3
Terry and I grew up together, with Katherine as our neighbor’s little girl.
PART 1
3/9
16.7%
Despite the bad blood between our families and the Lynns, my dad and
Terry’s were war buddies–my father even saved his.
Life threw us a curveball when my family hit rock bottom. We moved away, and Terry and I drifted apart.
Then came the double whammy: Dad died in a car crash, and Mom landed in the hospital. Desperate times called for desperate measures, so I ended up with the Shanes.
Terry’s mom played matchmaker, and before I knew it, I became Mrs.
Shane.
For a while, we were blissfully happy.
I poured my heart into being the perfect wife.
Terry opened up, admitting marrying me was his dream come true.
He’d hug me from behind while I cooked, whisper my name during intimate moments. It was everything I’d ever wanted.
Then Katherine breezed back from college abroad, and our world tilted on
its axis.
She bulldozed her way into our lives.
Terry resisted at first, but a kidnapping changed everything.
When the kidnappers used both Katherine and me as leverage, my terror was a stark contrast to her cool bravery.
Watching Terry rush to her side, I swear I heard my heart crack.
“This is payback for what you owe Katherine,” he said, before camping out by her hospital bed.
Soon, he was sneaking off with her.
I’d never seen him so carefree, like a teenager again, living it up with
Katherine.
I confronted him, tears streaming, desperate not to lose him.
His response? Anger and accusations of overthinking.
That day marked the beginning of the end.
Soon, he stopped hiding his feelings for Katherine and asked for a divorce.
My love for him was bone–deep, maybe fueled by stubbornness.
I clung to our fractured marriage like a lifeline.
PART 1
4/9 22.2%
12:01 Sun, 9 Marti
I clung to our fractured marriage like a lifeline:
Only now do I see how spectacularly wrong I was.
A
The sofa creaked with hushed gasps.
I watched Terry’s rough hands glide over Katherine’s pale shoulders, the sight twisting my gut.
Closing my eyes, I retreated, my heart too numb to break again.
A shrill ring cut through their moment.
Terry answered, annoyance etched on his face.
“Mr. Shane? City Hospital here. Your wife, Wendy Lowe, succumbed to cancer at 10 AM. We need you to come collect her remains.”
“What?”
Terry’s grip tightened on the phone, sparking a foolish hope in me.
Would my death affect him at all?
The doctor repeated himself.
Terry’s frown deepened, his voice sharp.
“Another trick? Don’t team up with Wendy to con me. She’d cash in on a divorce, but this game gets her nothing.”
I heard the doctor’s stunned pause, clearly blindsided.
“Mr. Shane, please. Wendy is really gone.”
Despite the doctor’s insistence, Terry refused to believe.
His final words chilled me to the bone.
“Fine. Tell Wendy if she wants to play dead, let her. Saves me the divorce papers.”
