Chapter 5
“Elise might do it, even if Jonathan made her grovel and apologize to Alicia, don’t you think?”
I remained silent and said not a word.
They were all mocking me, betting that I wouldnt really give Jonathan an attitude.
All the chatter from them grated on my nerves, and I scoffed before walking away without looking back. Only then did the voices behind me finally die down, perhaps in disbelief at my sudden departure.
I wondered how they’d react if they knew that I had intentions of divorcing Jonathan.
I went out to the pool in the hopes that some fresh air might help clear my mind.
But shortly after, Alicia appeared. “Ms. Sawyer, I must say I see you in a new light today.”
I glanced behind her and saw that she had come out alone, so I replied mockingly, “You know how much I hate you. Aren’t you afraid I might just push you into the pool right now?”
Alicia smiled. “I was worried you wouldn’t dare to. After all, we all know that Jon will save me first.”
I pursed my lips, not bothering to reply.
Then, she walked up to me and taunted, “Want to make a bet, Elise?”
I found it absurd. “If the two of you are really so in love with each other, why won’t you just get Jonathan to divorce me? Do you feel more in love, trampling all over another person’s feelings and putting on a tragic show, Alicia?”
Her expression darkened. “That’s all because you wouldn’t let go of him! You were shameless enough to attempt suicide just to cling to him! What he has for you is nothing but pity!”
Then, she swiftly resumed her calm and gentle demeanor and asked me again, “Want to make a bet, Elise?”
Light reflected off the ripples on the surface of the pool. It looked clear, yet deceptively deep.
1 shook my head without hesitation. “No.”
I couldn’t swim.
My hasty answer seemed to have caught Alicia off guard.
Besides, even if I could swim, why would I risk my life just to test whether a man loves me or another woman more? Attempting an act as foolish as suicide once was more than enough. I would never do it a second time.
Just
as I stood up, I caught the malicious glint in Alicia’s eyes. She stood behind me, and as I
was about to leave, she shoved me hard. I fell into the water with a loud splash.
Shrieks erupted around me as I hit the water. I began sinking fast, and at that moment, I felt nothing but an all–consuming fear of drowning
Water started getting into my throat, and my lungs began to burn. I struggled with all my might to swim upward, only to see a familiar figure swimming quickly in another direction.
My husband, Jonathan, chose to save Alicia when both of us fell into the pool.
A sharp pain shot through my chest. Perhaps that was the last fragment of my emotions from my 25–year–old self.
Though I’d forgotten about the past and no longer loved him, my body remembered. However, even that last remaining feeling I had for him was completely drowned this time.
When I came to, I was lying at the edge of the pool.
Both Alicia and I had been rescued. However, she was rescued by Jonathan, while I was rescued by a stranger. He was a rather handsome man.
As I lay on the ground, he was pressing his palms against my chest, trying to force out the water I’d swallowed. With a sputter, I coughed out a mouthful of water.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jonathan approaching.
Alicia sat there hugging her knees to her chest, looking pitiful and delicate, gazing longingly at Jonathan’s back.
Jonathan seemed to have just remembered that he had a wife. He asked with a frown, “Are you alright?”
I didn’t give him an a
and scrambled to get to my feet.
The man beside me tried to help me up, but I pushed him away. When Jonathan finally stood before me, I raised my hand and slapped him across the face hard.
Silence fell. The place became so quiet that I could hear everyone’s breath slow to a hush.
“Let’s get a divorce, Jonathan.”
After a long pause, I heard my voice cutting through the silence. “Consider that slap your alimony to your ex–wife.”
