Five years ago, my junior made a mistake in the experiment, resulting in an explosion in the lab. In an effort to save my childhood friend, Andrew, I suffered severe burns to one side of my face and was falsely accused as the culprit. Just like that, I became the target of everyone's anger.

Only Andrew stood by me, promising, "I love you for who you are, not your appearance. I'll always be there to protect you."

But on our wedding day, he vanished without a trace.

My mother, suffering from heart disease and barely clinging to life, wanted to see Andrew. When I asked him to come, he replied impatiently, "Are you using such a lame excuse to meet me? Don't you have any shame? Every time I look at your face, I feel disgusting."

I pleaded desperately, but he calmly hung up. "Do you think I'm your servant? You can't just summon me whenever you want. Just because you saved me once doesn't mean you can blackmail me for life."

My mother died without peace.

The junior who slandered me back then later posted a photo on social media, showing a man lifting her effortlessly. Their poses were intimate, highlighting the underlying affection.

Her captions read: [It's all his fault for tiring me out during the day. I almost missed out on this beautiful ocean. When you're in love, all is clear to see. I mentioned wanting to go to Belmar Island, and he flew me around the world for it.]

I was utterly heartbroken, so I texted him: [Let's break up…]

After Mom's cremation, I shut myself in my room and wept for a whole day and night.

Just two days ago, she was laughing, baking me a cake, and then all that was left of her was a pile of dust. I cried until I passed out. In a matter of days, death had torn us apart.

Emma Rogers, the woman who used to spread lies about me, was living the dream. She was all over Twitter, flaunting her perfect life.

Her latest post was a selfie showcasing her collarbone, littered with hickeys.

She tweeted: [What's a girl to do when her boyfriend's super clingy?

[He promised to spoil me, but all he did was enjoy himself.

[@Andrew, please tell me, who's hotter, me or your wife? Who do you love more? And just so you know, if you get it wrong, you're banned from my room tonight! ]

She even tagged Andrew Snyder's alt account.

There he was, replying earnestly: [I love you the most. My Emmy's the most beautiful.]

I could feel the love oozing through the screen. It was a kind of affection Andrew had never shown me.

In her typical bratty way, Emma asked: [So, are you as gentle with her in bed as you are with me?]

I could not look away from his response.

[I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole. Even in the dark, the thought of her wormy face makes me sick. ]

Suddenly, I felt nauseous and bolted to the bathroom, throwing up until everything went black.

Disgusted, huh?

I stared at the half of my face in the mirror that was scarred. Before that lab explosion five years ago, I had a happy home, loving parents, friends who got along, and a future so bright.

However, in trying to save Andrew, I ended up with half my face burned and got labeled as the cause of the explosion. The university kicked me out and slapped a black mark on my record.

I was the only one who saw Emma mess up the experiment which blew up the lab. However, nobody would listen to me.

My best friend was lying in the hospital, her eyes wounded from the terrible accident. She looked at me with pain and said, "Jessica, I can't stop hating you."

The day the reporters came knocking and demanding answers, Dad had a stroke right then and there and passed away. Meanwhile, Mom just kept getting weaker.

Andrew was the only one there for me, squeezing my hand. "Don't worry. You've got me, and I believe in you. Jessica, there's nothing gross about your face. It's the people talking trash about you who are gross. I'll always be right here with you, Jessica."

When Andrew's career finally started to take off, Emma decided to invest in him.

At first, he looked at me with such anger and said, "Jessica, relax. She made you leave university and destroyed your family. I'd never hang out with someone like that."

However, Emma did not give up. She ended up at the same company as Andrew, working late with him, chatting about everything from business strategies to investment sources. This went on from sunrise to sunset.

Andrew started to see her differently. "You know, she's not as bad as you think. Jessica, what we see isn't always the truth."

I could not help but cut in, "I know all about that stuff she talks about too."

Andrew just laughed. "You didn't finish university. You think you understand all that?"

However, I did understand. I really did.

I had been to university, had great grades, a pretty face, close friends, and parents who loved me. Now, I had nothing.

On our wedding day, Andrew took Emma to Belmar Island.

Mom did not have much time left at that point in time. She wanted to see me and Andrew get married.

Hence, I called him.

However, he replied in a detached tone, "Emma has made a wish, and I have to fulfill it."

I begged him, "My mom's dying. Please just come back to see her one last time…"

He hung up on me, utterly unfeeling. "You're using that lame excuse? There's a limit to being jealous. Do you really see me as some kind of servant you can just call up or send away whenever you feel like it? Just because you played the hero once doesn't mean you get to boss me around.

"I can't stand the sight of your face. It makes me want to hurl every time I see it."

When Mom's heart gave out and she died right before my eyes, Andrew was off in Belmar Island—night-swimming with Emma, making wishes, and locking lips like there was no tomorrow.

