she didn't look like a girl in her early twenties anymore, more like someone way older.
She was always the upbeat, no-nonsense type. The only thing that could mess her up this bad was that damn love.
She and Benjamin had been on and off since college, breaking up and making up more times than I could count.
If someone told me there was no love between them, I'd call them a liar. Benjamin had once given everything for Mia, with such a true heart.
But if there was love, sometimes it just couldn't stand up to reality.
At least from what I've seen, no one ever ditched their family and career for love. Louis liked me for years, and we still broke up in the end.
Luckily, I saw the red flags before I fell for Louis and didn't waste my time.
But Mia, she loved Benjamin with all her heart for so many years, and now her heartbreak was killing her.
I grabbed my earphones, ready to have a real talk with her. Seeing her like this, I was scared she might do something crazy.
"Mia, how'd you get so thin?"
Mia's tears streamed down her face, her thin face pale and lifeless, her eyes empty, like someone who'd lost all hope. "Jane, I can't take it anymore. I want to leave here."
"Calm down, tell me what happened." I asked, my own eyes tearing up seeing her so desperate.
Mindy handed me some tissues, and I wiped my tears.
We used to talk about everything, but now we were just connecting through a phone. All I could do was comfort her and cry with her.
"You remember Sydney, right? She's been all over Benjamin for years. It's not that I don't trust Benjamin, but the stuff he does makes it hard to believe him.
On my birthday, he promised to come over, but then he called saying he had something else. He sent me money to buy myself a gift, and then Sydney posted a new update thanking her 'beloved' for taking her to the beach. I could recognize Benjamin's silhouette anywhere.
On his birthday, I went over to celebrate with him, but he was partying with his family and friends. He said he didn't want to embarrass me, so I sat alone in the hotel all night while Sydney posted pictures of him holding her hand to cut the cake and set off fireworks.
Every time I asked him, he said Sydney was just a childhood friend and there was nothing between them. Fine, I believed him and put up with it. But this morning, Sydney and her mom came to my office to insult me. They called me shameless, said I was throwing myself at Benjamin, said he was just playing with me, and that no matter how much he favored me, I would still have to watch him marry Sydney. They said I was living so pathetically that I might as well die."
Mia was bawling her eyes out.
"How could they say that about you? We all saw your thing with Benjamin back then; it was pure and real. There's nothing dirty about it. They're just projecting their own crap onto you. The real shameless ones are them. What did Benjamin say?"
What kind of people were these? How could they make baseless accusations like that? Just 'cause they had more money than us? Money's great and all, but it's supposed to make life better, not to tear others down.
"Benjamin." Mia was crying so hard she could barely get the words out, "when they came to my company, all the employees were on the first floor for a meeting. Hundreds of people watched as I got insulted like some kind of whore. Even colleagues I usually got along with were pointing fingers at me, like I had done something disgraceful.
But that's not the main point. I can handle what others think of me. The key is Benjamin. When he arrived, I was so mad I slapped Sydney. Her mom pinned me to the ground and yanked my hair, punching me. Benjamin actually helped Sydney up and took her away. He didn't even say a word to me, just looked at me once when he came in. I don't care about others, but how could Benjamin treat me like this?
Jane, I don't get it. I love him so much. I turned against my parents for him, gave up a promising career, and stayed by his side without any regrets for so many years. Even a dog would care after all this time. I was beaten so badly, and he didn't even offer a word of comfort. From the moment he left with Sydney until now, he hasn't called me once, as if I don't exist. Jane, do you think they would only be satisfied if I died?"
"How could Benjamin treat you like this? Is he even human? Have you called him? No matter what, you're his girlfriend. You suffered this humiliation because of him. He owes you an explanation."
I couldn't even describe my feelings at that moment—anger, heartbreak, helplessness.
But mostly, I felt sorry and heartbroken for Mia. She loved so humbly.
As a listener, I was furious. How could Mia, who loved Benjamin to the point of losing herself, bear this?
This was totally wrecking Mia!
I used to think Benjamin was a good guy, but now I knew I was wrong to mistake trash for a gem.
You really couldn't judge a book by its cover.
"I called him, but Sydney's mother answered. She said Sydney is pregnant, and Benjamin is with her. Jane, isn't it ridiculous? Benjamin is going to be a father, but the mother isn't me. And here I am, still holding out hope for him even after he has a child with someone else. Jane, am I not ridiculous? Am I not pathetic? I feel like I've been following him all these years just for his love, but he trampled me into the dirt with his actions. I'm just pathetic, so pathetic."
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