I saw the balcony. Below, low shrubs.
I grabbed a vase and threw it at the man
closest to the balcony.
He dodged, giving me an opening.
The men were shocked by my actions.
“Don’t jump! We won’t touch you.”
“Don’t risk your life over this.”
Despite their words, the leading man moved
to grab me.
I had one day left until Jessica arrived.
But I couldn’t wait.
With a cry, I jumped, landing poorly; my leg
slammed against the stone.
“Clara…”
A familiar voice, followed by footsteps.
I saw Jessica, my mirror image, but more
mature and capable. I reached for her.
“Jess…”
Twins have a connection.
Jessica’s arrival was scheduled for the
afternoon.
But she’d felt an intense unease since
yesterday, so she had her assistant get her a
ticket.
く
She made it just in time.
Mark was also shocked. He approached, but
Jessica stopped him.
Jessica’s eyes were cold, like sharp ice.
“Mark, my sister owes her condition to your
care.”
Her bodyguard had already gone to my room.
The sick men, seeing my jump, tried to
escape, but it was too late.
Sarah was also apprehended.
The men confessed immediately.
“It wasn’t us. That woman hired us to
deflower her.”
“We didn’t know she would actually jump.”
Jessica took them away..
Mark pleaded for Sarah’s release, but no one
listened.
I woke up in the hospital; Mark rushed over,
attentive and careful.
“How are you? Where does it hurt? I’ll call a
く
doctor.”
“Clara, I didn’t expect Sarah to be so
reckless.”
“Don’t worry; when she gets back, I’ll talk to
her parents. They need to discipline her.”
He was still defending her.
“You just want my sister to let her go.”
“No problem. I won’t press charges if you sign
this.”
His face lit up.
Jessica’s assistant brought a folder. He
signed without looking.
Soon, Jessica arrived with Sarah. Sarah’s
head was shaved, her face swollen, a scar
mirroring mine.
I knew what she’d endured.
Mark was furious, but powerless.
After three days in the hospital, Jessica and I
returned to the Ultons‘ mansion. My mindset
was completely different.
Jessica wheeled me in. Everyone was
respectful, the previous disdain vanished.
The butler said Mark wasn’t home.
I said nothing.
I went to my room, asking Jessica to remove
our wedding photo.
Seeing my happy face, I felt repulsed.
I grabbed scissors, cutting my half of the
photo to shreds.
Then I gathered all our photos, from dating to
marriage.
I scattered them on the bed and used a
lighter.
The flames ignited.
Mark rushed in, seeing the destroyed photos.
He looked at me, confused: “What are you
doing?”
Jessica answered: “Destroying something
unimportant.‘
She understood me. When I want to sever
“Mark.”
He turned.
I tilted my head, a self–mocking smile playing
on my lips, my eyes weary.
“Goodbye.”
The fire died out, but he couldn’t find me.
He asked the butler, but he didn’t know my
whereabouts.
As Mark was about to leave, the butler spoke:
“Sir, the mistress is kind. You’ve been unfair.”
“No woman would tolerate knowing her
husband loves another.”
“Don’t regret it when it’s too late.”
Mark waved him off, unmoved.
His phone rang–the hospital.
He rushed there.
The butler held back his words. He’d
overheard Jessica’s assistant confirming
Clara’s travel arrangements.
Clara was leaving today.
22
Mark clearly тavorea Saran. There was no
point in saying anything.
He returned from the hospital, exhausted.
Sarah was spoiled, and his brother thought this personality protected her from harm. He
even amplified her flaws. If she hurt someone,
it was the other person’s fault. The Ultons
had money to buy off anyone.
She had no respect for life. She wanted what
she wanted, and she’d get it.
He’d thought this was uninhibited freedom,
but it was the nature of a demon.
He clutched his face, his thoughts muddled.
What was he chasing? A figure flashed in his
mind. He rushed upstairs, opening the door to
the smell of burnt things. He remembered the
morning’s events.
He went to his room, but I wasn’t there.
He rushed downstairs: “Butler, where’s Clara?
I need to apologize.”
<
“Ms. Clara and her sister left three hours ago.
The assistant said they’re going abroad.”
Mark’s heart constricted.
The airport?
He called, but got no answer.
I was asleep beside Jessica. She used facial
recognition to delete Mark’s contacts from
my phone, then set it down.
Jessica arranged the best hospital care. My
arm needed surgery due to repeated trauma.
My parents called, but only asked about
Jessica.
“Don’t cause trouble for your sister…”
Jessica snatched the phone, glaring at them.
“Can’t you see? You’re ignoring the injured
sister to ask me?”
They were silenced and hung up.
I admired Jessica. We looked alike, but she
was stronger.
She repeatedly told me:
く
“We’re the closest. As long as I’m nere,
nobody can hurt you.”
I believed her.
My head wound was healing. I cut my hair
short to disguise it.
With Jessica, people mistook us for siblings.
It was amusing.
Jessica gave me a credit card. “One person in
the family needs to make money. You just
spend it.”
I bought pearl earrings and necklaces for both
of us.
Putting on the necklace, I saw my wedding
ring. I felt nothing for Mark.
