Chapter 3

"Wendy, I really had no choice..."

Blake gripped my arm tightly, lowering his voice as he spoke to me,

"Her father is a well-known painter in the circle. With his endorsement, I can shoot to fame!"

"If it weren’t for Melanie, that painting 'Her' wouldn't have been a huge success."

"I am where I am today because of her. Why shouldn't I seize this opportunity? You should understand!"

That painting 'Her' depicted the scene when Blake first met me.

I never imagined Blake would use this painting as a ladder to climb higher!

My nose tingled, and the tears I had been holding back immediately began to fall.

"So, you asked me to have an abortion because she was pregnant, right?"

"You kept delaying the plan of getting a marriage certificate with me because you have already gotten one with her!"

My chest tightening, I began to frantically tear at him:

"Why didn't you tell me you were already married? Why did you deceive me?"

"Blake, how could you do this to me? You jerk!"

Blake wasn’t mad despite his shirt being torn by me, and suddenly knelt down.

"You won't see her again. I won't let her appear in front of you."

"We can continue like this. I've given you everything. You don't need to obsess over a title."

Hearing this, I couldn't believe it. Was this person really Blake?

"Do you know what you're saying? Are you insane?"

"Do you want me to continue being the other woman?"

I tried to control my emotions, but it was futile.

Blake opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately, he said nothing. His silence spoke volumes.

At that moment, I could no longer hold myself together. Helplessness and disappointment churned within me.

I told Blake to leave. Knowing I was breaking down, he tried to soothe me with a few words before leaving.

I couldn't stand to stay a moment longer and began packing my things.

But then, I noticed that the bracelet from the safe was missing, the only thing my mother had left me.

I called Blake, but Melanie answered the call.

"Who are you? Why are you calling my husband? Why is my husband saved in your phone as 'honey'?"

At that moment, I felt as if I had fallen into an icy pit, my hand trembling as I held the phone.

It turned out Blake had always had two phones.

"Speak up! What is your relationship with my husband?"

Faced with her questioning, I opened my mouth but found I couldn't utter a word.

I lacked the courage to explain, even to ask where my mother's keepsake had gone.

I quickly hung up the phone, even fearing she might call back. I then blocked Blake's number.

I felt ashamed for intruding into their relationship, yet I felt indignant for myself.

Why couldn't I be happy? Who would compensate for my five years of youth?

My father died in a car accident when I was young, leaving just my mother and me to rely on each other.

But fate played a cruel trick. As I graduated from college, she was diagnosed with cancer. I still remembered her last words to me.

"Wendy, all I want is your safety and happiness. Take good care of yourself and Blake."

But what now? In the five years Blake and I had been together, he’d had a one-year-old son with someone else.

I hadn't even reached the entrance of the bridal shop when I heard a commotion.

A crowd had gathered at the door.

"She really had me fooled. No wonder I've never seen her husband. I knew it!"

"A homewrecker deserves a lot worse."

"Stop talking. She's coming!"

I had a bad feeling as I approached and saw Melanie.

Before I could react, she slapped me.

She used all her strength to slap me, and I fell to the ground.

My ears rang and my cheek stung with pain.

"To think I believed you were a good person! Turns out you're just another tramp!"

"How dare you seduce my husband? I'll teach you a lesson today."

She grabbed my hair, forcing me to look up at her.

I knew she must be hurting too, so I tried to speak calmly, "Miss Sharp, please calm down. Let's talk!"

But she wasn't about to let me go, pressing me down harder on the ground.

"I want everyone to know you’re a shameless mistress. What right do you have to talk to me?"

Melanie's sharp nails scratched my face and arms, drawing blood.

Dizzy from the beating, I reflexively covered my belly.

Finally, bystanders, fearing a fatality, called the police. Only then did she stop beating me.

"You know she's pregnant, yet you still hit her. That's attempted murder!"

Melanie pointed at me and yelled,

"What if I killed it? It’s a bastard child of a mistress!"

"She deserves it, being the other woman."

My clothes were torn, hanging off my body.

"I'm not the mistress. I'm a victim too."

"I didn't know he was married. We've been together for five years, and I didn't know he had a wife."

At this, the police were shocked, staring at me with their mouths agape.

Worried they might not believe me, I showed them photos. "Here are our wedding photos, and these are..."

"I'm sorry, Miss Sharp. That day I called just to get my mother's bracelet back. I never want to cling to him."

Unable to suppress the bitter emotions any longer, I spoke softly,

"This is the only thing my mother left me. I hope you can..."

Just then, Blake arrived.