Chapter 22
“If I’d kept you from coming back, you wouldn’t have to go through all of this.”
I knew that Zack was saying this out of care and concern for me. But things had already come to this point, and no amount of words could change what had happened.
I let out a bitter laugh, not knowing how to respond to Zack’s sentiment. All I could do was lower my head in silence.
After a pause, Zack looked at me thoughtfully and said quietly, “I recently came across a surveillance video… It’s related to your wife.”
Hearing that, my heart skipped a beat.
It had something to do with Abigail?
Judging by Zack’s expression, whatever was in that video wasn’t going to be easy to watch. I had a feeling I might regret seeing it.
But since I’d made my choices, I was determined to face whatever came next, no matter how painful.
I took a deep breath and looked up at Zack with a forced smile. “Uncle Zack, thank you for looking out for me. Whatever it is, I’m ready to see it.”
Zack didn’t hesitate any longer. He handed me his phone.
* On the screen, I saw a younger version of Abigail, looking fresh–faced and innocent. It was
clearly from a few years back.
She appeared to be drunk, as her cheeks were flushed.
With trembling hands, I pressed the play button on the video.
In the footage, Abigail was clutching a glass in her hand, her expression intense and defiant. Then, with a sudden motion, she threw the glass on the floor. Her voice was loud and filled with anger as she yelled, “That man who abandoned me… He’s back!”
“Abandoned you?” someone asked, surprised. “But Abigail, you’re the campus belle! Who in their right mind would dare to abandon you?”
Abigail hiccuped and rubbed her forehead before speaking in a shaky, tearful voice. “It’s… my ex–boyfriend. His name is Samuel. He just told me out of the blue that he wanted to break up with me, and then he left the country without a word.
“I looked for him for so long… and now, after five years, he’s finally back. The guy who abandoned me is finally back.”
Hearing Abigail’s voice, which was full of grief and accusation as she talked about the five years I’d been gone, I felt my heart skip a beat.
Back then, after I’d left, how helpless and heartbroken had she felt?
But after everything she’d put me through since I’d returned, I no longer had the urge to reach
But after ev rything she a put me through sinc out and hold her or comfort her.
линей, і по топдет пdu the urge to reach.
There was a lump in my throat, and I couldn’t swallow it down.
I forced myself to stay calm and watch the video as Abigail, with tears streaming down her face, raised a bottle and took a long swig of alcohol.
Then, she took a deep breath and said with fierce determination, “I’m getting married next month. You’d all better come!”
“You’re getting married? Abigail, you don’t even have a boyfriend. Who are you going to marry?” someone asked, bewildered.
Abigail’s lips curved up into a smile, which then spread into a wide, almost triumphant grin.
“Who said I don’t have a boyfriend? My boyfriend, Samuel, has just come back from abroad. Don’t worry. Within a month, I’ll make him mine, and he’ll be my husband!”
Her friend looked at her in shock and asked, “Abigail, are you serious? He’s already abandoned you once. Why would you want to get together with him again? Aren’t you just asking for pain?
11
“Yeah. Do you love him that much? Are you so deeply in love with him that you can’t let him go?”
Abigail just laughed.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, one after another, but her expression was deadly serious. In a ⚫ cold voice, she said, “Who said it’s because I love him?”
“Then, why?”
Abigail’s expression darkened, and her voice dripped with venom as she replied, “It’s because I hate him.”
