Semua Bab Second in Silence: Bab 1 - Bab 9

"Alicia, I'm expecting! Can you keep an eye on the wedding prep for me?""Charles has been gone for three years, and we're only now getting around to the wedding. I don't want to shortchange myself."I stumbled down the stairs, lost in a fog, when Emily Cobb stopped me with an outstretched hand.She rubbed her belly, her face alight with the bliss of impending motherhood.If that had been half an hour earlier, I would have wished my sister-in-law happiness from the bottom of my heart.However, armed with the bitter truth, I couldn't keep my composure.I turned her down flat."Better get a professional to do it. If the wedding hits a snag, I can't be on the hook for it.""What's all the excitement about?"A tall guy came over, casually slinging an arm around Emily, all lovey-dovey.It was like a dagger to my chest, each stab excruciating."Emily wanted me to help with the wedding, but I suggested she go with a professional."I mean, I've never been married myself, so I'm not

Charles was gone, taken by a plane crash.I had stayed behind in the Wallace family home to care for his aging mother, Margaret.However, Margaret had never liked me, not from the moment I stepped through their door.After Charles passed away, Margaret found even more reasons to chew me out.It was the 21st century, for crying out loud, but there I was, expected to rise at the crack of dawn every day to help her get ready for the day. Mealtime meant I stood by, ready to serve her, and if I ever slipped up, off to church I went to confess my sins. That was my life for three long years.Emily, on the other hand, got all the love with just a few kind words.I did not hold a grudge. I just wanted to show the same love to Charles's family that I had for him. However, I had stumbled upon the truth, and it had hit me like a ton of bricks. I could have been stuck in that thankless cycle forever.I took a long, hard look at everything Margaret had done, then turned to Charles with a calm

Charles was in disbelief. His eyes flashed with fury as if he wanted to leap off the stage and devour me whole.However, before he could act, Emily clung to him."What do we do now? The wedding's a disaster!"I ended the call with a click and walked away, unfazed by the many curious eyes that followed me. My three years with the Wallaces had steeled my nerves.I left the wedding behind and made a beeline for the airport, sending a quick thank-you text to a certain someone along the way.The reply on my phone popped up in no time.[Don't worry about it, but the Wallaces might come after you for this. You should probably skip town for a while.]I took the advice to heart.[Got it. I'm all set.]The guy on the other end? He was the one who grilled Charles in the Wallace family's study.He was Charles's friend, and I was the one who saved his sister's life.Thanks to that connection, when I knocked on his door, hoping against hope for a favor, he had said yes right off the bat.

I had not even opened my mouth when Emily rushed over, clinging to Charles's arm."You're not talking to her," she snapped.Charles gently pried her off, looking annoyed. The love he once had for her was barely flickering."Emily, can you just not?" he said. "I just need to ask her something."This is off-limits, that's off-limits. What next? You're going to keep me on a leash forever, not letting me talk to anyone?"Can't you just grow up?"Emily's eyes welled up. "Before we got married, I was your everything. Now, you're telling me to grow up. How much more fake can you get, Charles?"She spat out his name like it was poison.Charles's face paled.I just stood there, wanting to laugh.Pretending to be someone else had come at a price: he had lost his identity forever.I was done watching their drama and walked away.Olivia had given me a few days off and even booked me a week-long getaway to Sunny Bay.However, on the day I was set to leave, Emily blocked my path.I ste

I sent the recording to Emily.I did not bother with what happened next.The last product was a smash hit, constantly selling out.This time, the big shots decided to upgrade it for a different crowd, aiming to serve them even better.I thought I would deal with it once I was done with my work bubble.It was only after I emerged that Olivia filled me in.The Wallace family was in deep trouble.For some reason, Emily had lost it.She mutilated Charles in his sleep and flushed his beyond-saving private parts down the toilet.When Margaret heard that, her health took a nosedive. It was another stroke.She went from bad to worse, then bedridden, her speech slurred and face twisted.Emily, cold to Charles' begging, terminated her pregnancy, cutting off the Wallace family tree.Finally, Olivia's eyes were on me."Look at her, then at yourself. She knew when to cut ties, when to strike back."You're not quite there yet."I lifted my wine glass and took a sip. "Why get my hands