Library

Home / Saved From Suicide, Sold Into a Lie / Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

Lahat ng Kabanata ng Saved From Suicide, Sold Into a Lie: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

9 Kabanata

Chapter 1

The medical report slipped from my hand and dropped to the floor.I stared at the two names on the marriage certificate for a long time, thinking I must have somehow read it wrong.But when I looked through the rest of the documents, I realized what a fool I had been.There were pediatric hospital bills, receipts for baby formula and diapers, records of overseas transfers, and several photographs.In one of the pictures, my late wife, Michelle Austen, was holding a baby boy. My brother, Jack Sloane, sat on the couch beside her, looking down at the baby with a gentle smile.She wasn't dead. For five years, I'd been mourning her like a complete fool. And the person who had pulled me out of the darkest place in my life had set up this entire lie.I put everything back in the drawer.On my way to the bathroom, I picked up the medical report, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it in the trash.Minutes ago, it had felt like good news. Now it was nothing but a cruel joke.The front

Chapter 2

I looked up at her, my voice barely above a whisper. "Paige… What if your sister isn't dead?"Her expression faltered for a split second. She didn't answer, and I didn't push her.That night, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep a wink. Suddenly, everything that hadn't made sense before clicked into place.When Michelle died in the accident, I never even got to see her one last time. There wasn't even a single personal belonging of hers left behind.I was only told that her car had exploded and there was nothing left of the body that could be identified. I'd collapsed the moment I heard the news, and I was in no state to ask more questions.Later, when I wanted to go to Michelle's company, Paige stopped me. She claimed that the projects Michelle had been working on were classified and that even family members weren't allowed access to anything related to them.My mom had told me the same thing. She said that Michelle was gone, and it would do no good to keep digging. Even

Chapter 3

I answered the call. The second I muttered hello, she asked, "Where did you go?"I leaned against the wall and let out a dry laugh. "I came to see my nephew."She said nothing.I asked, "Paige, tell me. Why did you lie to me?"She was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Just come home first.""Home?" I laughed, though tears kept running down my face. "Do I even have one?""Where are you right now? I'll come get you.""No." I gripped the phone, my fingers shaking. "Do you think I'm an idiot?""Trevor…" Paige mumbled."Every time you watched me cry while holding Michelle's picture, did you think I was pathetic? Did you think I was just easy to fool?" My voice broke."I didn't.""Then did you ever, even once, think about telling me the truth?" I pressed.Paige went completely silent. My heart sank.At last, she whispered, "Trevor."It was always the same. She didn't explain, admit, or deny. As if all she had to do was soften her voice, and I'd come running back."We're

Chapter 4

When the overhead lights came on, the pain had made my whole body go numb.The voices of doctors and nurses blurred together, drifting in and out of my ears."Severe chronic stress...""Bleeding from the stomach lining...""Stop the bleeding first. Then get him ready for further tests..."I had no idea how much time passed before my vision slowly faded to black. The last bit of strength in my body drained away, and whatever had been holding me together finally gave out.…It wasn't until the baby's celebration was over and the guests had started leaving that Paige realized she couldn't reach me. That was when she finally remembered the call from the hospital and called back.The nurse on the phone sounded impatient, with a hint of reproach in her voice."We just stopped the bleeding. He's still very weak and should be resting in bed, but he insisted on leaving. We couldn't stop him."When Paige rushed to the hospital, I was already on my way out. The cold night wind blew over

Chapter 5

Paige's furious voice rang out behind me. "Who are you?"Then everything went black.When I woke up, I was in a hospital room.Luna Sinclair, a senior colleague I'd worked with on a research project before I got sick, was there. I'd contacted her after I was admitted, and thankfully, she'd arrived in time.Once I was settled into the hospital room, she hired a caregiver to look after me.Paige kept trying to see me, but I refused.When she reached my bedside, I grabbed the cup beside me and hurled it at her. It shattered at her feet.She froze. Jack and Michelle were right behind her.I sat up in the hospital bed, my face pale as a sheet, an IV still taped to the back of my hand. My voice shook as I said, "Don't come any closer."No one moved.I looked up at them and asked, "Are you all finally happy with what you've done to me?"They all remained silent.I stared at Michelle for a long time before letting out a quiet breath. "You're alive."Her eyes immediately turned red

Chapter 6

When the nurse came in to check on me, she immediately sent everyone out with a stern look on her face.Even after the door closed, I heard their hushed arguing outside. I didn't bother listening.Just before dawn, I finally came to one decision. I wanted to have nothing to do with themThe weather was clear on the day I was discharged. I packed the last of my clothes into my bag, zipped it up, and headed for the door.As soon as I pulled it open, Paige scrambled to her feet. She'd been waiting outside for the past few days. The nurse said she'd barely slept.But hearing that didn't stir anything in me. Her regret came too late. Now it only made me sick.She reached out to take my bag, her hand hovering in the air before slowly dropping back down. "My car's downstairs.""I'll go by myself.""The doctor said you shouldn't overexert yourself yet. Your stomach only just stopped bleeding, and you can't put yourself through any more emotional stress—""Paige." I cut her off and loo

Chapter 7

After leaving the hospital, I didn't go back to my old place. That apartment was full of many memories I didn't want to revisit.The couch in the living room was one Paige had replaced. There had been a period when I couldn't sleep and would sit there clutching a blanket until morning. She had worried I'd get a cold and got me a wider one.The dishes in the kitchen were ones Michelle and I had bought together when we first got married. Even the flowers on the balcony were ones Jack had once admired.Every corner of that place felt like a reminder of how absurd the last five years had been.I quit my job, changed my number, and headed south with two suitcases.It was a small coastal town. It wasn't lively, but it was quiet and peaceful. I rented a tiny apartment with one bedroom, a balcony, and a small kitchen.On the day I moved in, I pulled back all the curtains and watched the sunlight flood the room. For some reason, I felt a little strange. For the first time in my life, I ac

Chapter 8

After saying that, she paused before adding quietly, "I just happened to be passing by."I looked at her but didn't call her out on it. Nobody just happens to be passing through a place like this. If she'd only been walking by, she wouldn't be standing there like that."What do you want?" I asked evenly.Paige flinched slightly, as if the question stung. After a moment of silence, she replied, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."The wind tousled her hair. She didn't step closer, and I didn't move either. We stood a few feet apart, close enough to see the changes in each other's expressions, but far enough to keep our distance."How have you been?" she asked."Fine."I saw the light in her eyes slowly fade.She probably knew I wasn't putting on a brave front or trying to spite her. I was really getting better. And that had nothing to do with her.She stayed quiet for a long moment before speaking again. "I cut ties with all of them."I said nothing."Michelle tried to

Chapter 9

Jack was only trying to ease his guilt and pain. But why should I let him?My mom still called me from time to time. She seemed to be aging quickly, and her speech had become slower.Sometimes, she'd burst into tears as soon as I answered and say that she'd been foolish back then. She'd tell me she never should have helped them keep me in the dark or kept me from finding out the truth.Other times, she'd tell me that no one in the family was doing well, almost as if she were trying to tell me they'd all gotten what they deserved.But the more I listened, the more distant it all felt."Mom," I interrupted her, "please stop telling me about them."There was a long silence on the other end. Then she asked in a low voice, "Do you want to cut me out too?"I stood in the kitchen, watching the soup come to a boil. I didn't answer right away.She already knew the answer. From the moment she learned Michelle was alive, yet still watched me cry over her photograph without saying a word,

I-scan ang code para mabasa sa App

DMCA.com Protection Status