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Chapter 9
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Always in Second Place Chapter 10
After the divorce, I spent a month recovering at my parents' house.Mom and Dad never pressed me about the past. They simply kept me company, taking walks with me, watching movies, and cooking for me.My wound gradually healed. The hurt inside me slowly began to scar over too.A month later, I updated my resume and started looking for work again.Before long, I landed a position as a project director at a mid-sized cultural events and media company in Seattle.Two years later, the company organized a charity gala in Seattle to raise funds for children's literacy programs in remote communities across Washington State. I was responsible for the overall planning and on-site coordination.The day before the event, I attended a meeting with the Seattle Police Department's security team.When I pushed open the conference room door, several people were already seated inside.One of them looked up. It was Claire. She was wearing her dark SPD dress uniform, her badge and nameplate perfe
Always in Second Place Chapter 9
Lily clutched her blanket and suddenly spoke in a quiet voice, "Dad's kidneys really are in bad shape, but a lot of the things he said about being close to death, needing Mom, and having to get Mom back were made up to scare her into feeling sorry for him."Margaret watched her quietly without rushing her.Lily sniffled, as though she were desperate to prove something. "Dad also said that if the bad man disappeared, Mom would come back."So he had people kidnap Evan, and he made them take me too. He said that way Mom would choose me and not Evan."Margaret immediately signaled the note-taker to notify the detective in charge of the case.Claire stood outside the command vehicle. Through the glass, she heard everything Lily had said. Her expression gradually turned cold.The detective walked over to her and spoke in a low voice, "We've already obtained the suspects' recent call and financial transfer records, as well as Daniel's. If the evidence corroborates Lily's account, we'll
Always in Second Place Chapter 8
Three days after the divorce, I posted an update on Instagram and published a public statement on Facebook.There were only three photos, with private information carefully redacted.The first was authenticated documentation establishing the timeline. It clearly showed the date Claire and Daniel's previous marriage was dissolved, as well as the date Claire and I had registered our marriage.The second was the first page of the divorce decree signed by the King County Superior Court.The third was the transplant evaluation bill from Harborview, with the date and services clearly visible.Public opinion quickly turned around.[Daniel and Claire divorced before Evan and Claire got married. The whole story about him interfering in their marriage while Daniel was sick was a complete fabrication.][He wasn't the other man. He was actually pressured into getting evaluated as a potential kidney donor for his wife's ex-husband?][Claire really crossed so many boundaries with her husband
Always in Second Place Chapter 7
A little over three months later, Washington State's statutory waiting period had expired. We attended the final hearing at the Superior Court.It was raining that day.Claire arrived ten minutes late. "Sorry. Something came up with the department.""It's fine."The judge quickly reviewed the marital settlement agreement and uncontested petition for dissolution of marriage that our lawyers had submitted.The clerk handed us the signed divorce decree.Three years earlier, we had obtained our marriage license through King County Records and Licensing Services, then completed our civil ceremony and registered our marriage.Three years later, in the same city, we formally ended it in family court.By the time we walked out of the courthouse, the rain had grown heavier."Let me give you a ride," Claire offered."No need. I'll call a car."She nodded.We stood at the foot of the courthouse steps, neither of us making the first move to leave."Ev."I turned around."I'm sorry."
Always in Second Place Chapter 6
Half a month later, Claire came to the Mercer family home.My father, David Mercer, didn't even look at her. Mom opened the door with a cold expression, but still let her in.Claire stood in the living room, looking at me. "How are you feeling?""I'm fine," I replied indifferently. "What, are the compatibility results back? Are you here to pressure me into donating a kidney to Daniel again?""No." She hurriedly shook her head. "There's a deceased-donor kidney available through the transplant waiting list. Daniel has already undergone the transplant. You don't need to do anything."I didn't respond.She clenched her fists, then slowly relaxed them."Daniel's condition is very unstable right now. My lawyer will seek a protective order and any necessary temporary guardianship arrangements. Whether he needs a psychiatric evaluation or further treatment will be determined through the proper process by the crisis intervention team, the police, and the court."Lily is staying with my
Always in Second Place Chapter 5
By the time I returned to the Mercer family home in northern Seattle, it was already dark.My mother, Elaine Mercer, froze when she saw me. "Ev? What are you doing back? Where's Claire?"I was silent for a long time before finally speaking. "I'm planning to divorce Claire."The living room fell quiet.I started from the day Daniel came back.I told them about the online harassment, the initial compatibility test, the kidnapping, and Lily.I told them about lying in the hospital bed, listening to Claire's hurried footsteps as she left.I spoke calmly, as though I were recounting someone else's story.Mom's eyes turned red. She clasped my hand tightly. "Then get a divorce. Just because she doesn't cherish you doesn't mean you aren't worthy of being cherished."She wrapped her arms around me and gently patted my back. "You can stay here. As long as you need."That night, I slept in the room where I had grown up. The sheets had just been changed, and the room still carried the fa
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