Chapter 2

2.

I sat in the living room, staring at my phone and the framed portrait of my mother.

Before she died, she had cried and placed my hand in Garrett's, begging him to treat me well.

Back then, Garrett had knelt beside her hospital bed, gripping her frail hand and swearing, "Mom, you can rest easy. I'll cherish Clara with everything I have."

Yet shortly after she passed, he began staying out late.

He would often stumble home smelling of sweet, unfamiliar perfume.

His neck and collarbones were marked with telltale red bruises.

Every time, I would break down in tears and ask him if there was someone else.

He would snap in irritation, "Being a housewife has rotted your brain. You're paranoid all day long. I have client dinners to attend, of course I'll pick up scents!"

Snapping back to reality, I packed my things and drove to the cemetery alone.

I laid the fresh flowers down, knelt before her headstone, and spoke to her for hours.

I told her I was happy and that Garrett was wonderful to me.

It was all a lie, but I just wanted her soul in heaven to stop worrying about me.

I had no family left in this world, and it was time for me to stand on my own two feet.

Before I knew it, dusk began to settle over the hills.

My phone rang with Garrett's name on the screen.

"Where did you go?" he asked casually.

So he really had forgotten what today was.

Of course he had; he was too busy satisfying his precious god-sister.

A wave of bitter cold washed over my chest.

I took a deep breath and pulled myself together.

"Today is my mom's memorial. I'm at the cemetery."

The line went silent for a few seconds before he replied, "I'm sorry, Clara. Work was insane today and it completely slipped my mind. I'm coming to get you right now."

Twenty minutes later, Garrett's sedan pulled up outside the memorial gates.

A light drizzle had started, soaking my hair and clothes, but he did not even bother stepping out of the car.

He simply leaned over and unlocked the passenger door, gesturing for me to hurry inside.