Chapter 2
“Noel, I’m sorry. Please, just give me the wristwatch back.”
My voice cracked as I swallowed my pride. In the three years we’d been married, I’d never once lowered myself like this to him until now.
He seemed pleased, stroking Brianna’s hair as he asked, “What do you think? Happy
now?”
Brianna nodded sweetly, taking the watch. Then, she walked toward me. “Nellie, why cause such a scene? Noel cares about you. If you’d just listened to him, he wouldn’t treat you badly.”
She crouched down in front of me, leaning in close, flashing a smile only I could see- a silent, taunting smirk. Then, she gasped dramatically, stumbling back with an innocent look. “Nellie, I was only trying to help you two! How could you say
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something so hurtful?”
“Cornelia!” Noel’s face darkened, his voice sharp. “You’re still acting out right in front of me?”
He grabbed the watch from Brianna’s hand and threw it to the floor as he snarled, “I gave you a chance!”
I froze, staring at the shattered watch on the ground. My chest tightened as I scrambled to pick up the pieces, clutching them in my hands. Tears blurred my
vision, and my voice cracked as I cried out, “This was Mom’s! It’s the only thing she left me–the only thing!”
“You’re really still going on about this?” Noel scoffed. “You couldn’t handle us being gone for a few days, so you’re trying to guilt–trip me by telling us your mom’s
gone? And you call yourself a good daughter, huh? I can’t believe you actually said anything to make me feel bad, Cordelia. It’s sickening!”
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“Exactly,” Brianna chimed in. “The day we left, Auntie even called and joked about her chest hurting. I know she just wanted us to come back. Honestly, I wouldn’t be
surprised if you told her to do it.”
“My mom had a heart condition!” My voice shook as I yelled, and tears streamed down my face. “She called you for help! But you just ignored her! And by the time I got home, god, my mom’s already gone!”
The memory from the security cam footage. burned fresh in my mind–Mom’s faint cries for help from behind a locked door.
She was crying for help, but no one came to save her. By the time I broke the lock, all I found was her lifeless body curled on the floor in agony, her nails cracked from scratching the floor.
My husband and Brianna locked my
disabled mom in that room to die so they
could fulfill some childhood promise to
each other!
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“Cornelia, do you even realize how much Rian has sacrificed for your mom these past months?” Noel’s voice was cold. “I just wanted to take Rian out for a few days to unwind. Is it really necessary for you to make such a scene? And break the door?
You think doing this will make me believe your stupid lies?”
He laughed bitterly. “You… and your mom -ugh, liars, the both of you! Brianna told me your mom was faking her paralysis. How long were you planning to keep fooling me, huh?”
I’d heard this accusation before. Back then, – I argued, begged him to trust me, and told him to bring in doctors if he didn’t believe
- me.
But he just snapped, “Why would I believe you over Rian? She’s a professional nurse with no reason to lie. She’s not like you! You’ll say anything to get me to support your mom, even if it meant letting her fake paralysis for two years. You’re
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unbelievable!”
Now, standing there, hearing it again, didn’t even have the strength to fight.
Oh, how hilarious and sad it was…
I
I quietly picked up the broken pieces of Mom’s watch and put them in my pocket. Without saying a word, I turned to the master bedroom and went to pack my things.
Three years of this marriage had drained me. The mistrust, the accusations, and the constant uphill battle–it was over. Mom was gone, and I had nothing left to hold
onto.
Not long after, Brianna walked into the room, her voice soft but pointed. “Cornelia, where’s Auntie? She’s still my patient, you
know.”
I ignored her, continuing to pack.
But that nuts suddenly knelt in front of her voice trembling like she was on the
me,
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verge of tears. “Cornelia, please. Auntie’s. safety is important! You wouldn’t hide her somewhere, right? Right? What if… what if something happens to her?”
