He Fell For Me on My Path to Revenge Chapter 1

Eight years ago, my mom was dying of late-stage cancer. My dad, Mark Collins, wouldn't spend a dime, just let her waste away, waiting to die.

Eight years later, we ran into each other at the hospital. His face twisted with disgust: "If you're going to die, do it somewhere else. Don't drag the Collins name into anything!"

Pretty soon, he'd be on his knees, begging me to help his company.

I shoved him away: "Mark Collins, the day you started keeping a mistress on the side, you stopped being my father!"

* * *

I had just walked out of the OB/GYN clinic, report and prescription in hand, when a soft female voice called out:

"Maya, is that you?"

I didn't turn around. Just hearing that voice made disgust churn in my stomach. I quickened my pace.

"Maya! Brenda's talking to you. Where are your manners?"

It was my biological father, Mark Collins.

I took a deep breath and turned. Mark had one arm linked with Brenda's, the other holding her expensive-looking designer handbag.

Dressed impeccably, looking utterly devoted.

A world away from the cold-blooded man who offered nothing when my mother was gravely ill, letting her wither away alone in a hospital bed. He was like a completely different person.

I forced a smile. "My name is Maya Stern. And since I had a mom but no dad to raise me, isn't it normal to have bad manners?"

"You!" Mark glared, taking a step forward like he was about to teach me a lesson.

"Mark, honey, let it go. It's so nice to run into Maya, don't ruin the day." Brenda pulled Mark back, her voice syrupy sweet. Then she turned to me, smiling. "Maya, dear, what are you doing here? This place... isn't your boyfriend with you?"

Ostensibly making peace, secretly fanning the flames.

After all these years, Brenda hadn't changed a bit.

Mark caught the implication in her tone, his gaze sharpening as he looked at me.

I held up the report, opened my mouth, and nonchalantly dropped a bomb: "Accidentally pregnant. The dad doesn't want it. Came to arrange the termination."

Mark raised his hand, ready to slap me. "You tramp! You've dragged the Collins family name through the mud!"

I shot back:

"Ha! Look who's talking!"

"When you were cheating on Mom with her," I gestured towards Brenda, "were you worried about the family name then?"

"What's this, an old married couple visiting the OB/GYN? Trying for another kid?"

Brenda put on her usual wounded expression, still playing the frail victim as she intervened:

"Oh, Mark, kids grow up, they have their own lives..."

"Your blood pressure, remember? You need to think about Lindsey and Alex!"

Mark finally snorted, dropped his hand, and glared at me, spitting out harsh words: "Maya, I'm washing my hands of you! If you're going to crash and burn, do it far away from the Collins family!"

I was about to retort when a warm hand gently rested on my shoulder.

A calm voice, gentle yet firm, flowed like cool water into the undignified chaos:

"Just a little argument, why would you say I don't want this child?"