My discomfort prevented further thought.
Henry quickly finished up and returned.
He smiled, putting his arm around me.
He took me to our new home.
The next morning, I woke up still in my
wedding dress.
The bed was empty.
The coldness of my time with Lane returned.
I jumped up, intending to question Henry.
Opening the door, I was shocked.
Henry, usually impeccably dressed, was
wearing an apron, cooking.
My loud opening startled him.
He turned with a spatula.
“Did I wake you? I rarely cook. I haven’t quite
mastered it…”
I rubbed my eyes, thinking it was a
hallucination.
The man before me and the one I saw at the
<
Gu house, drenched, were worlds apart.
My accusations vanished.
Seeing my stunned silence, Henry took a step
forward, pointing to the smoking pan.
“Since you’re awake… want to take a look?”
A burnt smell wafted from behind him.
We rushed to the kitchen.
Seeing the blackened egg pancakes, we burst
into laughter.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my
waist.
My laughter died.
With Lane, I’d had little physical contact.
Henry seemed to sense my stiffness.
His hands loosened.
I don’t know where I found the courage.
I grabbed his hands.
The image of Lane holding the pillow flashed
in my mind.
“Filthy, cheap.”
く
Lane’s words echoed in my head.
I pushed Henry away.
The cheerful kitchen turned cold.
It felt like those eight years with Lane.
But this coldness was my fault.
I didn’t know what to say.
Tears streamed down my face.
I turned to the stunned Henry.
“Henry, I’m not worth it. Find a better
woman.”
I hadn’t meant it sarcastically.
I thought Henry was a playboy, so I readily
agreed to marry him.
I assumed he’d be casual about marriage.
But Henry surprised me.
He said he didn’t want a “lovers‘ quarrel” at
his wedding.
Neither did I.
But the scars Lane left on my heart appeared
on our first day of marriage.
Г
I couldn’t imagine enduring this.
Ending it was my final kindness. “Nancy, what do you think I am?!”
Henry’s anger snapped me back.
“Henry, I’m sorry. I can’t just jump into a new relationship. I’m sorry… It’s my fault… I don’t
know what to do…”
“”
I hated my choked voice, my helplessness.
I really didn’t know what to do.
Emotions welled up.
I wanted to escape.
I headed for the door.
Strong hands pulled me back.
I was in a warm embrace.
A kiss followed, carrying the scent of him and
burnt food.
I struggled, but moments later, I melted.
“Nancy, I don’t know what your life with that
bastard, Lane, was like, but you’ll only
experience love with me. Henry keeps his
<
promises.”
His words eased my defenses.
I let him hold me…
I thought Lane and I were done.
He’d only show respect as my brother–in-
law.
My departure would free him and Sienna.
But I was wrong.
Two weeks later, I picked up a drunk Henry
from the club.
Outside, I saw Lane drinking alone.
I tried to slip past him unnoticed.
“Nancy, I know it’s you.”
His cold voice made me tremble.
I forced calmness, ignoring him.
My sleeve was pulled.
I fell into his alcohol–scented arms.
“Nancy, I can’t sleep. I don’t understand why
you did this. I want to talk.”
For eight years, I’d craved his embrace.
I’d wished for him to express his feelings,
even yell at me.
But Lane was always cold.
Ironically, what I’d failed to achieve in eight
years happened now that I was his sister–in-
law.
But I wasn’t the woman waiting for his
affection anymore.
I pushed him away.
His prayer beads broke, scattering.
The untouchable object now lay broken, yet
he showed no emotion.
I laughed.
“Lane, what do you want to talk about? The
99 proposals I made, that you rejected
without a second thought?”
“That you rejected me thousands, tens of thousands of times for Sienna?”
“Or the pillow in my closet that made you call
me cheap, yet you’re kissing and cuddling
your precious Sienna?”
“We have nothing to talk about. You didn’t love me then, and now I don’t love you.” “I’m your sister–in–law. Respect me.”
With Lane, I’d been quiet and obedient.
This conversation was unprecedented.
Lane was stunned. Then, his eyes filled with
sadness.
“Nancy, I know you won’t believe me, but our
home wasn’t the same without you.”
“I admit I was a heartless bastard. I betrayed
your love, blinded by Sienna. I thought I loved
her. But when you left, I realized I always
loved you…
“”
The night hid my tears..
I believed him.
