L
Canary Caged, Then Gone
Seven years into their marriage, Jason
Sterling was over his little songbird.
She bounced out, leaving behind a single,
dismissive line:
“Jason, I’ve cashed in. And honey, you’re not
worth a dime to me anymore.”
I watched it all unfold, a detached observer
waiting for Jason’s famous temper to flare. It
was a familiar scene, practically a weekly
occurrence for the past three years.
But this time, he just gave a cold laugh. “A
pet bird? Please, like I ever gave a damn.”
Then, not long after, came the news: she’d
<
been in a fatal car crash.
The man who was always so cool and
collected just cracked. He went completely
nuts.
Chapter 1
After Sarah’s death, Jason locked himself
away in his study, refusing food or drink. It
was like he’d lost his mind.
I knocked on the door, but the only response I
got was a harsh: “Get lost.”
I knew he was hurting, and I almost
apologized.
But then I caught myself. How ridiculous was
that?
<
We were still married! He’d been cheating
and completely out of line. Why was I about
to apologize for his mess?
I stared at the cold dinner on the table, the
five–hour soup now with a congealed surface,
a hint of a fishy smell. I dumped it all in the
trash.
It was like our twenty–year friendship, gone
sour. I needed to get rid of the rot before it
could spread further.
On the eighth day, Jason finally emerged. He
was cleaned up, shaved, and back to his
usual untouchable persona. But the look he
gave me was colder than ever, as if I’d
somehow caused his little girlfriend to die.
I waited, silent. I knew that a storm was
<
We’d known each other for so long, we’d
gone from school uniforms to wedding
gowns. I had always thought we’d walk this
road together, all the way.
But then, somewhere along the line, he’d
decided to jump ship. Now I was left to pick
up the pieces.
“Where is she?” Jason’s voice was flat,
devoid of emotion.
After a long silence, I answered quietly,
“Buried.”
His face twisted into a mask of hate, his eyes
locking onto me with a dark fury.
“Lara, who gave you permission to bury her?”
く
“You think your dirty hands were worthy of
touching her?” he spat out, each word biting
like a whip.
I knew, if I wasn’t pregnant right now, he
would have strangled me.
And yet, I must have overestimated my
importance to him.
The next thing knew, he’d slammed me ontol
the couch, his large hands tightening around
my throat, squeezing the air out of my lungs.
My vision swam, darkening around the edges.
My ears began to ring.
He was practically howling, “You think being
pregnant makes you untouchable?
<
“That’s just some little accident, I couldn’t
care less about the kid.
“Sarah’s dead. And don’t worry, you and the
little brat in your belly are next.”
The crushing fear of suffocating finally forced
me to cry out for help. But his grip was too
strong, the sound was muffled.
I knew then
Jason really meant to kill me.
I don’t know how long it was, but then, the
crushing weight lifted, followed by the sound
of a door slamming hard.
My mind slowly returned as I lay there,
stunned.
I picked up my phone and booked an
<
appointment for an abortion.
Chapter 2
Jason and I had been childhood sweethearts,
our relationship a family arrangement
disguised as destiny. Our parents had sealed
our fates when we were three, and we’d
gotten hitched before we even graduated
college.
Life was pretty good, at least for a while.
Maybe it was his family background, but
Jason had this way of never being surprised,
never apologizing, never being particularly
affectionate.
Still, he’d throw me little surprises. For my
birthday, he’d bake me a cake, pulling out a
<
He’d hold me close, whispering,
“Lara, I’m not a robot. Just give me time, I’ll
figure out how to love you.”
“Don’t give up on me, okay?”
And I’d nod, telling him we had all the time in
the world.
Late at night, when things got intimate, he’d
whisper sweet nothings that made my cheeks
flush.
But when did everything go sideways?
Maybe it was the day Jason first met Sarah.
I’d overslept after a long night, so he had to
go to a work event alone.
く
Sarah was the client’s assistant, fresh out of
college, and she had this shy, sweet
demeanor. A disarming smile.
She didn’t play golf, so she boldly asked
Jason to teach her.
Next thing I knew, they were exchanging
numbers, and the sparks flew fast. Within two
weeks, they were official, and she was
working at his company.
He took her under his wing, showering her
with attention, like a gardener nurturing a
prized rose.
The irony? I never even got the chance to
confront her.
Jason had her hidden away so well, everv
<
time I tried to investigate, I hit a dead end.
And the next day? I’d face his rage.
Once, I finally managed to get a hold of
Sarah’s personal information, but before I
could do anything, all the dirty secrets about
my dad’s affairs were laid bare before me.
And it wasn’t just my dad. It was dirt on
everyone in my family.
The message from Jason was clear: If I came
for Sarah, my family’s skeletons would all be
dragged out into the light.
That night, I trashed every piece of furniture
in the house.
Jason just sat on the sofa, watching me, like I
<
was a crazy person.
But now… he’s the one who’s gone off the
rails.
Chapter 3
I was barely asleep when Jason’s assistant
called me, “Ms. Lara, Mr. Sterling is digging
up the gravesite. You need to come talk to
him, please.”
