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Chapter 2

Author: Amber Fleck
Leo’s face flushed bright red.

Mark sitting beside him slammed his pen down, unable to hold back any longer.

“That’s complete bullshit!

“When Maya was stabbed, Leo only took care of her out of guilt! He was trying to persuade her not to press charges so you wouldn't rot in prison!

“After you vanished, Leo used up all his vacation time searching for you. Maya only visited the station to ask if we’d found any leads on your whereabouts!

“You were gone for three years. Leo’s father was terminally ill and his dying wish was to see his son settled down.

“Maya took pity on the old man and suggested a fake ceremony to give him peace of mind!”

Leo let out a heavy sigh and turned his back to me.

Mark pointed a trembling finger straight at my face, his voice thick with frustration.

“You never came back, and Maya was single. We were the ones who convinced Leo to actually register the marriage and take responsibility for her.

“And after all that, you play the victim and accuse him of cheating? Clara, you're completely delusional!”

Leo turned back, his expression hollow and grief-stricken.

“Clara, do you want to know the real reason Maya suggested the fake wedding in the first place?”

He walked over and slammed his golden wedding band onto the table.

“She knew you hated her. She didn't want a misunderstanding to destroy what we had, so she used the wedding as bait to draw you out.

“Every single detail was chosen based on what you loved. Your dream dress, your exact ring size, they were waiting in the dressing room for you to show up.

“Maya wore a cheap, rented dress and a plastic ring just to go through the motions. When you didn't show, she posted the ceremony video online, praying you’d see it and come home.”

The chat on the livestream screen erupted into a chaotic flood of text.

[I saw that video! I remember thinking how tacky the bride looked and how her ring barely fit!]

[People dragged her so hard in the comments for marrying a guy who clearly didn't love her…]

[I was one of the people making fun of her back then... God, I feel sick.]

I stared at the gold band resting on the metal table, my mind drifting back three years when Leo proposed to me.

I had just graduated with my master's degree and landed my dream job offer.

My mother’s treatment was working, and the doctors said she would be discharged soon.

Drunk on happiness and excited for the future, I called Maya.

“Maya! Leo proposed to me!

“You’re my best friend. Will you be my maid of honor?

“I want you right beside me when I say I do!”

Maya laughed and said yes.

Before I even picked out my own gown, I spent hours shopping for her bridesmaid dress.

If I hadn't seen what I saw that day.

If I hadn't walked in on them.

The engagement ring meant for my finger had been replaced by cold iron handcuffs.

The man who once spun me around and swore I was his entire world stood across from me, treated me like a monster.

He wanted me to surrender the person who destroyed my entire life.

“Clara, if you have even a shred of humanity left in you, tell me where Maya is.”

I closed my eyes tight, feeling a single teardrop trace down my cheek.

“Columbarium A, Locker 302,” I whispered. “That’s where you’ll find what’s left of her.”

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  • An Endless Ocean Of Resentment   Chapter 10

    During my sentence, Leo came to visit me every single month.He moved my mother's grave to a quiet memorial park and planted a small pine tree right beside her stone.Every month, alongside news of the outside world, he brought me a fresh pine needle branch.“Keep your head up, Clara. I’m waiting for you out here.”I didn't want him to waste his life on me.For several months straight, I refused his visits.So he started writing letters instead.Sometimes, he tucked an old photograph of us inside the envelope.Looking at our young, carefree smiles, I couldn't stop the tears from falling.Next to our photo, Leo wrote a note.[Clara, our lives just took an unexpected detour.][Give me a chance to fix it. Let me help us find our way back onto the right path.][Even if that detour takes a lifetime to correct, I’m willing to walk it with you.]I gently ran my thumb over our smiling faces and never refused his visits again.---Life inside was simple. I focused on learning a v

