Ethan's assistant saved me.
On the stretcher, I heard his sigh.

"Mr. Carter's lost his mind—abandoning his wife to go to a hotel with Clara! Even if she did cast that love spell, does he have to be so cruel? They were married seven years!"
"Now she's lost the baby and might not make it!"
I closed my eyes, numb.
I couldn't believe the man I loved for seven years did this.
One cunning remark from Clara, and I lost everything.
Fine, I'd let them have each other.

Waking again, I learned the live stream of my assault had gone viral.
My phone overflowed with hateful texts, calls nonstop.
Shaking, I gripped the device, unsure of what to do.
"Mrs.Carter, you okay?"

The assistant looked worried."Don't be scared. Mr.Carter will handle this!"
I gave a bitter smile.
Handle it? He orchestrated the stream.
Still, I clung to a shred of hope."Where is he?"
The assistant fell silent.
I stared, eyes reddening.
He stammered, "We have a company emergency…he's handling it…"
"I'll go get you some congee to warm your stomach."
Ethan was with Clara.
I smirked. Company issues? Couldn't he pick a better excuse?
Ethan once skipped work for a month to be with me.

…
"Is that you in the video?"
I'd just stepped out for meds when someone recognized me.
I stayed silent, lips tight. The man studied my face.
Then he shouted, "It's her! The porn star!"
Immediately, hospital staff and visitors turned to look. The man, grinning triumphantly, played the clip on his phone. "I even recorded the stream! See that mole on your upper thigh? Shaking so…seductive!"
The crowd erupted:
"That's her—the one who used a love spell to marry into a wealthy family! No wonder her husband snapped."
"She had it coming—look at her, all pitiful now that she's been abandoned."
"Can't lie, she did call for him pretty sweetly. Hey bro, send me that video!"
My ears rang, body rigid, hearing only my screams for mercy.
I don't know how I was pulled away. When I came to, the assistant was frantic.
"Mrs.Carter! Why'd you go out? Ignore those creeps! They were taking advantage while Mr.Carter's gone—they'll pay!"
I stared blankly. "Will Ethan really come back?"
"He will! He loves you—we all see it. Just admit you're wrong, and he'll return!"
His desperate look made me numb.
No one believed me.
What was the point of staying, then?
I sent the assistant away, got a new phone, stayed offline, and booked a ticket home.
Then I filed for divorce.
Days later, the lawyer sent the divorce papers.
Ethan hadn't visited once.
My last hope died.