Chapter 3

~DESMOND~ 

I tugged at my necktie, letting out the exasperated air I'd been keeping inside ever since she appeared on that rooftop. 

That crazy lady. 

I just saved her life, how dare she try to take it?

Funny how I'd encouraged her, knowing fully well what awaited me if I'd let her jump.

For the next several years at least, my son would hate me forever. 

I wiped my face, shaking my head at the irony of the situation.

Was that really Melissa?

“Dad, what took you so long?” Caleb whined when I got inside the car. “Did you sneak away to see Mum secretly?”

Mum?

What Mum?

That girl, although she shared a deep resemblance with her, would never be Melissa.

My wife died in a car accident two years ago. I'd been there, watching, helpless, and hopeful she would survive.

No amount of money spent could save her. She was gone moments before the paramedics arrived.

Caleb was just three years old.

Such devastating news would, in no doubt, traumatize a little boy.

I’d lied to him that his mother was on a special mission.

I'd told him she would return eventually, hopeful that when he grew up, he'd be able to handle the truth.

I had everything planned until this morning.

Caleb saw the news. He saw a woman who looked exactly like his mother, getting married. 

He'd dragged me there, and before we could set foot in the hall, it had caught fire.

How ironic!

The groom fled from the bride.

“Dad!”

As my son called out, I snapped to the present. 

Turning to him, I answered, “No. Remember the doctor said not to disturb her.”

Caleb pouted. Folding his hands, his eyes narrowed. “Why was Mummy about to marry a different guy? Didn't she like us anymore, Dad? She didn't hug me when she woke up, is Mummy upset with me?”

I pinched the space between my brows, feeling a headache building up.

What now?

Will my son keep on pestering me about that lady from now on?

I brought out my phone and sent a text.

[Melissa Brown. This morning, her wedding ended in flames. Send me all of her details.]

…

~MELISSA~

I didn't go back to the hospital ward,

Why should I when the pain inside my heart right now was far worse than the one in my leg?

I wiped my tears as I stepped inside the house. I didn't return to the apartment Raymond and I shared, of course.

I was back in my parents’ home, to expose his true colors, to put an end to everything.

But my mother and stepfather looked as baffled as I'd been when I discovered Raymond had been cheating on me with Anita.

They were watching TV, laughing happily, the living room echoing with their chatter.

When I entered, though, their joy was gone, replaced by a look of horror that masked their expressions.

My parents looked horrified as if they'd seen a ghost.

“Y-You!” my stepfather shot to his feet, trembling as he pointed at me. “Y-You… You!”

He could utter no other words, while my mother sat still, stunned and silent.

Her eyes raked over my tattered wedding dress, her fingers shaking as she gripped the chair’s handle.

Why did they look so scared and confused?

Weren't they supposed to be relieved, happy in fact that I was alive?

Were my mother and stepfather supposed to be watching TV happily when they weren't even sure whether I was alive or not?

They were present in the wedding hall.

They'd also fled with the crowd.

Did nobody even care to come back for my body if at least I’d ended up dead?

“Dad, Mum, we’re home!”

Anita’s voice rang from the doorway, a few steps behind me.

Raymond announced, “I’ve brought home expensive wine tonight, your favorite Dad. We will celebrate my upcoming wedding with Anita!”

His words made my heart tremble.

Despite witnessing the betrayal a while ago, the pain was still fresh, hearing him say those words.

I turned, my tears already falling before I could control them.

Raymond and Anita froze in their tracks.

Their eyes widened in shock, and the bag in Raymond’s hand dropped to the floor.

With the back of my hand, I wiped my tears, sniffing back the rest.

No need to ask any questions,

No need to hear their responses.

Every answer was right in front of me. 

The worst betrayal I could ever receive was from my own mother! 

I returned my gaze to her. She lowered her head in shame.

My heart screamed ‘Why?’

I wanted to demand what I did wrong to deserve such treatment.

But silence won.

Too shocked and traumatized, I feared demanding those answers would only worsen my heartbreak.

They'd tell me things that could drive me back to that rooftop and end my life for real.

“Well, you know now.” Anita broke the silence.

Her lips curled into a scornful smile, and she folded her hands across her chest. “You can get out since this isn't your father’s house. You were never welcomed here anyway—”

“Anita.” Raymond held her hand as if to stop her from speaking further. 

His shock was gone, replaced by a hesitant look, almost reflecting remorse.

Anita snatched her hand from him and threw him a glare. “What for? There's no need to pretend anymore, right? Should I also tell her that I'm pregnant with your baby?”

“That’s enough,” Raymond said, his voice helpless and defeated.

He stepped forward, searching my eyes. “Look, Melissa. I-I never loved you—”

PAK!

Before he finished speaking, my palm landed on his cheek, the hot slap resounding inside the room.

I wiped my tears furiously. “If you never loved me, you could say it from the start! Why wait for the wedding day? Why did you try to get rid of me!?”

“Because you left me with no other choice.” Raymond rubbed his cheek, his eyes turning cold.