I let out a cold laugh and met his eyes without flinching. “IVF doesn’t require months of preparation in advance?“}
“You-!”
He glared at me, his expression darkening before a sneer curled across his lips.§
“Fine! You just won’t let the baby go, huh? What’s next–are you going to force me to make her get an abortion?“} “Dream on. If we’re getting a divorce, so be it. You think I, Jaxxon Hamilton, can’t live without you, Megan?“}
Just as the words left his mouth, the doorbell rang.
He gave me a frosty glance before turning to answer it.”
A drenched Bethany threw herself into his arms, sobbing softly. “Jax… I dreamt of my sister again. She said she’s coming back as our baby. The three of us can finally be together…“}
She looked up at him with tear–filled eyes–but the smile tugging at her lips was anything but sorrowful.
That enchanting dimple was identical to her twin sister Rhea’s.
Jaxxon was visibly dazed for a moment, then his eyes reddened with pity. “Bethany, don’t ever get caught in the rain again, okay?” Out of habit, I turned to get the hairdryer.
But as I approached the bedroom door, I saw Bethany changing clothes. Jaxxon stood behind her, smoothly zipping up her dress like he’d done it a hundred times.§
The moment he noticed me standing there, his face darkened.
He snatched the hairdryer from my hand, his voice like a blade of ice. “Get out.“}
He then gently blow–dried her hair, his touch as soft as if he were handling fine silk.
Suddenly, Bethany wrapped her arms around his waist, turning her head to shoot me a provocative look.
“Jax always takes care of me best.”
“I promised your sister I’d look after you for the rest of your life,” he replied in a syrupy tone that grated against my nerves. His fingers brushed affectionately through her hair.
“If I don’t take care of you, who else should I take care of?”
A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I stumbled backward, nearly losing my balance.}
I knew what I was expected to do now–quietly retreat to the study.
-2
Rainy night. Late hour.
This was when Rhea had died in childbirth. The night her baby died too.
It was also the night Jaxxon and Bethany were at their most vulnerable.
She would come to him, crying for comfort. And he always welcomed her with open arms.
As for me? I was the wicked woman who had taken Rhea’s place. I wasn’t even allowed to be seen.
Wiping my tears away, I dragged my suitcase toward the front door without looking back.”
Suddenly, a sharp scream pierced the air.”
I turned and saw Bethany staggering out of the room, clutching a shattered photo frame. She tripped and collapsed to the floor, sobbing hysterically.
“Megan! My sister is already gone! Why can’t you even leave her photo alone?!”
The glass had shattered, and the photo inside–Rhea’s maternity portrait–was torn to pieces.
I instinctively took a step back. “I didn’t do it.“}
Bethany glared at me, her entire body trembling as her sobs turned to dry heaves.
Jaxxon’s face was like thunder as he helped her up.
Then, without warning, he grabbed my shoulders and slammed me hard against the wall.
He laughed–but the sound was so low, so cold that it sent a chill crawling up my spine.
“Megan, you can’t even tolerate the dead?”
Pain shot through my shoulder blades. I struggled, but he only pinned me harder.
Trembling, I pleaded, “Jaxxon… it really wasn’t me…”
Smack!
A searing slap landed across my face. The sting spread instantly.}
His voice turned to frost. “Who else could’ve done it? You think Bethany and I would destroy that photo?!”
I held my cheek and shook my head, voice cracking. “I swear, I didn’t-“}
“Megan!” he roared, cutting me off. “You don’t even have the guts to admit what you did. And you call yourself a teacher?!“}]
I couldn’t take it anymore–not the baseless accusations, and definitely not the way he used my profession to humiliate me.}]
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11:42 AM
I was trembling all over, but I stubbornly lifted my head.”
