I secretly got married to my boyfriend, Leo Garcia.
I thought my life would only get happier from that point on.
But then, a sudden car accident took my parents' lives.
Leo also lost a leg due to the accident.
His mom, Sofia Jones, had red, tear-filled eyes. She kept slapping my face over and over.
Screaming at the top of her lungs, she yelled, "I told you a long time ago, you're nothing but trouble! Give me back my son's leg!"
Leo, who used to be so protective of me. He was afraid I'd be hurt even the slightest, now lay on the hospital bed with a gloomy expression, watching his mom beat and kick me.
"Mila, you deserve this."
...
Ever since I was a child, I'd been my parents' little princess.
They always gave me whatever I wanted, except for one thing, accepting my relationship with Leo.
I had a privileged upbringing. I never faced hardship, and didn't know how cruel people could be.
I never paid attention when my parents told me Leo's family wasn't good people. I didn't believe them when they said Leo didn't truly love me.
I thought they just looked down on Leo because his family was poor, and they wanted to match me with someone of similar status.
Back then, I believed love was all that mattered.
I took the household registration booklet and told my parents Leo and I were already married.
They were so furious they didn't eat for three days, but I was too wrapped up in my happiness with Leo to notice.
Three days later, my parents finally gave in. They called me and said that both families should meet.
I agreed right away.
On the morning of the arranged day, I went to the hotel early to set the lunch menu.
At 11 o'clock, my parents arrived.
Looking at their exhausted faces, I felt a wave of regret. I'd been too reckless.
My mom gently wiped away the tears from the corner of my eye. "It's okay, sweetheart. As long as you're happy, that's what matters."
My dad, standing by her side, spoke seriously, "If Leo ever dares to mistreat you, you must tell us."
I nodded and buried myself in my dad's warm embrace.
We waited and waited, but Leo and his mom didn't show up.
I called him, but his mom picked up instead. "Oh, Mila, you know we don't have a car. It's way too hot out, and we might get heatstroke trying to hail a cab. Could your parents come pick us up?"
I hung up and looked at my parents, feeling awkward.
"I'll go pick them up," I said, grabbing the car keys and getting ready to leave.
My dad stopped me, saying he and my mom would go instead. It was too hot, they told me to drink more water.
I watched them walk away, feeling a mix of emotions. I silently promised myself that I'd be a better daughter from then on and never do anything to make them upset again.
But little did I know, I would never get the chance.
I leaned on the table, waiting for them, starting to feel sleepy.
Suddenly, my phone rang, startling me awake. My heart was pounding. It felt like something bad was about to happen.
I answered immediately, "Dad?"
The voice on the other end was a hurried woman's voice. "They're at Lynelle Hospital. Come quickly, the patient's condition is bad."
My mind buzzed. Before I could ask anything, the call was already disconnected.
I rushed to the hospital, accompanied by the dial tone.
I saw Sofia and instantly felt like I had found an anchor.
"Mom, what happened? Where are my parents? Where's Leo?"
She glared at me angrily, slapping me to the ground. "Leo! How dare you ask about Leo! He's in surgery right now. If anything happens to him, I'll never forgive you!"
I finally realized how serious things were. Crying on the floor, I asked, "Where are my parents?"
Sofia let out a cold sneer. "Those wretched parents of yours? They died on the spot."
My mind exploded. Sofia's words echoed in my head over and over again.
I couldn't believe it.
Not until I saw my parents' bodies.
I held their hands and pressed them against my face. They're cold and stiff. They hadn't always been like this.
That day, I cried for a long, long time.
I kept apologizing, admitting I was wrong.
"Mom. Dad.
"Please wake up. I was wrong. I was so wrong. Please wake up..."
Chapter 2 WorseI collapsed in front of my parents' tombstone, feeling completely lost.
How could living, breathing people end up like this?
My phone wouldn't stop ringing. I finally picked it up.
It was Sofia, screaming on the other end, "Where the hell are you? Get back here now!"
When I returned to the hospital, Leo was awake. He was lying in bed. He glared at me, saying nothing.
Where his left leg should have been, there was only flatness beneath the blanket.
At that moment, Sofia walked into the room.
