Chapter 9
I was too old and unappealing, embarrassing to take out in public. I was only good at doing housework and was no help to Mark. Behind my back, his parents set him up with blind dates. Even after I found out about his affair with Chloe, they helped him keep it a secret from me.
“Mark, I once gave you my whole heart. And how did you repay me?” I said, the anger and betrayal welling up inside me.
“Eight years of love wasted on you. That half a million dollars of mine years ago, now I have spent on my mother’s funeral, it’s all gone. From now on, we cut our ties. No more contact and never meet again!”
I didn’t want to keep arguing over the years of grievances. There were too many, too painful to recount. Even if I talked for a year, it wouldn’t be enough. I wasn’t willing to waste any more time on him. I wanted to live my life. And I want to live without
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Mark.
But he refused to leave. No matter how
much I pushed, he stood silent and
determined.
Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he yelled at me.
“Rachel, eight years of love can’t be so easily cut off! Do you treat our relationship, our marriage, like a joke?”
“And what about you? What did you treat my love and my mother’s life as? As just another chapter in your affair with Chloe?”
The painful memories came rushing back like venomous snakes. I could feel my sanity slipping, but I needed to get him out. of my life–before I lost it completely. But he wouldn’t let go of my wrist, refusing to stop arguing over the years of mistakes.
Just as I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, a figure suddenly appeared from the darkness. A punch knocked Mark to the ground. A warm hand quickly draped a
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jacket over my shoulders.
“Rachel, are you okay?”
I shook my head, but my body still trembled uncontrollably.
Mark, recovering quickly, covered his face. with his hands and scrambled to his feet. He looked at the man in disbelief.
“Who are you? How do you know my wife?”
Then he turned to me, his words dripping with venom. “No wonder you suddenly want a breakup. Looks like you’ve hooked up with some little boy.”
He continued with another sneered
sentence, “Rachel, look at yourself. Eight years of being played around with and you’re still a worthless piece of trash. Who else would want you? Don’t kid yourself. I can tell this guy just wants to sleep with you. A bouquet of flowers won’t change that!”
When we were in love, Mark would hold
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me and say he would make up for the love I never had. But now, his words were
daggers aimed at the deepest wounds in my heart.
I was about to call the police when the man charged Mark, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him to the ground. He turned to me and gave me a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry, Rachel. I am here.”
Mark was no match for him. He only took a few moments to cover his face and run
away in defeat. As he fled, he yelled back at
- me.
“Rachel, I will make you change your mind. Soon, you will realize I am the only one who truly loves you. I am the only one you can rely on!”
I slammed the door shut, blocking out the noise. Then I collapsed into a ball on the floor, silent tears streaming down my face.
It was a long time before I could calm
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myself down. Finally, I lifted my head and whispered softly, “Luke, thank you.”
“Rachel, do you really still remember me?”
he asked, his voice warm and kind.
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