Born To Hate You

My husband had a golden girl who pretended to want nothing. And by pretending not to care, she got every bit of Ethan’s love. She would sigh softly and say, "It’s just a birthday. What’s the big deal? Go home to your wife." So, Ethan ditched our wedding anniversary to be by her side. I had saved Ethan's life once, but she just gave a dismissive shrug: "If she says she did it, then let her have the credit." Just like that, I became a desperate liar stealing someone else's glory. When company secrets were leaked, she and I were the only suspects. She lowered her eyes and murmured, "Don't fight over it. Just blame it on me." And with that, I became the criminal who betrayed the company. Until that night, when she looked at Ethan with mild annoyance and sighed: "Your wife is suffocatingly jealous. She’s completely ruining my peace. Ethan, I’m begging you—can you both just stay away from me?" I looked at them and shook my head. "Don't worry. What you discard, I don't want either." Gasps rippled through the room. Everyone stared at me as if I had lost my mind. Ethan looked at me in disbelief. A second later, his face twisted into sheer disgust. He let out a cold sneer. "Sienna, you really are a pathological liar." "Do you honestly think pulling this stunt will make me forgive you for hurting Vanessa?" Someone nearby tried to laugh it off and smooth things over. "Come on, Sienna, stop joking. Everyone knows you’re head over heels for Ethan. You’d never divorce him." I looked Ethan dead in the eye and said evenly, "I’m dead serious. Ethan, let's get a divorce." A flicker of shock crossed Vanessa’s eyes. I was exhausted. Truly, deeply exhausted. Earlier tonight at the gala, Vanessa had walked straight into my wine glass. The red wine splashed all over her pristine white gown. Without asking a single question, Ethan instantly turned on me, barking accusations. The crowd whispered, pointing fingers at me. And then Vanessa dropped her act of exasperation, telling Ethan: "Your wife is suffocatingly jealous. She’s completely ruining my peace. Ethan, I’m begging you—can you both just stay away from me?" Always like this. Every single damn time. Fine. I admit it. I couldn't beat her, and I couldn't outplay her. So I was walking away. Isn't that what they wanted? Ethan’s expression froze for a second. Then he ground his teeth, his eyes flashing with fury. "Sienna, don't you dare regret this!" He grabbed Vanessa's arm and turned on his heel. "Let's go. Let her cool off by herself." A dull ache ripped through my chest. Nobody knew how much courage it took for me to walk away from this marriage. I didn't want to stay and be the spectacle of the night. I walked out into the freezing night air. The cold wind hit me instantly, making me shiver violently. My coat was left in the car, and Ethan had already driven away. I stood by the curb, numbly waiting for my Uber. A sharp honk pulled me out of my daze. I looked up. It was Dylan, Ethan's best friend. "Sienna! Hop in, I'll take you home," he called out from his rolled-down window. I didn't hesitate. I canceled the ride and got in. If I stayed out in the freezing cold any longer, I’d collapse. Dylan glanced at me through the rearview mirror, hesitating before speaking. "Sienna, don't take it out on Ethan. He loves you. He's the one who texted me to make sure you got home safe." "He's just... obsessed with Vanessa's memory. Give him a little time. He'll snap out of it." Obsessed? I gave a bitter smile and shook my head. Once upon a time, I was his entire world. Back when we first started dating, Ethan—a billionaire heir who had never known hardship—sat on curb stones eating clearance bread with me just to keep me company. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he started bringing homemade meals from his family chef. To protect my fragile pride, he’d casually say, "My cook made way too much today. If you don't eat it, it's going in the trash." Whenever we argued, he’d send me long paragraphs begging for forgiveness, sounding completely broken until I smiled again. When we first got married, he canceled every single business trip just so he could wake up next to me every morning. When did everything begin to rot? Right. Exactly one year ago, when his untouchable first love came back to town. The way he looked at me changed. He stopped coming home. The car pulled up in front of the villa, snapping me back to reality. It was time to put an end to this shattered marriage once and for all.The moment I pushed the door open, I froze. Ethan was sitting on the couch, his face dark as a storm. Vanessa was resting a hand gently on his shoulder, comforting him. Even though I had prepared myself, seeing them like that still tore right through me. Anger and grief surged in my chest. He had once sworn to me that this was our home. That nobody else would ever step foot in here. And now... another woman was standing in my living room. Hearing the door click, Ethan shot me a cold, emotionless glare. Vanessa stood up immediately, her tone cool and collected. "Now that you're back, I won't get between you two." "What you said tonight was out of line, Sienna. You owe Ethan an apology." I snapped back, my voice dripping with venom, "Drop the innocent act. You know damn well he’s married, yet you cling to him like a leech. You’re pathetic." Ethan slammed his hand on the table and glared at me. "I invited her here! She doesn't have a filthy mind like yours!" "Look at yourself right now. You disgust me." "I honestly don't know how I ever fell in love with someone like you!" The color drained from my face. His words were like jagged knives stabbing straight into my heart. He turned to Vanessa, his tone instantly softening into something tender. "Didn't your apartment have a water leak? You're staying here tonight." Vanessa hesitated, biting her lip. "Ethan, maybe I shouldn't..." "No maybes. This is my house. I'd like to see anyone try to throw you out." There was no doubt who he was talking to. The two of them walked upstairs. The lingering scent of Vanessa's expensive perfume still hung thick in the air. