Chapter 3
While unconscious, Allison had a dream about the day Jacob proposed to
her.
Back then, his eyes were full of warmth. He stared into her eyes and said in a low voice, “A negotiator’s main rule is to stay calm, but ever since I got to know you, Lbreak that rule all the time.”
He slipped the ring onto her hand with care, his actions full of love, and kissed her as if she meant the world to him.
Could it all really have been a lie?
A sudden spasm twisted through her stomach. Her mind blurred, drifting in and out between agony and consciousness, and for a fleeting moment, she truly thought her end was near…
Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang, and Jacob’s panicked. voice filled the air. “Allison!”
The handcuffs clattered as he rushed to undo them. Soon, she was in his arms, and he carried her out, his steps frantic.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry!”
His voice was shaky, like he was crying. As he placed Allison in the car, he said in fear, “I didn’t mean to forget… Allison, please wake up…”
***
When Allison opened her eyes again, the soft white lights of the hospital greeted her.
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Chapter 3
It was her third time in the hospital within a few short months. All because of the man she had once loved with all her heart.
He always claimed he loved her, yet he kept causing her pain.
Her head throbbed badly, and the moment she barely moved her fingers, someone quickly held onto them.
“Allison? Are you feeling unwell anywhere else?” Jacob’s voice sounded rough and full of concern.
As soon as she heard his voice, she yanked her hand away, but the sudden motion tugged at her wound, making her gasp in pain.
“Don’t move!”
Jacob instantly reached out to steady her shoulders, and she noticed his bloodshot eyes.
Without a second thought, Allison raised her hand and slapped him with all her strength.
Sadly, she was too weak to make the slap very strong.
Still, her hand landed on his head.
“Nice hit.” He turned back toward her with a slight smile, one side of his face turning pink. “I deserve that.
“You can hit me more, as long as it helps you feel better…”
Allison’s voice was dry and raspy. “I don’t want to see you again.”
Jacob’s expression froze. He quickly grabbed her hand and spoke gently, “Please don’t say that… I was wrong. I had to take on an urgent mission, and the negotiations ran for a full day and night. Can you forgive me?”
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Chapter 3
11
Allison closed her eyes. What she wanted to say was that she saw the truth–it was Sadie who had called. And because of that one call, he had
left her behind and chained her to the bed for an entire day and night.
How could she possibly forgive that?
Allison lifted her arm and saw that the marks from the handcuffs had turned a deep purple, looking awful.
Her eyes filled with tears. “Jacob, you’ve never treated me like this before.”
His expression shifted. “Lately, you’ve been upset with me because of Sadie. I was frustrated and scared.”
Allison asked quietly, “Then why do you keep doing things that make me upset?”
He didn’t reply right away. After a while, his voice sounded heavy with emotion. “Allison, please don’t let your emotions cloud everything. We’re just colleagues, and we’ve got an important mission to complete…”
“You can go now. I want to sleep,” she cut in, her voice flat.
He responded, “Alright, I’ll stay nearby in case you need anything.”
The next day, she was discharged from the hospital, and Jacob remained. close to her the whole time. For the next seven days, he barely left, helping her with her bandages and meals, never once losing his temper, even when she ignored him.
Still, Allison noticed he often stepped out onto the balcony to talk on the phone. His face always lit up with a soft smile.
She already knew who he was speaking to, which only made her heart
hurt even more.
Chapter 3
Three days after she came back home, Sadie moved in, right next door.
After that, Jacob began splitting the food he made into two servings–one for her and one for Sadie. And every time, he stayed to eat with Sadie, never leaving until she’d finished.
Every time he came home and saw Allison, he would say, “Just following orders. We were reviewing the mission plan.”
But the joyful expression on his face, the one he hadn’t managed to hide yet, made Allison’s heart sink.
Jacob had always tried, whether on purpose or not, to keep her from bumping into Sadie. But that day, he dressed neatly and suddenly said, “Today’s our anniversary. I got cruise tickets and prepared a candlelight
dinner.”
Allison wanted to turn him down, but he dragged her outside, where Sadie was already waiting.
“Hi, Allison! You don’t mind me being a third wheel, do you?”
Sadie grinned playfully, sticking out her tongue with a cute look.
Jacob chuckled and said, “Sadie wants to experience a cruise for the first time. We happened to have an extra ticket, so why not all go together? Allison, you don’t mind… do you?”
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Allison let out a cold laugh and lowered her gaze. “Of course not.”
What right did she have to mind?
Their marriage was just a lie, a carefully constructed scam.
