Chapter 2

When we picked Cherry up, she refused to get in the car.

“Ana, can I sit in the front? I heard the passenger seat is reserved for the girlfriend.”

I did not answer. I just looked at Evan.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. In an exasperated tone, he said, “Cherry, don’t start. Just get in the car.”

However, Cherry’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

“Ana gets to have you for a lifetime. I had to hurt myself just to have you for three months. You promised me yesterday that you’d love me only and treat me like I matter during these three months.”

“Alright.” Evan cut her off before turning to me with a pleading look.

I gave him a sad, understanding smile.

“It’s fine. I’ll sit in the back.”

The car pulled away.

Cherry was in high spirits. She tore open a bag of chips and casually asked, “Want some, Ana?”

Before I could answer, she had already picked one up to hold it to Evan’s lips. “Here, baby, open up. Let me feed you.”

Evan cleared his throat. “Don’t call me that. I don’t like it.”

Cherry flashed him a teasing, knowing smile. “That’s not what you said yesterday.”

Evan nervously glanced at me in the rearview mirror. All he saw was my pale face and my gaze blankly fixed on the window.

The date was at an amusement park.

Cherry was practically glowing with excitement.

One minute she was shouting, “Baby, come ride the roller coaster with me!” The next, she was clinging to Evan’s arm, dragging him to a claw machine. Then, she was whining for him to feed her bites of ice cream.

I dragged my sick body along on autopilot.

Watching my husband flirt with another woman right in front of me, for a moment, I could not tell which hurt more, my body or my heart.

In the restroom, I splashed cold water on my face. I tried to clear my head.

When I looked up, Cherry was standing there with her arms crossed. She was shooting me a provoking look. The sweet-girl act was gone.

She dropped the pretense and snorted. “You really are thick-skinned. You’re staying despite everything.”

I put on a frightened voice. “What do you mean? You said you’d leave after three months!”

Cherry let out a mocking chuckle. “You’re so naive, Ana! Tell me, in three months, who do you think will be the one leaving? You or me?”

She glanced at herself in the mirror with confidence, then reached out and lightly patted my cheek.

“Men always choose the younger, prettier girl. What exactly do you think you have that can compete with me, old lady?”

Panic flashed my face. My voice broke as I pleaded. “Please don’t take Evan from me. We’ve been together for ten years. I can’t live without him.”

A cruel smile spread across her face.

“Fine. Then get on your knees and beg.”

Tears slipped down my face as humiliation burned through me. Only then did she finally look satisfied.

“You actually would’ve done it? I was just messing with you, old lady.”

She smiled sweetly.

“Don’t worry. Your precious Evan is just a little distraction to me. Playing with you two is way more entertaining than teasing a dog. When I get bored, I’ll give him back.”

With that, she turned and walked away with her hips swaying and a smirk on her face.

Once she was gone, my tears vanished instantly.

I pulled the recorder out from inside my clothes. My expression turned cold.

“Oh, Evan, what face will you make when you find out the true colors of the sweet, innocent girl you’ve been protecting?”

I was actually looking forward to seeing it.

When I stepped out of the restroom, Cherry rushed over and slipped her arm through mine with a bright smile.

“Ana, Evan and I are going to the haunted house next. Come with us.” She added in a lowered voice. “You’d better keep what just happened to yourself. But honestly, even if you told him, he wouldn’t believe you.”

I pulled away from her and walked unsteadily toward Evan.

“I’m not feeling well. You two go ahead. I’m going back.”

Evan frowned when he saw me.

“Why do you look so pale? You should go home and rest.”

Cherry immediately pouted. “Come on, baby, I’m scared. It’ll be easier if there are more people. Let Ana stay just for this one game.”

Evan hesitated, then looked at me.

“Can you hold on a little longer? I’ll drive you back after this.”

I held his gaze for a moment, then nodded. My body was barely holding on. The haunted house’s freezing drafts did not help. I swayed and reached for Evan’s arm, just looking for something to steady myself.

Then, Cherry let out a shriek and clung to him like a koala.

Evan sighed. His voice was soft with affection as he said, “You’re such a scaredy-cat. Why insist on coming in here if you’re so afraid?”

He shook my hand off without a second thought, then scooped Cherry up into his arms and carried her forward.

He did not notice me stumbling behind him.

Nestled in his arms, Cherry looked over his shoulder at me. Her eyes were filled with a mix of pity and mockery. When they exited the haunted house, Evan set Cherry down and turned to look back inside. I dragged myself out of the darkness, agonizing step by agonizing step.

My body had reached its limit. My legs gave way. Pain wracked every inch of me. Just as I crossed the threshold, everything went black.

“Ana!”

Before the darkness swallowed me, I saw Evan sprint toward me. There was panic and concern written all over his face.