I spin on my heel and grab the pregnancy test
off the ground and run down the hallways in the
hospital, tears streaming down my face.
<
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874
After running a ways from the hospital, I
collapse on the ground, sobbing until I have no
breath left to give.
I don’t know how long I was there, but I finally
calm down enough to place the pregnancy
results in my bag. I call a car to bring me back
home.
After telling the maid to leave for the day, I am
left alone in the house.
I look around at all the furniture and
decorations we had spent so long putting
together, and I give a bitter chuckle.
Not that long ago, Jake put his arms around me
and said, “Sarah, let’s have a baby.”
I was already in poor health, but for his sake, I
looked everywhere for specialists.
I drank Chinese herbs like water, and didn’t
8:13
I just got pregnant after so long, and now I
learn the truth?
I sit on the couch until it gets dark, and only
then do I hear the sound of the front door
opening.
The lights come on, and Jake walks in.
He sees me sitting on the couch and holds me
close. “Why are the lights off?”
874
I shake my head and avoid him. “I just woke up.
I was waiting for you to come back.”
Jake doesn’t suspect anything and kisses me
on the forehead.
“Sarah, you need to take care of yourself, or
else I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
His voice is as gentle as ever, but I can’t feel
anything in my heart. I just think about how well
813
How could he go this far with sorere
doesn’t even love, just for Chov?
I lean against Jake’s chest, and then I hear him
say something casual
“Honey. Cindy gets out of prison soon. You two
were sisters for more than ten years, and she’s
already been punished. Maybe you can just let
it go?th
My eyes sting, and I try to force myself to say.
“You said it yourself, we’re sisters. I won’t
blame her anymore.”
Jake visibly relaxes, smiling.
“I knew you were the most kind–hearted
person, Sarah. I’ll cook for you tonight.”
I watch him walk into the kitchen, and I turn my
head to wipe away the tears.
<
Just then, Jake’s phone rings.
I pick it up and unlock it with Cindy’s birthday.
On a personal messaging app, Jake’s friends.
had sent him the following message:
[Jake, Cindy’s flying back tomorrow, and the
boys and I have gotten all the things you
wanted.]
The image below was of ten–thousand acres of
roses, and of a necklace that was worth a
billion dollars.
As I scrolled up, I started to realize that every
time Jake went on a business trip, it was just
so he could see Cindy.
And his friends were helping him lie to me.
I clicked on Jake’s social media, and the first
things that came up were photos of Cindy and
<
8:13
884
An announcement of their marriage, photos of
them traveling, kissing…
All of the comments were from people we
knew.
I was the only one who wasn’t allowed to see it.
It felt like my heart was being torn to shreds. I
dug my nails into my arm to calm myself down.
We have been married for five years, but no one
knows that I’m Jake’s wife.
I chuckle ruefully and place the phone back
where I found it.
I don’t want this marriage anymore.
I don’t want Jake or our “family.” After dinner, I
went online to buy a ticket out of the country
for the week after, and I made an appointment
for an abortion.
く
Seven days will be long enough for me to say
goodbye to my marriage.
When Jake was in the bathroom, I dug out our
marriage certificate.
As I looked at the red cover with the emblem of
the Bureau of Civil Affairs, I couldn’t help but
start crying.
As I reached out to put it away, Jake’s voice
called out from behind me.
“Sarah, what are you doing with our marriage
certificate?”
I calmly put it down. “It was a little dusty, so I
wanted to wipe it.”
Jake sees that I’m starting to cry, and there is a look of panic in his eyes.
He comes over to take the marriage certificate
<
8:13
884
and put it in the closet. He pulls me into a hug. “Leave things like that for the housekeeper.”
I don’t say anything.
Jake tries to get closer to me, but his phone rings.
“Honey, I need to handle something at the company. Go ahead and sleep first.”
He walks into his office with his phone.
After I wash up, I am drying my hair when I walk
past his office.
I can hear Jake’s gentle voice through the door.
“Cindy, I’m giving you a huge present when you
get to town tomorrow.”
Cindy responds softly. “Really? Thank you! But
what about Sarah?”
<
8:13
884
Cindy responds softly. “Really? Thank you! But
what about Sarah?”
I can feel the change in Jake’s voice. He says
coldly, “You’re my wife. Sarah is just a tool for
you to have children.”
I am freezing from head to toe.
And Cindy giggles and responds, “Don’t say
that about her.”
Jake’s voice is so soft you can barely hear it.
“Cindy, you’re so kind.”
I can’t bring myself to listen anymore, and I
force myself to go back to the bedroom.
When Jake comes back, he sees that I am
already asleep.
He doesn’t wake me up, and he gently holds me
<
But I can’t fall asleep that night.
The next morning, Jake holds me tight, and
says reluctantly, “Honey, I’m going to be busy at
the office today. I won’t be able to come back tonight.”
“I will make it up to you.”
I smile and say, “It’s alright.”
He’s putting on a really good show so that I
don’t find out about Cindy.
But I am not planning to keep up with this charade.
Furthermore, Jake wants me dead when I give
birth.
After he leaves, I grab our marriage certificate
and head out the door.
<
I hand the marriage certificate to the staff at
the Bureau of Civil Affairs.
“Can you help me check this certificate? Is
there anything wrong with it?”
The woman frowns and looks at me with a
complicated expression. “Ma’am, the seal on
this is fake, so this marriage certificate has no legal power.”
Even though I knew what to expect, I still can’t
help but feel down.
However, this also means that I don’t need to
get a divorce.
After that, I go to the immigration office to
apply for a visa and revoke my name from the
books.
“Ma’am, it won’t be possible to find you if you
do this.”
<
I shake my head. “That’s fine.”
As I complete my procedures, I remember that
Jake is going to be welcoming Cindy home
today.
I head to the rose garden.
When I arrive, I see Jake kissing Cindy.
Not only are his friends there, but the
company’s staff are there as well.
“So this is Mrs. Jake. She is so pretty and
sophisticated. No wonder Jake is head over
heels for her!”
“Did you see her necklace? I saw Jake picking it
out earlier. It’s one of a kind.”
“I heard they’re childhood sweethearts. It’s so
romantic!”
<
Someone voiced their doubt.
