Two

CHAPTER 2

To calm my mind, I tried not to think too much about what I had just heard about Mayra coming back.

I went back to my house chores, trying to focus on cleaning. A few hours later, Mrs. Thompson’s daughter came by with her three children. The kids ran happily across the shiny floor and jumped on the couch, leaving dirty marks everywhere. After eating a few snacks, they soon left with their mother.

When I looked at the clock again, it was already two in the afternoon. The ladies finally finished their card game. They left orange peels, biscuit wrappers, and empty cups scattered on the table and floor, not caring about the mess they made.

One by one they walked out of Serenity Pines Estate. Just before leaving, my mother-in-law turned to me and said, “Oh, I almost forgot. Bradley asked me to remind you about tonight’s dinner at the Heritage Harvest Hotel. Don’t forget.”

After saying that, she walked toward the black Mercedes-Benz waiting outside while the driver held the door open for her.

A small spark of happiness lit up inside me. Today is my wedding anniversary with Bradley, and I could not stop thinking that maybe he had planned a surprise celebration for us at the hotel.

As the car drove away, I smiled and waved while watching everyone slowly leave the driveway. Standing there, I noticed two trucks filled with furniture and equipment not far away. It looked like someone was moving into the villa next to ours. I only glanced at it for a moment before going back inside.

A long breath escaped from my mouth when I saw the big mess waiting for me. I had no choice but to clean everything before leaving for the Heritage Harvest Hotel because Bradley liked the house to stay neat and organized.

Later, I walked quickly toward the restaurant inside the hotel, my heart beating fast with nervous excitement. I was already thirty minutes late because I had rushed to remove the stain a child left on the couch.

“Excuse me, where is the hotel restaurant?” I asked a staff member while trying to catch my breath.

“Just turn right over there, ma’am,” she answered kindly.

I followed her directions, but before I reached the restaurant hallway, I suddenly saw Bradley standing outside with Mayra.

My feet stopped instantly.

Without thinking, I stepped back behind the wall so they would not see me.

They were talking seriously. Bradley looked calm as he held a small box in his hands. I immediately recognized the box I had seen in the wardrobe the night before.

Mayra’s face brightened with surprise when he opened it.

Inside was the necklace with the blue sapphire and diamonds.

My breathing stopped.

Bradley gently placed the necklace around Mayra’s neck.

A cold feeling rushed through my body. My hand moved to my chest as my heart started beating painfully fast.

The necklace was not for me.

The dinner was not for me either.

This whole evening was meant to welcome Mayra back.

Tears quietly rolled down my cheeks as the painful truth settled deep inside my heart. I slowly turned away, feeling like I had just lost something very important.

Mercy, what were you even hoping for? You always knew Bradley and Mayra belonged together.

My chest tightened so much that it became hard to breathe.

Mayra’s shadow had always been present in our marriage.

I first met Bradley when I was eighteen years old. His half-sister Jane was my classmate in college and also my closest friend. Jane was the result of Mr. Cornell’s affair, and sadly her mother died when she was still very young.

Jane and I studied together at Crestwood University. Many times we studied at the Cornell mansion, and during those times I would secretly look at Bradley whenever he walked by.

Everything changed when I was nineteen years old.

That was when I heard that Bradley was going to marry Mayra.

It felt like my heart was breaking.

But on their wedding day something shocking happened. Mayra ran away with another man and left the country, leaving Bradley alone at the altar.

“This is all your fault! Your actions made Mayra run away today! What are we supposed to do now? Investors and supporters of Luminary Productions are waiting outside!” Mr. Cornell shouted angrily at Bradley.

“We must find another bride immediately! I cannot face my business partners with this embarrassment! Do something!” his father ordered again.

After standing outside the room for a moment, I gently knocked on the half-open door.

That was the moment I made the bold decision to offer myself as Bradley’s bride.

At that time I was young and foolishly in love with him. I was ready to give up everything just to be with him. Becoming his wife felt like the perfect chance, even if I was only replacing Mayra.

