Chapter 11%
I collapsed into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably, my grief spilling out in waves. Ten years of pain, exhaustion and heartbreak poured out in the form of endless tears.
And when there were no tears left, I finally felt lighter. My mood calmed down a lot.”
The regrets of the past can no longer be remedied.
But at least, though battered and broken, I had finally managed to struggle out of that golden cage.”
I refused to sink further into despair.
Back in my hometown, I arranged a simple funeral for my mother and laid her to rest beside my late father. The neighbors around me were warm and kind and offered their help without hesitation. They assisted me with every little detail, making me feel less alone in my grief.
Determined to start anew, I decided to stay.”
With my strong academic background, I successfully stayed in the local school and became a teacher. Most of my colleagues were fresh graduates, young and full of life. They were the same age as Lily Patricia, yet they were sunny, cheerful and had positive energy.
We spent our free time chatting, shopping together and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. The days were peaceful and for the first time in years, I felt truly at ease.}
Until one day, Jonathan appeared in front of me.”
The stench of alcohol clung to him, making my head ache. I turned to walk away, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. He looked at me, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t understand.”
“Zara, I missed you.“}
I met his gaze, my face impassive, my heart unmoved. “Jonathan, we’re already divorced.“}]
He shook his head vehemently, lifting a familiar ring in front of me.”
“I don’t accept it. Zara, I can’t live without you.“}
His voice trembled. “Since you left, I have been losing my mind. I never dared to tell you the truth, but I really, truly loved you with all my heart. The time we first spent together was the happiest I have ever had. I thought–finally–someone could love me completely. I thought I finally had a home. But then-“}
He kept blocking my path and continued, “The contract you signed with my grandfather shattered all my illusions. I couldn’t accept that the woman I loved had approached me with ulterior motives. I wanted to punish you… That’s why I did all those foolish things.”
As he spoke, tears streamed down his face, as if he were the one who had suffered the greatest injustice.”
I looked at him, my voice steady. “Do you remember our wedding anniversary?“}
He froze for a moment. His lips parted, but no words came. He struggled for an answer, but none came.”
I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. “I remember it well. I will never forget. Because that was the day your mistress told me she slept with you for the first time was on our wedding day.“”
That woman–the one Jonathan had insisted on having as our bridesmaid. She was the distant cousin he spoke of.”
Not long after our wedding, she confessed everything to me. But Jonathan soon grew tired of her. After the new favorite appeared, she preceded me and became an outcast.
He fell silent, caught in his own guilt. But he had spent too many years taking my patience and endurance for granted. He thought a few empty words could bring me back.”
After that, he began sending me flowers, gifts–grand gestures as if we were still in our honeymoon phase.}]
But I was no longer the naive girl I once was. And I would never make the same mistake twice.}]