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the tears back down. My lawyer had already emailed the divorce agreement. As I was printing it out, Ethan happened to come down the stairs. He paused when he saw me, then completely ignored me and headed toward the kitchen. "Sign it," I called out, stopping him in his tracks. He looked down at the papers in my hand, and suddenly, he snapped. He lunged forward, grabbing my throat and shoving me hard against the sofa. His eyes were bloodshot, his voice a furious snarl. "You want a divorce that badly? You lying bitch! Until I'm done making you pay, don't even dream of walking away!" I choked out through the pressure on my throat, "You keep calling me a liar! What did I ever lie to you about?!" "You wormed your way into my life just for my mother’s money!" "She shoved you into my bed just to keep me on a leash! To prove that I can never escape her control!" I stared at him, stunned. He had completely misunderstood everything. In a panic, I gasped, "That's not true! It was because—" "Crash!" The sound of shattering glass cut me off. Ethan let go of me instantly and sprinted upstairs two steps at a time. A sickening knot twisted in my gut. Clutching the divorce papers, I rushed up behind him. Milk was dripping down the floor from a picture frame on the wall. The center of the painting was completely ruined, soaked through and smeared into an unrecognizable mess. My eyes widened in pure horror. That was the last piece of artwork my late father had painted for me before he died. It was all I had left of him. And now it was gone. Vanessa stood nearby with a guilty expression. "I'm so sorry, Sienna. My hands slipped." "I tried to wipe it off, but the paper tore..." "Don't worry, I'll pay you back for it." Something inside my brain snapped. I grabbed a jagged shard of glass from the floor and lunged straight at her face. "Go to hell!" The shard grazed Vanessa's cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood. She screamed, clutching her face. Blinded by rage, I raised the shard to strike again. "Slap!" Ethan's hand struck my face so hard my head spun. "Have you lost your damn mind?! It’s just a stupid painting!" I lost my balance and fell hard onto the shattered glass on the floor, the shards slicing deep into my palms. I looked up at him, tears blurring my vision. "You know what that meant to me..." He cut me off impatiently, "I know! Your dad gave it to you!" "She already apologized! If anything happens to her face, I will destroy you!" He wrapped an arm around Vanessa and helped her toward the door. Numb and bleeding, I dragged myself up and blocked his path. "Sign the papers first."Ethan was so furious he let out a dark, mocking laugh. "Fine. Let's see how long you survive out there without me." I knelt on the floor, clutching the ruined painting to my chest, weeping until my chest caved in. In that moment, all I wanted was my mother's arms around me. Ignoring the blood dripping from my hands, I dialed her number. The second she picked up, tears streamed down my face. I slapped a hand over my mouth, terrified she would hear my sobs and worry. Mom stayed silent on the other end for a long moment before letting out a soft, heavy sigh. "Sweetheart... whatever you want to do, I'll always be behind you." "Mom is waiting for you at home." The next day, we filed the paperwork. Ethan noticed the bandages on my hands and opened his mouth as if to say something. In the end, he just clamped his jaw shut and looked away with a scowl. As soon as I walked out of the building, my phone rang. It was the hospital. They told me my mother had been in a horrific car accident and was barely holding on. Terror gripped my throat. I rushed to the emergency room, grabbing the lead surgeon's arm and begging, "Please, spend whatever it takes! Just save my mom!" The doctor looked solemn. "We'll do everything we can." Just as the team was about to enter the operating room, Ethan blocked their way. He was carrying Vanessa, whose face was pale. Panic exploded in my chest. I screamed at him, "What the hell are you doing?! My mother is dying!" Ethan pressed his lips into a tight line, looking torn for a split second. Vanessa furrowed her brows, playing the martyr through her groans. "Ethan, my leg doesn't hurt that bad. Go save Sienna’s mom first..." Ethan gritted his teeth and made his call. "Treat Vanessa first." I stared at him in utter disbelief. "What did you just say?!" "Her leg can't wait. She’s a dancer." With a flick of his wrist, he had his bodyguards pull the surgical team toward Vanessa's room. No matter how hard I cried and begged, the doctors didn't dare stop. The Hayes family owned major shares in this private hospital. Nobody had the guts to defy him. For my mom's sake, I had to swallow every ounce of pride. I dropped to my knees right