4
I walked in the door to the sound of Mom and
Sarah giggling.
They were trying on clothes Chad had sent
over, grinning from ear to ear as they
modeled each outfit.
Mom’s smile faltered when she saw me.
“Amy, look how generous Chad is, giving you
all these clothes even after the breakup.”
I gave her a look.
Her face soured. “What’s with that look?
Serves you right he dumped you, with that
gloomy face.”
Before I could respond, Sarah chimed in,
“Mom, don’t be so harsh on Amy.”
She batted her eyelashes at me. “Amy, I’m so
sorry. I just wanted to be friends with Chad,
but he asked me to be his girlfriend! We’re
truly in love. You don’t blame me for stealing
him, do you?”
Her apology dripped with fake sincerity, her
eyes gleaming with triumph.
く
Mom scoffed. “Sarah, don’t apologize. It’s
Amy’s fault for not being good enough to hold
onto him. At least he stayed in the family.”
Sarah feigned disapproval. “Mom, you
shouldn’t talk about Amy like that.”
They were playing good cop, bad cop.
I cursed them internally, then plastered a fake
smile on my face. “Sarah, Mom’s right. You’re
clearly more capable. I admit defeat.”
They were taken aback. They clearly didn’t
expect that.
Sarah blinked. “Amy, are you okay? Are you
losing it?”
“No,” I shook my head. “I’ve just been thinking
<
about what Mom said. I’ve always been less
than you. So, you and Chad are getting
married soon, right? Well, let me plan your wedding.”
I worked at a wedding planning company, and with Chad’s family’s money, their wedding would be a huge commission.
Mom and Sarah, despite their disbelief at my sudden change of heart, agreed. The deal
was done, and even if I was bitter, I couldn’t do anything about it.
They assumed I was channeling my anger into my work.
Sarah readily agreed, promising me the job if
she married Chad.
<
From that day on, I stopped asking about
Sarah and Chad.
I looked at apartments near my office and
announced my intention to move out that
weekend.
Mom and Sarah were all for it.
Chad often dropped Sarah off, and they were
worried I’d try to win him back.
Once I moved out, I focused on work.
This whole ordeal taught me that Mom’s
lessons about marriage being a woman’s
second chance were wrong.
Earning your own money was the real second
chance. Relying on a man would always leave
く
Three months later, Sarah and Chad got
engaged.
Six months after that, they came to my
company to sign the wedding contract.
Sarah was drenched in perfume, but I could
still smell that faint, familiar odor.
I knew she hadn’t stopped her… activities…
during those six months.
Her condition must have worsened.
Looking at their chosen wedding date, I knew
my chance for revenge had arrived.
I planned a destination wedding for them on a
tropical island. All the guests were staying at
the same resort.
The food at the wedding was specially chosen
by me.
Before the reception was even over, Sarah
kept running to the bathroom.
Mom scolded me, “Amy, are you doing this on
purpose? You know Sarah has a sensitive
stomach! Why so much spicy food?”
I feigned innocence. “Chad’s family loves
spicy food. Besides, I made sure there was
plenty of tofu for Sarah.”
“She’s sensitive to tofu too!” Mom glared.
“Go get her some medicine. Chad’s really
looking forward to the wedding night; don’t
let this ruin it.”
“Don’t worry.” I assured her.
く
I had my assistant get some medicine while
Mom watched. When she came back, I
swapped it with the laxatives I’d brought.
That night, Sarah went to the honeymoon
suite.
Mom and I shared a room. I hadn’t seen my
aunts in a while, so I invited them over for a
mahjong game with Mom.
At the mahjong table, my aunts showered
Mom with praise.
“You have such wonderful daughters! Amy is
so capable; the wedding was beautiful. And
Sarah is gorgeous; Chad couldn’t take his
eyes off her.”
“You’re so lucky! A family like that could have
<
There was a hint of envy in their voices.
I caught it, and so did Mom.
She preened. “Of course, they chose Sarah!
She’s a prize! You have no idea how picky
Chad is. He wanted a virgin. These days,
virgins are rare. With Sarah’s looks, and
being… pure… Chad really lucked out.”
Mom beamed, oblivious to how she was
objectifying Sarah.
My aunts looked uncomfortable but continued
their polite flattery.
Mom’s phone rang.
I grabbed it before she could.
く
Before I could speak, Sarah’s voice, choked
with sobs, filled the speaker. “Mom, come to
my room. Alone. And be discreet.”
I stood up abruptly and shouted, “Sarah!
What’s wrong? Don’t cry!”
The mahjong game stopped.
Everyone stared at me.
Sarah forgot to sob. “Amy? Where’s Mom?”
“Is Chad hurting you? I’ll bring everyone up
there right now!”
I hung up without waiting for a reply, turning
to my aunts with righteous indignation.
“Something’s wrong! Sarah said Chad is
hitting her! We need to go!”
Mom’s face paled. “Why would he do that?”
“Doesn’t matter! We need to support her!” My
aunts jumped up, urging me, “Amy, get your
uncles too! Hitting her on their wedding
night? That’s unacceptable!”
I nodded.
I ran towards the guest wing, accidentally
alerting some of Chad’s family along the way.
A small army of us marched to the
honeymoon suite on the top floor.
My aunts pounded on the door.
It swung open, and we all stormed in.
We froze.
Sarah was alone. Chad was nowhere to be
seen.
Then we smelled it. A pungent, stomach-
churning odor filled the air. And the sheets…
covered in…
Our faces went from white to red to black.
And then, as one, we all reacted.
Heave.
