“But I thought that Jake’s wife looked
different.”
“I heard it was her sister. Supposedly, she had a
crush on Jake.”
I found it funny.
We have been married for five years, but no one
even knows that I’m Jake’s wife.
Just as I’m leaving, I hear Mikey say,
“Cindy, you’re finally back! I’ve been missing you so much. I’m so sick of looking at Sarah.”
I’m starting to feel tears well up in my eyes for
some reason.
Five years ago, I risked everything to get justice for him, going against my friends and family,
<
but I’m nothing to him now.
Cindy is clinging to Mikey in the rose garden.
I walk closer and come up to them. I force
myself to ask through my tears,
“Mikey, what are you doing here?”
Everyone goes silent.
Jake looks shocked.
Mikey starts panicking and can’t say anything.
After Jake recovers, he urgently asks, “Sarah?
Why are you here? Don’t misunderstand.
Cindy’s just getting out of prison, and Mikey
just woke up, so we’re having a get–together…”
Everyone else has left.
For the last five years, Jake has been worried
Cimah
<
Out tital Unny was in
jail, so he told everyone she went overseas.
I smile. “What a happy occasion.”
“Sarah, it’s been so long. I’m sorry for what I
did,” Cindy says, looking like she’s about to cry.
She’s wearing a fancy dress and make–up. She
doesn’t look like she’s been in jail at all.
Mikey quickly steps in front of her and looks at
me warily.
“Don’t go after Cindy. I’m not blaming her, so
why are you making a decision for me?”
I chuckle at his urgency.
Cindy often portrays herself as the victim.
When she was adopted by my parents, she
would constantly trick me into trouble.
<
8:14
884
And when she grew up, she turned my friends
and family against me.
I take a deep breath and say calmly, “I heard
there was a party here today. I didn’t know it
was you guys. If you’re celebrating, then I won’t
disturb you.”
I turn to leave.
Jake, thinking I’m angry, grabs my arm.
“Sarah, don’t be mad. I was just worried that
Cindy was suffering in prison.”
“It’s been five years, and Mikey’s fine now. You
need to let it go.”
Jake is justifying things to himself, and it feels
really fake.
He’s been lying for too long, and it’s gotten to
his head.
く
Who is he putting on a show for?
“I’m not angry. I said I’m going to let it go, so
I’m not going to care about it.‘
I straighten his tie. “Go on, I’m going back
home.”
Jake hugs me and sighs in relief.
“I knew you were the best. Rest up.”
He tells the driver to take me back home, and
he tells me that he will be back tonight.
I nod and say ok.
Once I get back home, I throw all of the
couple’s items in the trash.
After that, I take down our wedding photos,
cutting Jake out of the photos. I burn it in the
I take out my suitcases and wait for my visa to
be approved before leaving town.
As for that night, Jake is a no–show.
I knew what was coming, so I wasn’t too upset.
The next moming, I get a reminder to see the
gynecologist.
I go to the hospital and tell them, “I want an
abortion.”
The doctor frowns as she looks at my
paperwork. “It wasn’t easy to get pregnant. If
you get an abortion, it will be hard to get
pregnant in the future. Have you discussed this
with your husband?”
I thought about Cindy’s social media post that I
saw on the way to the hospital.
<
It was at a hotel.
One of the photos was from last night’s dinner,
n
and the other was of them holding hands on a
hotel bed.
Even if you couldn’t see the man’s face, the
wedding ring on his hand made it obvious that
it was Jake.
I snap back to reality and smile bitterly at the
doctor.
“It’s alright. My husband is dead.” The operation
goes smoothly.
As I leave the hospital, my stomach aches, and I
can’t help but feel upset.
I was looking forward to this baby, but it
shouldn’t have been born.
Furthermore, I can’t allow my baby to be born
On the way home, Jake calls me.
“Sarah, where are you? There’s a charity event
tonight. Remember to show up.”
I say, “I will.”
When I get home, Jake’s assistant has sent over
the dress I will be wearing.
I take a look at it, and I see that it’s a new
dress with diamonds.
When I put it on, it doesn’t fit. The size isn’t
right.
When I get to the party, it’s already in full
swing.
Mikey has just finished talking on the stage.
He gave all the shares that my parents had left
me to Cindy.
<
8:14
884
And everything I had given Jake, he gave to her
as well.
Everyone was envious of her.
They thought she was lucky to have a great
little brother and a childhood sweetheart.
When I walk into the party, it suddenly goes
silent.
Everyone there knows that I’m the true heiress
of the family and that I’m Jake’s wife.
Looks of derision and ridicule come my way.
Mikey looks upset, but he’s also arrogant from
taking over the company.
“Sarah, don’t blame me for giving the shares to
Cindy. She’s also a member of the family. She
should also own them!”
<
8:14
884
Jake drops what he’s doing and grabs my hand.
“Honey, Cindy’s been suffering for the last five
years. Think of it as a form of compensation.”
Suffering?
I think in my head. They all know she wasn’t
suffering!
Cindy walks over to me and says, “I want to talk
to my sister. We haven’t seen each other for
five years.”
She brings me to the side of the pool.
Now that Jake isn’t there, she drops the act.
She looks at me with a cruel expression.
“Sarah, you’ve been a loser for the last five
years.”
Cindy grabs my dress and chuckles.
>
8:14
“How does it feel to wear my old clothes?
You’re a failure as Jake’s wife!”
884
“I’ll tell you the truth. I’ve been overseas for the
last five years. Jake and Mikey have taken good
care of me. I didn’t want to have children, so
Jake married you.”
“Sarah, you’re a joke.”
I get angrier and more upset.
I raise my hand and slap Cindy in the face.
Cindy chuckles. “Do you want to know who
they’ll choose? I’m going to show you.”
She takes a few steps back and throws herself
into the pool.
A scream comes out.
“Someone’s fallen in! Help!”
<
8:14
Jake rushes over and jumps into the water to save Cindy.
884
Cindy looks at him with tears in her eyes. “Jake,
don’t blame Sarah. I shouldn’t be here.”
Jake gets angry and stares at me harshly.
“Sarah, you’re so evil!”
“Cindy was trying to be nice, and you threw her into the pool?”
Mikey shoves me away and says to me like I’m an enemy, “You said you weren’t going to care, so why are you doing this? I don’t want you as
a sister.”
I clench my fist and look at them coldly.
“I’m evil?”
=
<
“Jake and Mikey, do you really think you did a
good job hiding things five years ago?”
Chapter 2
They both looked like I’d slapped them across
the face.
Just then, Cindy grabbed Jake’s arm, all
innocent and wide–eyed. “Jake, don’t let me
come between you two. I can leave.”