in front of him. "Ethan, please. I'm begging you. Call the doctors back to save my mom, please!" A flicker of hesitation flashed across Ethan’s eyes, but it vanished instantly. He looked down at me like I was dirt. "In what capacity are you begging me, Sienna? Don't forget, you're the one who wanted a divorce." "Vanessa is my future wife. Giving her priority is my right." "Consider this the price for lying to me!" I collapsed onto the cold tile floor, completely broken. All the other trauma surgeons were booked in emergency surgeries. There was nobody left to save my mother. Guilt consumed me like poison. I shouldn't have called her yesterday. If she hadn't driven out to see me, she would still be alive and safe. By the time another doctor finally freed up, it was already too late. "Family of the patient? She's asking to see you one last time." I staggered into the ICU with tears blinding my eyes. Mom’s face was ashen gray. When she saw me, she forced the faintest smile. She weakly pulled off her oxygen mask and whispered. "My baby... don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault." "You have so much life ahead of you. Go see this beautiful world for me." "Leave him. You deserve so much better." Her voice was barely a breath. Every single syllable took the last bit of strength in her broken body. I nodded frantically, sobbing, "I promise! Mom, I promise! Just stay alive, I'll do whatever you want!" She stroked my hair with trembling fingers, her eyes filled with infinite love and worry. And right there, amidst my desperate screams, her eyes slowly closed. In that exact moment, my heart died with her.The funeral was small and quiet. I didn't have much extended family left, so hardly anyone came. I buried her right next to my father. I knelt before the twin graves, staring blankly at the polished headstones. They were together now, somewhere peaceful. I was the only one left behind in this miserable world. "I'm so sorry for your loss. I really didn't know your mom would..." "If I had known, I never would have let Ethan prioritize me." Vanessa’s sickeningly sweet voice drifted from behind me. My expression turned ice-cold. I spun around, glaring at the two of them. Ethan lowered his head, speaking in a muted tone. "Sienna, I'm sorry. The situation was chaotic." "Vanessa’s whole career depends on her legs. I had no idea your mom was that critical..." I gave him a hollow, blood-chilling smile. "Your revenge worked, Ethan. It was brutal. Are you satisfied now?" "I'm begging you, just leave me alone." "Sienna, I—" "Get the hell out of here," I cut him off, voice trembling with raw hatred. "Don't disgrace my mother’s resting place." They turned to leave together. A few minutes later, Vanessa walked back alone. I glared at her coldly. She leaned down close to my ear and whispered like a demon: "Your mother’s crash wasn't an accident." My head snapped up, staring at her unblinking eyes. Vanessa smiled triumphantly. "I arranged it." "Honestly, who knew that old hag was so fragile? Just a gentle tap from a truck and she dropped dead." "My leg? Just a scratch." Seeing the murderous fire ignite in my eyes, she sneered, "Who told you to take what was mine? Ethan belongs to me. I just wanted to show you who matters more to him." "Consider this a little warning." "If you know what's good for you, walk away and stay away. Otherwise—" Pure fury tore through every vein in my body. I lunged forward, grabbed a fistful of her hair, and slammed her into the dirt. She shrieked in agony. "You crazy bitch! Ethan is coming back right now! Don't you dare touch me!" I knew she had done this deliberately to provoke me, to make Ethan catch me looking unhinged. But she was too arrogant. Right now, I didn't care about anything. I just wanted to kill her. I had nothing left to lose. What could she possibly threaten me with? Taking her to hell with me sounded like a damn good trade. Ethan hadn't seen Vanessa return to the car, so he came back to check on her. The moment he saw me pinning Vanessa to the ground with my hands clamped around her throat, he panicked and rushed over to pull me off. Fueled by sheer hatred, my strength was unnatural. He couldn't budge me at first. He screamed at the bodyguards behind him, "What are you standing there for?! Pull her off!" The guards slammed into me, twisting my fingers backward until bone snapped. I collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air. The only regret in my mind was that I hadn't choked the life out of her. Vanessa huddled in Ethan’s arms, sobbing hysterically. "I just wanted to comfort her! I never thought she’d hate me so much that she'd try to murder me!" "Ethan... we can't see each other anymore. She's going to kill me!" Ethan held the trembling woman, his eyes blazing with ice as he glared at me. "Sienna, enjoy rotting in a cell!" He meant what he said. He immediately filed attempted murder charges against me. In the end, I didn't go to prison. Ethan’s mother bailed me out. She looked at my bruised and battered body with deep sorrow. "My poor child... look what he’s done to you." My face was completely numb. "I want the divorce finalized." She sighed heavily, tears shining in her eyes. "Ethan has lost his mind. He’s going to regret this for the rest of his life." "He failed you. I support your decision completely." She slid a black card across the table toward me. "Take this as compensation on his behalf." "Go, Sienna. Run as far away from him as you can."