“She said you had a work emergency. I
would’ve believed it if I hadn’t seen Emily’s
post. Sarah was trapped with Emily. Why was
Emily fine?”
Mark frantically checked his phone. Emily’s
post was gone, but it was still on his parents‘
phones.
Emily had done it on purpose!
“Why would Emily do that…?”
His world shattered. Things weren’t as he’d
believed.
His father scoffed. “To break you up. She
く
wants you.”
Mark looked confused. “She had plenty of
chances before. Why go through all this?”
“She thought she’d landed a rich guy. After
they married, she realized he was a fake,
poorer than us!”
His mother played a saved video. It showed
Emily’s wedding. The Emily he knew, always
innocent, wore a sheer dress, kissing the
groom passionately.
A friend asked, “I heard your ex was great to
you. Why dump him for this guy?”
Emily sneered, “Ex? He was a pathetic
lapdog. I just messed with Mark to spite that
orphan, Sarah.”
Mark stood frozen, fists clenched. That was
the real Emily. He’d been fooled, and he’d
insulted Sarah because of her lies.
“We hid Emily’s marriage because we feared
you’d do something stupid. But we never
imagined she was married and still pursuing
you, driving a wedge between you and
Sarah!”
“Sarah’s a good woman. We tried to convince
her to stay. But she said your rescuing her
shouldn’t trap you. You deserved to choose
your own life and love. She wanted to set you
free.”
Mark leaned against the wall, staring at the
ceiling, heartbroken. This wasn’t how it was
supposed to be. He and Sarah hadn’t
divorced. They had a daughter who looked.
く
divorced. They had a daughter who looked
just like her. They’d been together for eight
years…
He had to get her back.
He searched all day, finding nothing. At dusk,
he went to Emily’s building, wanting answers.
An old man with a birdcage was talking to
someone.
“I saw this young woman tie a parrot to a
bush. I thought she was abandoning it. She
told me it was hers, told me not to touch it.”
“Next day, the bird was gone. Maybe she took
it back.”
Mark stopped. “What did she look like?”
“Nice looking, white dress, lived in 902.”
Rage surged. Mark knew his parents were
right. Emily was vile. He’d been a fool, hurting
Sarah for eight years, abandoning his family
to save Emily.
He found me in my new apartment. He lit up.
“Sarah! I knew you wouldn’t leave! We have
eight more years together, twenty–eight…”
I put down my things, showing him the
divorce papers.
“Mark, we’re divorced. I’m leaving. I don’t
want to keep this up.”
“Don’t feel guilty. I don’t blame you. I’m
<
grateful for your help during my darkest
times.”
My words pained him. He stared, shaking his
head. I saw the Mark from eight years later.
Changing Emily’s fate had lifted a weight. He
seemed lighter, less somber.
I almost forgot he was from the future. I saw
the Mark I knew, and remembered our
strained marriage.
I’d sensed his coldness, but I’d clung to a
fabricated warmth.
I wouldn’t go back. I wasn’t the Sarah who’d
sacrifice everything for love. I’d live for
myself.
L
“Mark, our marriage ended when I lost the
baby.”
I saw Mark again at my follow–up
appointment. He’d been waiting. He relaxed
when the doctor said I was fine.
“You don’t have to do this. Losing the baby…
it was meant to be. I’m not upset.”
I hoped our daughter would have a loving
family, a father who adored her.
Emily rushed over, grabbing Mark’s hand.
“Mark, I’m being stalked! I’m terrified. Can
you stay with me?”
She hadn’t seen him for days, but she didn’t
mind. He only came when she asked for help.
Her friends were back. She’d planned on
finding someone better than Mark, but she’d
run into her husband, revealing her location.
Now he was after her. He had leverage. She
needed Mark.
Focused on escaping her husband, she didn’t
notice Mark’s disgust as he pushed her away.
Tears welled in her eyes. “Mark, what’s
wrong? Are you mad at me because of
Sarah? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t ask for so much
help, but I don’t know who else to turn to.”
Mark would’ve caved to her tears before.
Now, he just stood there.
“Stop pretending. It’s your husband, isn’t it?!
won’t get involved. Call the police if you need
“I’m taking Coco. I’ll find him a good home.
He shouldn’t be tied to a bush all night.”
“Anything else?”