For three painful years I kept hoping that one day Bradley would return the love I felt for him.

Did he ever realize how much I sacrificed during those three years of marriage?

Even so, I did not completely stop my education. Secretly I took online classes from Crestwood University. I studied Advanced Programming without telling anyone.

I kept it hidden because I did not want problems with Mrs. Cornell. She believed my only duty was taking care of Bradley, which was also the reason I refused to hire a maid.

Lost in my thoughts, I kept walking along the road while the cold wind brushed against my skin.

Suddenly my phone rang.

The sound pulled me out of my thoughts.

I thought it might be Bradley asking where I was, but when I looked at the screen I saw Jane’s name.

She was currently in London for training while I stayed in Highland Hills City as Bradley’s wife. Without Jane nearby, I had no one to share my problems with.

I quickly wiped my tears before answering the call with a cheerful voice.

“Bestie!”

“Happy wedding anniversary!” Jane said happily.

“Thank you,” I replied, but tears started filling my eyes again.

My heart felt like it was breaking. My best friend remembered my anniversary with her brother, yet Bradley did not even notice that I was not at the restaurant.

“I miss you so much!” Jane said warmly.

“I miss you too. I wish you were here so I could hug you tightly,” I answered, my voice shaking a little.

“Aww… how are you?” she asked kindly.

How am I?

The truth is, I am not okay.

But I did not want to worry her while she was far away. Even though she was Bradley’s sister, I still wanted to handle my marriage problems alone.

“I’m… fine,” I said softly.

“I’ll come home after my exam! Then we can see each other again. I’m getting sleepy now, so I have to go. Enjoy your night with Bradley!” Jane said before ending the call.

When the call ended, tears blurred my vision again. My cheeks were wet as sadness filled my heart.

The sky above me looked dark and heavy, like rain was about to fall.

I knew I should go home before the storm began.

I had just wiped my tears when a van suddenly stopped in front of me. The side door quickly slid open.

Before I could react, two men jumped out and grabbed both of my arms.

“Ahhh!” I screamed while looking around desperately at the passing cars for help.

Another man pressed a wet cloth over my mouth.

A strong smell filled my nose.

My body suddenly felt weak.

My vision slowly turned dark, and I could no longer move.

When I woke up again, I felt confused and dizzy.

I was lying on the bed in the room I shared with Bradley.

But beside me was a strange man whose face I had never seen before.

“Ahhh!” I screamed and quickly moved away from him, my heart racing with fear.

Just then the bedroom door burst open.

Bradley stood there wearing the same suit he had worn at the hotel earlier that night.

“What the hell is going on here?!” he shouted angrily.

Before I could explain anything, he grabbed the man by the collar and punched him hard.

I screamed again as the man quickly jumped away like someone caught doing something wrong.

Bradley’s fists were tight, and I could feel his anger burning in the room. He looked at me with dark suspicion.

“Bradley, please believe me! I was kidnapped! I don’t know what’s happening!” I cried desperately.

Suddenly my mother-in-law rushed into the room.

“I knew it!” she shouted. “I told you, Bradley! That’s why I kept coming to Serenity Pines Estate to watch that woman. I knew she was doing something behind our backs!”

“N-no! That’s not true!” I said quickly.

With a cold smile, Mrs. Cornell took several photos from her bag and threw them onto the bed.

When I looked closely, I saw myself in the pictures.

In the photos I was sitting across from Jakob, my classmate from Advanced Programming, talking together in a restaurant. He was wearing his usual hoodie, and I was smiling in the pictures.

In another photo I was hugging him beside his motorcycle. This time the hoodie he wore had a different color.

Suddenly a frightening thought hit me.

The man who was lying beside me earlier was also wearing a hoodie.

“You have been meeting your lover in different restaurants,” Mrs. Cornell said sharply. “And now you even brought him into your bedroom?”

“No… no!” I shook my head strongly.

The accusations crashed over me like a storm.

I struggled desperately against the heavy feeling of unfair suspicion that was slowly swallowing me.