Even in Mom's last moments, she had asked, "Has Andrew arrived? Is he caught up at work? Tell him I want to see you two tie the knot..."

I cried so hard I thought I would break, but it was not enough to keep Mom there with me.

A month before that, Mom had put makeup on me, but I just could not bring myself to look in the mirror. I had once thought I was as beautiful and bright as the moon, but now, I had become trash on the sidewalk—ready for anyone to step on.

However, that was not the case in Mom's eyes. She kissed my cheek and said, "My sweet Jessica, you're the most beautiful."

When she looked at me in the mirror, her eyes were so full of love. "I raised you, Jessica. I know you. My Jessica doesn't lie. You've been through so much and faced so many hardships. I just want you to make it with Andrew, to find your happiness."

Without Mom, happiness seemed like a far-off dream for me.

Mom's funeral was kept simple.

However, a bunch of Andrew's relatives were still hanging around. As I was walking by, I overheard them whispering.

"Did you see the woman's face? All that makeup can't hide how sickening it is."

"I heard she's got a nasty rep. She caused an explosion back in university and hurt a bunch of students. Hey, Mrs. Snyder, wasn't your son saved by her?"

Andrew's mom let out a soft laugh, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Sure, she 'saved' Andrew, but who's to say she didn't cause that explosion on purpose? Maybe she wanted to play the savior card so that she could wrap Andrew around her finger forever?"

"You might be onto something! Jessica Harris is like a walking bad omen. Her friends ended up with broken legs, and she even managed to anger her dad to death. Now, her mom's gone too."

"They were supposed to hold a wedding, but it turned into a funeral instead. Jessica's like a magnet for disaster!"

I bit my lip so hard it turned white. Anger rushed to my head. I could not believe Andrew's family saw me like that.

When he first introduced me to his parents, they had been so warm and friendly. They said my looks did not matter, a good heart was all they cared about.

However, then there was Emma, always playing the sweetheart, bringing gifts, and tagging along to parties with Andrew's mom. I wanted to be part of that too.

However, Andrew's mom just gave me a look that said, "Jessica, you really shouldn't show your face in public."

Emma chimed in with her holier-than-thou attitude, "Don't take it to heart, Jessica. Mrs. Snyder's being blunt, but think about the kids and the VIPs at the party. What if you frighten them?"

"Fine, I won't go."

I pulled my hand away and heard Andrew's mom's voice, tinged with annoyance, behind me.

"Jessica's just too sensitive."

Emma, ever the 'thoughtful' one, said, "Mrs. Snyder, talking about Jessica like that will upset Andrew."

"Not a chance. Andrew would only be mad for your sake."

"Mrs. Snyder…" Emma's voice was sugary sweet as she shot me a challenging grin.

It was as if fate was showing me that she was destined to win.

That, she did.

Even now, Andrew's mom would say, "I've seen Jessica's mom a few times. She's just like Jessica, always sweating the small stuff."

"Jessica took lives, and what goes around comes around. Her mom's death? That's simply payback for you!"

"She had it coming!"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stormed into the room and, with a single swipe, sent the table crashing to the floor. "Out!"

"Jessica, what on earth are you doing? Flipping tables now? You're turning everything upside down!"

They were all pointing fingers at me, looking at me like I was garbage.

Clutching the knife from the table, I pointed it at those who had bad-mouthed Mom, tears streaming down my face, "Out! All of you, just get out! You have no right to mourn my mom!"

They could talk about anyone, but not my mom. She used to bake the softest, most delicious bread. Her cooking was amazing. She would even buy cat food for stray cats. That was how kind-hearted she was. She deserved a long, happy life.

When I got home, I could not hold back my tears any longer.

However, I happened to see something unexpected.

In the bedroom, Andrew, who should have been far away, was gently lifting the hem of a woman's shirt and tenderly applying cream with his fingertips.

"Does it hurt?"

His voice was softer than I had ever heard.

Emma snuggled into his embrace.

"This pain is nothing compared to yours."

"Andrew, this is all so unfair to you."

"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have to spend every day looking at that horrific face, worried she'd spill the beans."

My head was spinning. It felt like my blood was running cold. Andrew had known all along about Emma's deeds. He had only stayed with me for her sake. That explained everything.

I must have told Andrew a million times, "Emma? She's bad news."

However, Andrew just would not buy it. He would flash that carefree grin and say, "I get it. You took a hard hit from what went down before, but you can't hold it against her. Maybe you're the one who's got it wrong. Or maybe it was all just one big mix-up."

Every question I ever asked turned into daggers right then, stabbing straight through my heart until it was all just a mess.

Emma, cupping Andrew's chin, looked up at him. "You wouldn't fall for her, would you?"

He planted a kiss on her forehead with no second thoughts. "No way. You're the only one for me."