  • An Endless Ocean Of Resentment   Chapter 9

    After I killed Maya, I had intended to turn myself in directly.But before leaving, I suddenly wanted my mother to see me in a wedding dress.Three years ago, she never even got to hear the news that I was getting married.Just an hour before Leo arrested me during the raid, the bridal shop owner had called to tell me my dress had arrived.I could come in for a fitting whenever I was ready.That was why my instinct had been to run that day.I just wanted to see that dress.In the end, I never got to put it on.---My memories drifted back to the present.My tears fell, mingling with the ones dripping off Leo’s face.Even though I remained silent, Leo immediately ordered a full reinvestigation into my activity overseas during those three years.He demanded a deep analysis of the connections among all five victims.Eventually, the entire tangled web of the organ trafficking syndicate was dragged into the light.The true, hidden identities of those five victims were made pub

  • An Endless Ocean Of Resentment   Chapter 8

    By the time I snapped back to reality, my fingers were locked around that bastard’s throat.A split second later, a brutal force slammed into me, throwing me hard onto the cold concrete floor.Vicious slaps rained down on my face, over and over again.“Who do you think you are, Clara?“Look at you! When push came to shove, you did the dirty work anyway, didn't you?“Why don't you run to your detective boyfriend? Go turn yourself in! Beg him for mercy!”They beat me until I blacked out.The next three years were a living hell.Because I refused to execute their orders, every day began and ended with severe beating.Every single crime they committed was systematically pinned under my name.They made sure that even if I escaped back home, a life sentence would be waiting for me.Maya even called my burner phone once, her voice dripping with artificial pity.“Clara, you can't go back. Why don't you just cooperate?“Your mother is dead. Leo and I are getting married. What do yo

  • An Endless Ocean Of Resentment   Chapter 7

    Maya jerked violently, causing fresh blood to soak through the heavy white bandages wrapped around her abdomen.Leo slammed his hand onto the nurse call button.Medical staff rushed into the room within seconds.Amid the chaos, Leo grabbed my wrists and snapped cold metal handcuffs into place.“You hurt Maya, and now you’re chasing her to the hospital to terrorize her?!“She’s done nothing but care for you! How could you be such a heartless monster?!”Tears spilled over my lashes, hot and stinging.My throat locked tight, trapping every word inside.I could only shake my head, powerless to defend myself.---Maya’s medical report had been issued shortly after the incident.Because the blade had completely missed all vital organs, her injuries were minimal.Now, three years later, Leo pulled that exact medical report back out.His voice trembled as he read line by line.“Clara... you have zero medical training. How could you precisely avoid every vital organ with a combat

  • An Endless Ocean Of Resentment   Chapter 6

    I stared at Maya in absolute disbelief.“That’s the man from Bed 15…“He wasn't even gravely ill. He was talking with my mother just last night.“The nurse on night rounds asked if he wanted to sign an organ donation form. “He hesitated at first, but he was superstitious and thought signing it might bring him good luck.“Then he took a sudden turn this morning and died. Maya... was that you?”Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at the old man's pale, lifeless face.Maya signed softly.“Clara, I’ve always been so good to you. Why do you always think the worst of me?“He signed that form voluntarily. I’m simply honoring his request while making a modest profit.“His death alone can save five other lives. To those five people, I am a hero.”“You murdered him!” I cut her off, my voice trembling.“He was alive, and you killed him! That is murder!”Maya held up her hands in mock surrender.“He made his own choice.“He was sick and couldn't afford his treatment. I offered to h

  • An Endless Ocean Of Resentment   Chapter 5

    When I saw Leo again, it was in the visitation room.Separated by bulletproof glass, he looked far worse than I did, and my execution was set for the next morning.“Clara, I was wrong!”Leo held the receiver with a hand that trembled uncontrollably.“I’m getting you a new lawyer right now. You have to file an appeal. Please, Clara!”I shook my head, offering a faint smile.“Does any of this really matter now?“I’m going to die either way.”The word ‘die’ seemed to trigger something inside him.Leo shook his head frantically, his face pale.“No... no...“It’s not the same, Clara! It’s not the same...“Why didn't I realize it sooner? If I had paid attention, none of this would have happened!”Tears and sweat streamed down his face as he sobbed like a broken child.“Clara, I’m the monster here. I failed you. Everything is my fault.“I won't let it end like this.“I’ll fix this, Clara. I swear I’ll give you the truth.”The timer buzzed, signaling the end of our session. Le

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