Chapter 6

Perhaps it was the long period of neglect, but it ultimately sparked a sense of crisis in Summer. At last, she tore off her mask and revealed her true colors.

The next morning, Tabitha woke to a barrage of provocative messages Summer had sent the night before.

"I know you saw us. How did it feel, watching your husband kiss another woman while your son covered for him? You know, Kieran loves it when I cry. He said it gives him a sense of satisfaction, especially when we were in bed.

"The more I cried, the harder he'd go. Even when I lost my voice from all the screaming, he still wouldn't stop. Once, he even said he wanted to stay by my side 24/7. I bet he's never done any of that to you, right?

"I guess not, because even your precious son is a big fan of mine. He said he felt extremely at ease around me. One time, he thought I was asleep and secretly called me 'mommy.' Honestly, Mrs. Lowe, I think you failed miserably as a wife and a mother."

Staring at the taunting texts, Tabitha suppressed the storm of emotions and took screenshots of every single one of Summer's texts.

With only three days left before she could depart, she decided these messages would be her parting gift to Kieran and David.

That morning, Tabitha asked to be discharged. The hospital informed Kieran immediately.

Soon after, his call came through. He sounded unsurprisingly apologetic. "Tab, I can't leave the office right now. I'll send someone to take you home instead. David's with me, so don't worry about him and just rest well at home."

She knew exactly what he meant—they were spending time with Summer—but she simply responded softly, "Okay."

Three days before leaving this world, Tabitha returned home and instructed the household staff to gather all her belongings and discard them.

One of the maids looked puzzled and asked, "Mrs. Lowe, are you replacing them with new ones?"

Tabitha nodded. "Yeah."

Little did they know, it wasn't just the belongings being replaced—even the lady of the house was, too.

Two days before leaving this world, Tabitha opened the secret room only she, Kieran, and David could access.

The walls were covered with dense clusters of photographs from the past decade—photos of the three of them together, and every annual family photo taken since David was born.

Over the decade, the man in the photos had grown from young and awkward to mature. The family had grown from two to three. But now, one face would have to disappear.

Tabitha took a pair of scissors and sat in that room from morning till night, cutting herself out of every photo, leaving only Kieran and David. She then pulled out the marriage certificate Kieran had carefully stored in the safe seven years ago.

As she held it, she noticed the wedding vows tucked underneath it.

"Tabitha, to me, you are my whole world. Because of you, my world is no longer black and white… I will love and protect you forever. I believe we will grow old together, loving each other through every lifetime."

Tabitha read each word carefully, taking in the overflowing affection of a 22-year-old Kieran.

By the time she reached the end, she smiled silently, her eyes slightly wet. Finally, she slid the vows back beneath the marriage certificate.

Along with the pieces of her own cut-out photos, she stacked them in the center of the garden and set them on fire. She stood there, watching the photographs and the certificate turn into ashes.

The day before leaving this world, Tabitha printed out all the photos and messages Summer had sent over the past few days.

There were pictures of Kieran shirtless, holding Summer in his arms, her neck covered in hickeys. Others were of David leaning against Summer's lap with admiration while she read him bedtime stories.

Some were the three of them, all wearing cartoon headbands, smiles wide as they posed at a theme park.

…

Tabitha had thought seeing those photos would hurt, but all she felt was a dead calm. She packed all the printed photos into a folder, slipped her wedding ring inside, and sealed them together.

The day she left was their seventh wedding anniversary. That morning, Kieran and David, who hadn't returned for days, came home early. Kieran carried a heart-shaped cake in his hands.

"Tab, I've been busy with work lately—I know, it's my fault. Today is our anniversary. I promise you, David and I won't go anywhere but stay by your side."

David raised his little palm in oath. "Mommy, I swear I've been keeping an eye on Daddy every day. He's really busy at work."

Tabitha looked at them, so certain in their words, and asked softly, "Aren't you two tired?"

Weren't they tired, playing the roles of devoted husband and perfect son while juggling her and Summer?