There I was, frozen at the door, my fingers digging into my own skin. "What are you two doing?

Andrew and Emma sprang apart like they had been caught. Andrew scrambled to fix her clothes, all flustered. "Why are you back? I was just helping her out, putting some cream on a scrape she got on her back."

My voice came out all scratchy. "Is that all you were doing?"

Maybe he had grown accustomed to my humble demeanor, or maybe he thought I was challenging him.

Andrew scrunched up his brows. "Jessica, you're not seriously getting worked up over this, are you?"

He grabbed a box from nearby and shoved it into my hands like he was doing me a favor. "Emma picked this out just for you. It's chocolate from Belmar Island."

Three years together, and he still did not get me. He did not even know I could not stand chocolate. I chucked the chocolate to the floor and stomped on it.

"I don't want anything that's been touched by someone else."

That went for people too.

Andrew lost it. "What are you freaking out about now? I was just helping her to fulfill her wish. What's the big deal?! Emma was worried you'd be mad and had me rush back in the middle of the night. And this is how you greet me?"

"Jessica, are you still mad at me over the wedding? I'm so sorry. It just breaks my heart to think of Andrew marrying you..." Emma's voice quivered, barely above a whisper. Tears streamed down her face.

"All I wanted was to visit Belmar Island with Andrew just once. I'm so, so sorry..."

Andrew, with a heavy heart, wiped away Emma's tears and pulled her close, whispering words of comfort. He glared at me with revulsion and said, "Jessica, you owe Emma an apology."

I shot back, "Why should I?"

Before, I would have caved and said sorry. Andrew had never seen me stand my ground like this. He froze, taken aback.

Emma, clutching Andrew's phone, yelled, "Andrew, you've got a message from your mom."

Andrew's mom's voice came through the phone, full of complaints, "Jessica is out of line. She caused a scene and told me and your dad to get lost. And now, look at my arm. It was cut by glass! Andrew, you can't possibly marry someone like her!"

Mrs. Snyder showed the gash on her arm.

Emma was in a panic. "Jessica, how could you treat Andrew's mom that way?!"

Andrew's rage erupted, and he grabbed me by the throat. "How dare you?! She's my mom! Jessica, just because I missed the wedding, you think you can take it out on her? She's old. Do you have any idea how much that would hurt her?!"

His grip was so tight I could barely breathe. "I didn't..."

As my vision blurred, I saw Andrew take down my mom's ashes from the table. "Jessica, you're insane—using milk powder to pretend they're ashes and setting up your mom's photo... You're cruel and deranged!"

As he spoke, Andrew filled the urn to the brim with water and chucked the broken chocolate pieces from earlier inside.

Tears streamed down my face as I cried out, my mouth tasting of blood, "Andrew, you jerk! Those are my mom's ashes!"

Andrew froze for a moment. Then, he sneered, "You're such a liar, and liars have to pay the price."

He yanked my hair with a cruel grip, his voice icy. "You said you're allergic to chocolate? Let's see if that's true.

"This is just like chocolate milk. You don't like chocolate bars, but you can handle a chocolate drink, can't you?"

He did not wait for an answer and just forced the vile mixture of chocolate and ashes into my mouth. I clamped my lips shut, struggling like crazy.

"Don't do this, Andrew, please—mmph..."

Andrew's coaxing was like a twisted reward, heartless and harsh. "Be a good girl. This is your punishment. You should've behaved."

With tears in my eyes, I cried out, "I'm sorry, Andrew, I'm so sorry! Please, just stop..."

"It's too late for apologies!"

He gripped my chin tightly, insisting, "You're going to drink every last drop of this!"

Despite my tears, he poured the mixture into my mouth, the chocolate and ashes mingling with my sobs.

Finally, seeing my tear-streaked face, Andrew's resolve wavered, and he let go. I retched uncontrollably, my throat burning.

My heart ached as if it were being carved up. The pain was so intense that I could not catch my breath.

I whispered apologies to my mother, over and over...

"Andrew, I hate you!"

He scoffed, "Quite the performance… Jessica, consider this a lesson. If you ever again—"

However, his lecture was cut short as my face broke out in angry red welts, my cheeks flushed, and my breathing turned ragged. These were clear signs of an allergic reaction.

Andrew nudged me with his foot. "Faking an allergy? You think that's gonna make me go soft on you? Keep up this act, and you can forget about me chipping in for your mom's hospital bills ever again!"

I stayed curled up on the ground, not saying a word. Andrew's temper hit the roof.

His forehead veins popped as he punched in the hospital's number. "I'm done paying for Ward 306 this month! And if the patient kicks the bucket, don't come begging me for a dime!"

The nurse on the other end sounded shocked. "You mean Jessica Harris's mom in Ward 306? Didn't you hear? She passed away yesterday..."