C08
Jacob turned and walked toward the door.
Immediately, Wendy panicked. She rushed forward and grabbed his hand. But he shook her off.
Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, “Jacob, even if I lied, does it really matter?”
“I only hit her because I love you!”
“It happened so long ago–do you really need to dig it up again?” she added.
Jacob murmured, almost to himself, “I was wrong from the start.”
“I failed Juliana’s mother. I won’t fail Juliana either.”
“I have to find her.”
Wendy bit her lip, her voice trembling. “You don’t love me anymore, do you?”
“You always told me that I was the one you loved–not her.”
“She’s gone now. Why are you chasing after her?”
“Jacob, were all those sweet words you said to me just lies?”
Jacob froze.
He stood motionless, staring blankly at Wendy’s tear–streaked face.
‘Wasn’t Wendy the one I loved most?‘
‘Then why, when she’s crying, do I feel nothing?‘
‘Why is it that I never cared when Juliana was around, but now that she’s gone, I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I feel like I’m losing my mind?‘
He looked at Wendy in confusion. “Why?”
Wendy threw herself into his arms. “Jacob, forget about her, okay?”
“Sign the divorce papers. Cut ties with her and marry me.”
But Jacob gently pushed her away.
Taking a step back, he looked at her shocked face and slowly shook his head.
“Wendy, I can’t marry you.”
“I thought I didn’t love Juliana. But after three years together, every little moment, every memory–she beca part of my life.”
“I was a fool. Only when she left did I realize how deeply I love her.”
“She was the best wife in the world… and I don’t think I can find someone like her.”
With that, Jacob turned and walked out the door.
Wendy called after him in despair. “Jacob, will you come back?”
Jacob hesitated for a moment. Then, in a low voice, he said, “Wendy, actions have consequences. You hurt my mother–in–law. I hope you’ll turn yourself in.”
After saying that, he left.
C
9:32 AM
For His First Love, My Husband Killed My Mother
After saying that, he left.
Wendy stood frozen, staring at his retreating figure.
Her lips were bleeding from how hard she’d bitten them. She could taste the metallic tang of blood in her mouth,
but her face was twisted into a crazed smile.
Meanwhile, at my mother’s old house, I finally found peace.
She was gone now, but I had started living as she once did.
Grocery shopping, cooking, greeting the neighbors.
It was my way of remembering her.
I never expected that one afternoon, as I returned from the supermarket, I would see a familiar figure.
Jacob.
He had lost weight in just a few days.
His usually neat and polished appearance was gone–his hair was disheveled, and his eyes were bloodshot.
The moment he saw me, he rushed forward. “Juli, I’ve come to take you home.”
I didn’t respond. I walked past him, heading for my house.
His voice was hoarse as he spoke again. “Juli, I didn’t sign the divorce papers. I was wrong. I finally realized the
one I’ve always loved is you. Let’s start over again, okay?”
I still ignored him.
Jacob suddenly dropped to his knees. His voice broke as he choked out, “Juli, have you forgotten how much you
loved me? Please forgive me…”
I stared at him for a long time. Then, in a quiet voice, I said, “Forgiving you is easy.”
A flicker of hope ignited in Jacob’s eyes.
