C06
I walked back to what was supposed to be my “home,” though in truth, it was nothing more than a cold, lifeless
house I had shared with John since our marriage. The space was vast, yet it felt suffocatingly empty–just a shell of a place, devoid of warmth, devoid of love.
Suppressing the nausea rising in my stomach, I dragged myself to the guest room. I couldn’t bear to stay in the same space as John anymore. The mere thought of him made my skin crawl.
After yet another sleepless night, my body felt as if it had reached its breaking point. Days of stress, heart and physical exhaustion had left me drained. Standing before the mirror, I barely recognized myself–hollow cheeks, dark circles under my eyes and a gaunt, fragile frame. A pitiful sight.
Determined to leave, I began to pack, but as I looked around, I realized there was nothing worth taking with me. Nothing in this house truly belonged to me. Nothing held meaning anymore.
By noon, John finally returned. His body sagged with fatigue, but his flushed face told me everything I needed to
know about the night before.
The moment he saw me, he rushed forward and pulled me into his arms. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I was at the hospital with my sister–in–law last night. That’s why I came home late.”
7:08 PM
My husband Force Me Seven Times Abortions for My Sister–in–Law.
At that moment, my phone vibrated. A message from Yurie.
[John and I were together last night.]
Attached was a photo. My fingers clenched around my phone as I stared at the damning evidence–red marks trailing down her neck, blatant proof of what had transpired between them. As if to make sure I understood, the
message was quickly deleted, but it was already burned into my memory.
Another message popped up immediately after.
[Meet me at the café.]
I pushed John away, my stomach twisting in revulsion. “I’m going out. I have something to do.”
He hesitated for a moment before reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Okay, wear something
warm. I’ll wait for you at home.”
I left without another word.
At the café, I spotted Yurie the moment I walked in. She sat by the window, purposefully wearing a halter dress,
her exposed skin flaunting the marks he had left on her.
She smiled as I approached, tilting her head in feigned innocence. “Rachel, let’s not waste time. John has only
ever loved me. You’d be wise to divorce him before it’s too late.”
My hands balled into fists. “You two are disgusting.”
Instead of getting angry, she let out a light laugh. “And yet, it’s the unloved woman who is always the mistress.”
Her eyes gleamed with triumph, drinking in my pain like a fine wine.
“John treats me well,” she continued smugly. “He made sure my child is the sole heir. He made sure you would
never be able to conceive.”
My breath hitched. My nails dug into my palms as I snapped my gaze up at her. “How can you face your dead
husband?”
Yurie simply shrugged, waving a hand dismissively. “He’s long gone. What does it matter? I have John now and he loves me. Why should I cling to the past?”
to the pa
Rage coursed through my veins. Without thinking, I grabbed my cup, ready to hurl its contents at her, but before I
could, a tall figure stepped between us.
Coffee splattered across a crisp white suit. John. I met his gaze, but instead of concern, all I saw was anger.
Directed at me.
“Rachel, what is wrong with you?! She’s your sister–in–law! When did you become so unreasonable?”
A cold, bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Oh, now you remember she’s your sister–in–law? Can you justify what you’ve done to your own brother?”
His body stiffened, his face paling. He hadn’t expected me to say that. Behind him, Yurie let out a soft, pitiful sigh. “John, don’t be angry at Rachel. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly.”
John didn’t even hesitate. “I did nothing wrong. Apologize to her, Rachel. Don’t be so impulsive. Apologize and I’ll pretend none of this happened.”
I let out a hollow laugh, my vision swimming as the exhaustion and pain threatened to pull me under. I barely managed to stay upright, gripping the back of a chair for support.
Then, Yurie let out a sharp gasp. “John, the baby–he’s gone!”
Panic flickered across his face. Without another word, he grabbed Yurie’s hand and rushed out of the café, leaving me standing there.
As she passed, she shot me a look–smug, victorious. I stood frozen in place, my hands trembling. Minutes passed, maybe hours. I didn’t know. Only when my legs could no longer hold me up did I finally sink into my chair, my world crumbling around me.
