Sacrifice in Shadows

After I nailed down the flight details, I figured that would be the end of their ridiculous charade.

However, as I pushed myself up from my wheelchair and made my way to the foot of the stairs, I found that Matthew Larson had sneaked off to the study upstairs with his assistant.

The place was trashed, and the two of them were making a scene that was way out of line.

Matthew gave his assistant that cheeky look while she egged him on.

"Matt, why so uptight? Is it because Wendy's back? She's got no way of getting up here with her condition, so how's she gonna know what we're up to?" she murmured into Matthew's ear, dripping with scorn for me.

Matthew gave her a pinch and hissed, "Shh... She might hear us."

"That's what makes it so exciting!

"We left the toys downstairs, though." She peeked over the banister at me below, then shot Matthew a suggestive look. "Should we get her to bring them up?"

Matthew wavered for a second before caving in. "Wendy, I need a favor. Can you bring that box on the coffee table to the stairs? It's for work."

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, but I kept my cool, barely. I forced a smile and eyed the box on the table.

Work stuff? Yeah, right. It was obviously a disgusting toy. Matthew wanted me to fetch their plaything.

I played the part of the helpless cripple, wheeled over to grab the box, and made my way back to the stairs.

"Working late?" I called out to Matthew as he descended the stairs, trying to sound casual even though my voice was shaking.

"I have no choice. Work is crazy busy, but it's all for our future, so it's worth it," he said with a show of passion, planting a fake kiss on my forehead.

He snatched the box from my hands and bolted upstairs to play with his assistant.

"Get some sleep early! I'll crash in the study tonight so that I won't bug you."

Matthew dashed off to the study.

Once he was gone, I could no longer hold my feelings back.

Even though I was ready to walk away, the thought of forgetting him still hurt like a thousand tiny cuts.

Matthew had sworn he would love only me and never betray me.

Yet, he had broken that promise.

I grabbed my phone and called my mentor.

"Professor, I'm ready to come back to research."

"Really? You know, joining the research team means signing a non-disclosure agreement. You won't get to see the outside world much. Didn't you and Matthew... Did you guys split up?"

I said, "We're about to."

My professor paused, taking it in.

"Okay, come here in seven days."

I had once hesitated to leave Matthew, giving up a bright future.

'Now, he's the reason I'm going back to my research roots,' I thought.

I glanced at the study door, shut tight, with the sound of Matthew's and his assistant's breathless whispers slipping through.

"I've wasted years, knowing I was meant for research, but I gave it all up for a man. Not anymore. I'm going back to dive into my studies."

"That's my star student," my professor said, proud. "You didn't let me down. We'll be at the airport in seven days to welcome you."

"Thanks, Professor. I'll be there."

After a long while, Matthew came out of the study, his white shirt untucked, his hair a mess, and his buttons undone.

It was obvious that something wild had just gone down upstairs, and I could not believe I had not picked up on it until now.