Chapter 1: She’s Back
As the evening sky over Owathe opened with a torrential downpour, Jessica Morgan trudged through the rain toward Dream Club. The water soaked her to the bone, yet she managed to protect the mousse cake she carried, shielding it from the storm’s grasp.
Upon arriving at the private room’s entrance, Jessica nudged the door open slightly, hesitating as voices from inside reached her ears.
“Emily, during those three years you disappeared, Ethan never stopped searching for you. And now, you’re finally back!”
Jessica froze, her breath catching in her throat.
Emily?
Could it be Emily Carter, the same woman who had once been Ethan Parker’s girlfriend?
“But hasn’t Ethan already married?” a soft, inquisitive voice asked from within.
“Ah, Emily,” another voice chimed in, “there’s no reason to worry about that woman he married. Ethan was forced into that marriage by his father, who threatened to harm you if he didn’t comply. He only married her to protect you.”
“Really?” Emily’s doubt was apparent in her tone.
“Absolutely! Do you think Ethan would ever choose someone like Jessica otherwise? She’s so plain, overweight, and illegitimate. Marrying her was Ethan’s way of rebelling against his father.”
Outside the room, Jessica’s blood ran cold. The vibrant color drained from her face as the bitter truth settled over her like a suffocating blanket.
She clutched the doorframe for balance, memories flooding back to the night Ethan proposed. Her heart had soared that evening, filled with the illusion of love and joy. She had thought herself incredibly fortunate, only to now realize she had been nothing more than a pawn in his schemes—a tool to defy his father.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips, unbidden, as she fought to steady herself.
Inside, the conversation continued unabated.
“Speaking of Jessica, it’s been hours since she left. Do you really think she’ll show up? Delight Desserts is way out in the eastern suburbs. Just getting there and back takes over three hours, and the queues are endless. Surely, she isn’t foolish enough to go there.”
