I just said “no” and slammed the door shut.
Blocking out all the noise from the outside
world.
It was too late for his apology. I didn’t need
him anymore.
That love triangle had drained me, and I
couldn’t bear to look back.
I would never go back.
Chapter 13
Jason moved in next door.
Every time I went out, I could see him in the
distance, just following me.
<
He didn’t talk or get close, so I just ignored
him.
After a while, the landlady and neighbors
started to get curious.
They all wanted to know who he was.
I just told the truth: “My cheating ex-
husband.‘
Everyone gasped. Some of them started
giving me advice:
“Your husband is so handsome and rich. It’s
normal that he would cheat, just turn a blind
eye if he’s coming home.”
“Yeah, what’s the big deal? Just have a baby,
<
hold onto his fortune, the other women will
never stand a chance.”
It’s so ridiculous.
The men were the ones who did something
wrong, but no one would tell them to change.
They just told women to tolerate it.
My landlady felt sorry for Jason after she
heard about our situation.
She gave him half price on his rent and told
him:
“You have such a good wife, you better not
mess it up. I know what I’m talking about, it’s
obvious that she still loves you.”
“Why else wouldn’t I ever see her going out
く
She seemed to believe what she said, and
seriously patted his hand.
I shook my head, laughing quietly.
Was it an old person thing to do, to just
imagine things?
Recently, my mother had been hinting at a
reconciliation with Jason.
I told her: “I’m not a trash can for recycling
old mistakes.”
I didn’t want to move again, it was too much
hassle. Daisy hated it too.
But all the gossip outside made me so
frustrated. It was like he knew my every move.
<
Every time I opened my door, he would be
there, and we’d walk down the stairs, all while
the nosy neighbors next door would smile at
us knowingly.
Finally, I snapped.
“Jason, don’t you want me to forgive you?”
That was the first time I had spoken to him
since he moved in.
He stopped dead, and his eyes filled with
hope:
“Yes, what can I do for you to forgive me?”
“Tell me, I will do it all.”
I knew he wasn’t just bragging. He could
<
make a lot of things happen.
Jason, you hurt me so much.”
“Why would you think that a few words can
make me forgive you?”
His face paled, it was like he knew he had
lost all his strength. He knew that he wouldn’t
be able to convince me.
He knew he was a monster. Even when he
wasn’t thinking about it, everything he did
would play in his head, tormenting him.
He was full of regret.
Chapter 14
Jason left.
く
He left that very night.
Three days later, Mark called me:
“Jason’s had an accident. Would you come
back? It could be the last time you’d see
him.”
After some thought, I booked a ticket back to
the city.
As I boarded the plane, I received a text, and
then I turned off my phone.
I admitted to myself that I wasn’t a good
person.
My childhood had taught me to take a
moment when I was angry, maybe things
would turn around.
<
When I got to the hospital, Jason was stable,
but he was paralyzed from the waist down.
He was going to be in a wheelchair for the
rest of his life.
I gave Jason’s mom a few words of comfort
before heading to his room.
Jason was covered in tubes, the ventilator
made a beeping noise.
The doctor had said that his chances of
waking up were slim..
I studied his face closely. He was still
handsome, he could still make my heart race.
It was too late.
The conversation was quick, I didn’t do
I only said to Jason that he needed to get
back the money he’d spent on Sarah during
those three years, and I might think about
giving him a chance.
I didn’t need money. Jason didn’t need money
either.
But Sarah? She needed money.
