Chapter 10%
I let out a sarcastic laugh. “Does what you’re saying even matter now, Richard? Have you forgotten what you were doing when you signed that paper?”
“If you can’t recall, let me jog your memory–you were busy trying to make your little sweetheart happy.“}
Richard’s face darkened, anger washing over him. “That doesn’t justify you tricking me into signing that agreement!“}
I couldn’t help but scoff, rolling my eyes. “Seriously, Richard? You have the audacity to say that? Don’t you understand why we even got married?”
Images of that conversation I overheard in the dorm flooded my mind, making me turn away as nausea churned in
my stomach.@
Seeing me uncomfortable, Richard rushed to support my back, but his hand brushed against the scar from my suicide attempt. I pushed him away.
In a fit of rage, I slapped him across the face and shouted, “I used to think you were here to save me! That’s why I felt guilty during our whole marriage. But hearing what you said made it clear–it was all just a façade!“}
With that, I held up my scarred wrist for him to see, tears brimming in my eyes, spilling over despite my best efforts to hold them back.
“Richard, after those people violated me, I wanted to die every single day. I would cut my arms just to remind myself of everything I went through.“}
“But I never imagined it was all because of you. Margaret said you were right outside the barn, watching and listening as I was humiliated, yet you chose to turn a blind eye. Don’t you ever fear retribution?“}
With that, I raised my hand and slapped Richard across the face again, putting all my strength into it, leaving a bright red mark on his skin.
“Richard, everything I’ve suffered is because of y you. You stole my acceptance letter for Margaret, destroyed my reputation and pushed my mother to the brink of illness. And now you show up here telling me I shouldn’t have divorced you?”
“Forget about divorce–if we weren’t living in a civilized society, I’d tear you apart and feed you to the dogs!“}]
“But you don’t deserve that. You don’t deserve me staining my hands with blood for you and you definitely don’t deserve me sacrificing my future because of you.”
As I unleashed my anger, Richard stood there trembling, struggling to find his words, unable to respond.
Richard finally hung his head low in silence.}
“I’m sorry, Eve. I realize I was wrong. I shouldn’t have agreed to Margaret’s request to swap your acceptance letter, nor should I have stood by when I learned she wanted to hurt you.”
“You don’t know how deeply I regretted it when I heard you crying so heartbreakingly. Marrying you afterward was something I wanted to do and I’ve loved you for a long time through all those moments we spent together, Eve.“}
As he spoke, Richard took out the letter I had sent to the police.
“Eve, after all these years, there’s no evidence besides your testimony and the police won’t convict without that. I’ve already arranged for Margaret to go back to her hometown.”
“I apologize for what happened with the baby; I only found out later that she hired the driver to intentionally cause your miscarriage. But my father owes Uncle Felix, Margaret’s father, a life, so… don’t worry; she won’t bother us anymore.“}]
“I’ve also applied for a transfer in the army, so soon I’ll be able to live here in the Great Corona Plains with you. Please forgive me and let’s go back to how we used to be, okay?“!
In the past, I would have longed for this life, but now, hearing Richard’s words only made me feel sick.
