Chapter 2

That night, Gary and Kelly came back home and switched on the light in the living room. They almost jumped when they saw someone sitting on the couch.

Kelly recovered first. "What's wrong with you, Dana?! Sitting here at night like some ghost, trying to scare us like that?!"

Dana looked at her and said, "I thought you were too afraid to go outside and socialize?"

There was a flicker in Kelly's eyes. "Where I go is none of your business!"

She then stormed upstairs without looking back.

Gary walked over, stiff and unnatural. "I took Kelly to see a therapist."

"You should. She went up to the roof again today, and she said she wants Sandy to be her sister-in-law," Dana said.

Gary frowned, impatient. "She's not well after what she went through. Just put up with it a little longer."

"Put up with it?" Dana got up to her feet. "How much more am I supposed to put up with? She orders me around, forces me to slap myself, makes me kneel and apologize to her, I..."

Gary's expression darkened as he cut her off with a sharp voice. "Enough! Who do you think made her like this?!"

Dana's nails dug into her palm.

-

Two years ago, they had just parked outside a restaurant when Kelly had messaged Gary and told him to pick her up from school.

Dana's fingers had been interlocked with his, and she leaned in and kissed his neck, her voice soft as she pleaded, "It's my birthday today. Can you stay with me... Until we are done?"

Gary hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

Before they could even get out of the car, Kelly called again.

"I'll explain it to her," Gary said, reaching for his phone.

Dana suddenly snatched it and shut it off, furious. "She always has some reason to drag you away. She's already an adult. You don't need to watch her every second. She will always be more important than me in your heart, right?"

Gary looked at her and finally sighed. "Our parents died early. It's just the two of us now. Maybe… I'm too anxious when it comes to her."

They were halfway through dinner when the driver rushed in. "Sir! Ms. Hill has been kidnapped!"

Gary did not find Kelly until the next day in an abandoned warehouse.

She had been tortured all night by their family's enemy, covered in bruises and cuts, with her eyes unfocused.

-

"Yes, it's my fault she turned out like this..." Dana's voice was hoarse. "But for the past two years, I have worked myself to the bone taking care of her. She has already crushed my pride. Am I supposed to be tortured by her for the rest of my life?"

Gary fell quiet suddenly and wouldn't look at her. Then, his voice became unnaturally stiff as he said, "The therapist said Kelly needs some emotional support right now, so Sandy will be moving in tomorrow."

"What?" Dana stared at him in disbelief.

"When Kelly feels better, I'll have her move out," Gary said quickly.

Dana looked at him. "Gary, I went to the registry office today."

Gary froze, and his fingers tightened without thinking.

"They told me we are already divorced," Dana said with a smile, but tears rolled from the corners of her eyes. "You already had it planned. You were just waiting for me to make room for Sandy."

Gary rushed forward and grabbed her wrist, his tone nervous, "It's not what you think! Kelly threatened to kill herself. I had no choice. Don't worry, Dana. When she's more stable, we'll remarry. I will never let you suffer again, alright?"

"Threatened to kill herself?" Dana yanked her arm free, her voice rising. "How many times has she used that on us? She used that every time, and you always believed her!"

Gary snapped too, veins popping out at his temple. "She's my sister! The only family I have in this world! I can't gamble with her life! I cannot afford to!

"Dana, why are you always pushing me?! Don't you know how hard it is for me to get stuck between the two of you?! Can't you just be understanding for once?"

Dana looked into Gary's eyes and almost laughed. Had she not been understanding enough?

The first time she had met Kelly, Kelly had shoved her into the pool right in front of Gary. He had said, "Kelly is just a spoiled kid. Go easy on her."

On their wedding day, not only had Kelly not shown up, but she had even locked all the villa's doors. Dana had stood outside in her wedding dress, freezing for half an hour. In the end, they had to spend their wedding night in a hotel.

Gary had said then, "I'm sorry you were done dirty like this. Give it time. Kelly will accept you."

After Kelly was kidnapped, she took it out on Dana every day. If she could not see Dana, she would throw a fit.

Gary begged Dana with red eyes, "Help me. It won't be for long..."

Every time, Dana endured it.

But now, she did not want to anymore. "I'm tired, Gary."

Gary immediately pulled her into his arms. "Dana, I love you."

He tightened his hold, his voice almost pleading. "Do it for me. Just for a little longer, alright?"

Dana went stiff in his embrace, as if she had agreed.

They were already divorced anyway.

It did not matter.