Without a word, she slapped me to the floor.
A nurse finally pulled her away as she screamed, "I told you, you're a jinx! Give me back my son's leg!"
The once-protective Leo, who was always afraid I'd get hurt, was now coldly watching everything.
"Mila, this is what you deserve."
Sofia threw a thick stack of bills at my head. "Hurry up and pay the bill."
Fighting back tears, I wiped the blood from my lip and picked up the scattered papers. "Mom, can you please tell me what really happened?"
"Mom? Your mom's dead! I'm not your mom, don't bring that bad luck on me!"
Unable to ignore my pleading gaze, Sofia finally spoke, "Your dad couldn't even drive. He crashed straight into a wall. He died, fine, but he ruined my son's life too! You'll pay for this forever. Don't think you can escape!"
Sofia wiped her tears away. In my grief, I didn't see the guilt and calculation hidden behind her actions.
Sofia refused my request to hire a caregiver.
Even though I offered to pay for it myself, so they wouldn't have to worry.
She just shot me a contemptuous glance and spat, "Money? You ruined my son, and you still think you have any? I'm telling you, all your money is going to my family."
I never blamed them for treating me like this. I thought it was my father who caused Leo to lose his leg.
I was bearing all of this for my father.
I had never cared for anyone before.
One day, I accidentally tripped while emptying Leo's bedpan, spilling it all over his face. It was right as he slept with his mouth open.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!" His screams echoed through the night.
He gagged and yelled at me to get out.
Finally, at Leo's insistence, they hired two caregivers.
One for Leo and one for Sofia.
When Sofia's lease expired, she moved into the family room.
Although I didn't have to work anymore, I still had to curl up on a recliner in the corner.
Sofia watched me every minute, not allowing me to leave.
My parents had left me a large inheritance, but it still needed to go through several legal procedures before I could get it.
Sofia said all that money would have to go to her family.
Day and night, she guarded me like I was a thief, even though I had never thought of running away.
Even now, I still felt like I loved Leo.
Even though I could clearly feel that he no longer needed my love.
He had told me more than once.
"Why didn't you die with your parents? It should have been you who lost a leg. If you're still alive, it's because fate wants you to suffer and atone for your sins!"
I thought Leo just couldn't accept the fact that he had lost his leg.
Those words hurt me, but I never took them to heart. I still thought I could heal his emotional wounds.
The day before Leo was discharged, two unexpected visitors arrived at the hospital.
It was Sofia's younger son, Martin Garcia, accompanied by a flashy woman.
As soon as he walked in, Martin shouted, "Mom, this is Natalie. I'm going to marry her. You need to prepare $50,000 as a dowry for her family and buy us a new house."
Sofia, ignoring Natalie's presence, snapped, "No money! Let her family figure it out. I don't have that kind of cash. Marry her or don't, I don't care."
Natalie got angry. She gave Martin a hateful look and turned to leave.
Martin quickly pulled her back. He tried to calm her down, then impatiently turned to Sofia and said, "Natalie is pregnant. It's my child. Leo can't have kids anymore."
Leo, lying in the hospital bed, turned beet red with anger but had no choice but to look away because what Martin said was true.
Sofia's demeanor shifted entirely. She immediately got up. She helped Natalie sit down and smiled, "I wasn't thinking clearly. Don't take it to heart, Natalie. That's not what I meant."
Natalie reluctantly sat down and asked calmly, "So what about the dowry and the house?"
"Don't worry about it." Sofia pointed at me. "This is your sister-in-law. Her family's loaded, and her parents are dead. Once the paperwork is done and she gets the inheritance, I'll buy you the best house for your wedding."
Natalie's eyes lit up, but she pouted, "How long will that take? My belly's getting bigger by the day. You're not trying to fool me, are you?"
As she spoke, Natalie suddenly stood up angrily. "I'm telling you now, if there's no house and dowry in a week, I'll get rid of this baby!"
Natalie stormed out, and Martin chased after her. The room fell silent again.
Sofia hesitated, then stomped and said, "Why not just sell your villa? What's the point of holding on to a place where people died? If you miss it that much, why don't you go die there too?"