Gary sent the housekeeper to check on me. I
sent the divorce papers through her.
<
“Divorce again.”
“”
“Hundreds of times, haven’t you had enough,
Sarah?”
He tore up the papers.
“Starve her! Don’t feed her until she stops.
acting up!”
He thought my divorces were all a show, my
claims of not loving him were a joke.
But love really does run out.
Ten years. I couldn’t love anymore.
Now I had nothing to hold onto.
That night, I climbed out the window and got
into Liam Stone’s car.
The next morning, Gary woke up to find me
gone.
No breakfast, no coffee, no ironed clothes.
He rushed upstairs, found my room empty.
He picked up some photos, his face drained
of color.
“Housekeeper! Where’s Sarah?!”
く
The housekeeper came running, still holding a
spatula, shaking her head.
“I’ll call her mother.”
She paused, “Young master, didn’t Ms.
Song’s mother pass away yesterday? The
funeral was this morning.”
Gary recalled seeing me with the urn, his
breath hitched.
He picked up the photos, his eyes empty.
Ten years, and he never thought Sarah would
really leave.
Chapter 2
The photo in my hand showed us, barely out
of our twenties, on a Parisian street.
We were newly in love; he didn’t even dare
put his arm around me.
But I saw his nervousness, so I leaned my
head on his shoulder.
Gary carefully wiped away the dust, trying to
smooth the creases, but it was no use.
“Mom’s making dumplings, let’s hurry
downstairs and get a good seat.”
“That dress looks great on you, designer stuff
is different.
“”
“Nice hair clip, too.‘
وو
“Those shoes are amazing!”
Chattering came from outside, Gary frowned
and glanced out.
He saw Lily in a pink dress–a dress he
bought in Italy for Sarah.
It was an anniversary gift from when we’d
been dating for a month.
“Stop!”
He stormed out, yelling at everyone.
He saw his gifts scattered on everyone:
scarves, coats, dresses, bags, shoes.
One woman even had Sarah and his wedding
ring.
“Who told you to wear her clothes! Take
them off!”
<
“And that ring!”
“Take everything that doesn’t belong to you!”
His gaze briefly lingered on each woman, but
he couldn’t remember their faces.
He didn’t even know their names.
Usually, to provoke Sarah, Gary was
accommodating to them.
This was the first time he’d been so angry.
They quickly removed the clothes and
accessories. Lily, inexperienced, mumbled in
protest.
Gary’s eyes blazed, he ripped the dress off
Lily.
“Five minutes. Put everything back where it
belongs!”
Gary had the housekeeper watch them while
he checked the security footage.
He saw me running in the snow that night, the
crimson trail behind me made him gasp.
He saw me get into Liam’s car, twice. Liam.
く
“Damn it!”
“I shouldn’t have invited that bastard!”
He cursed and returned home, finding several
women chatting in the living room.
Before, seeing Sarah surrounded by them,
he’d secretly enjoyed her discomfort.
Now, without Sarah, they were just annoying.
“Life’s boring without Sarah.”
“She’d be washing our socks, making us
snacks right now.”
“Man, I miss her!”
Gary stood outside, his eyes like ice.
He’d tacitly allowed this.
But hearing those words, each syllable felt
like a torment.
They were telling him he’d driven Sarah away.
“Mom!”
“Get them out of here!”
His roar startled everyone.
They apologized, promising to stop gossiping.
But Gary didn’t listen. He sent the
housekeeper to pack their bags.
Lily, bold, stepped forward, “I’m pregnant.”
She touched her barely visible stomach,
smug.
Her friends‘ faces paled.
They rushed upstairs, packed, and left.
Lily was confused. Wasn’t pregnancy
supposed to secure her position?
Gary picked her up and threw her against the
wall.
Pain shot through her back. He remained
calm, his face cold.
Then he spoke, cruelly.
“Mom, call Dr. Chen for an abortion.”
A simple sentence revealed this wasn’t the
first time.
Lily didn’t know I used to do it for him.
Gary never let any woman have his child.
Not even me.
<
Two months after our wedding, I found out I
was pregnant.
Afraid of what he’d do, I tried to escape, but
he caught me.
During a struggle, I miscarried.
His eyes blazed with hatred, he said I was
heartless.
I still didn’t understand why he blamed me.
Lily, like me, didn’t understand, begging, “No, please don’t abort it.”
“You said you loved me, that you were the
most devoted. Why can’t I keep it?”
He looked down, a sneer in his eyes.
“Love?”
“Do you think you’re worthy?”
Lily trembled, terrified.
Gary told the housekeeper to take care of
Lily, then left. He had more important things
to do.
The housekeeper sighed, comforting Lily.
L
After leaving Gary’s house, my old and new
injuries caused me to fall unconscious for
several days.
I woke up with Liam by my side.
The morning light touched his hair.
I instinctively reached out, hearing Liam
murmuring in his sleep.
“Sarah, run.
Sarah?
99
My hand froze. Was that me?
