Hearts Beyond Redemption

My stomach churned violently as I dry heaved several times, but nothing came out. Raymond Quinn heard the noise and impatiently knocked on the door. "What's wrong with you now? Stop pretending already! Hurry up and make dinner!"

I stared at myself in the mirror. My face was pale, my lips were cracked, and my eyes were sunken. I would never forget the cold water in the well and that suffocating despair.

In my previous life, Raymond constantly supported his first love, Victoria Langford, who lived next door. He pitied her for being recently widowed and considered her needs in everything.

Although we argued frequently, I still thought my husband was simply being kind-hearted. That was until our son starved to death at home while my husband tenderly cared for Victoria and her child next door.

That was when I completely lost hope in our marriage. I never expected god to allow me to return to this moment.

I opened the door to find him holding the dried spaghetti noodles, preparing to leave.

I instinctively blocked his way. "Are you insane? That's our food for the next two weeks! What will we eat if you give them away?"

Frowning, he impatiently pushed my hand away.

"Vicky is pregnant and needs to eat well. We can buy more later."

"Buy more? Do we even have money left?" I could not help but mock him.

He gave Victoria half his salary as soon as he got paid. He would also spend several hundred dollars to buy her a handbag. Now, we had only 50 dollars left to last us two weeks. I bought this packet of spaghetti noodles by swallowing my pride and borrowing money from others.

He seemed to realize this and looked slightly embarrassed, but he remained resolute. "I'll figure something out. This should go to Vicky first. Also, she's pregnant and can't do housework as easily, so remember to go over daily to wash her clothes and cook. Take good care of her, and don't be stingy. She's like a sister to me, after all."

Sister?

I laughed bitterly. The resentment from two lifetimes surged within me, and I could not help but taunt, "If you're so capable, Raymond Quinn, why don't you hire a housekeeper for her? I'm your wife, not your servant!"

He gave me a disappointed look. "Minnie, why are you always targeting Vicky?"

With that, he pushed open the door and walked straight to the apartment next door.

I stood in the doorway as our other neighbor, Carol Weber, sidled up with raised eyebrows, her tone full of gossip. "Your man's gone to that pretty widow's place again? Tsk, tsk, a man and a woman alone in one place..."

The thin walls of our apartment building provided terrible soundproofing. Our neighbors could hear everything happening on our side.

Victoria had heard it all as well. She stood in her doorway, her hands supporting her back. Smiling sweetly, she said, "Oh, Minnie, Raymond only asked you to help out because he feels sorry for me as a widow. Don't be angry. I'll talk to him about it later."

She spoke like she was Raymond's wife.

Meanwhile, Raymond looked at her with tender affection. "Vicky, are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat in a moment."

Raymond had never cooked a single meal at home. He would drag me out of bed even when I had a high fever, cursing and demanding I hurry up and cook.

It seemed he was not incapable, after all. I snorted with derision, not bothering with either of them. I turned and went back inside, slamming the door hard.

Since I had gotten a second chance, I wouldn't be as foolish as I was before.