Before I could respond, he added casually, “Oh right, I forgot to mention. Faye’s family went bankrupt. Creditors are all over her. She’s just
a young girl. I didn’t feel right letting her stay out there alone. So she’ll be living with us for now.”
From behind him, the girl peeked out with a sweet smile, sticking her tongue at me.
“Hi, Sister Everly.”
She wore his pajamas. Even the slippers on her feet were the couple’s pair I had once carefully picked out for him.
I shot Ace a mocking look. He seemed startled, rushing to explain, “Faye forgot her own pajamas, so I just grabbed something for her. Randomly.”
Faye tilted her head, feigning innocence.
“Sister Everly, you don’t mind, right? Ace and I grew up together. Back then, we were so close we even wore the same pair of pants.“} Ace tried to scold her, but the indulgence in his tone was impossible to miss.”
“Faye!”
Faye threw herself into his arms and playfully pinched his waist.}
“Hmm, Sister Everly, look at him. He got married, and now he’s forgotten his childhood best friend.“}
*Faye, stop messing around. Your sister–in–law is right here.“}
Watching them flirt so openly, my chest tightened. A wave of nausea surged up from my stomach.
I rushed into the bathroom and vomited until the world spun around me.}
But what caught my eye wasn’t just the dizziness. In the trash bin beside the sink, five or six used condom wrappers lay scattered. The sheer number spoke volumes about how wild last night must’ve been.
My hands curled into fists. My eyes stung hot and red.
Ace followed me in and lightly patted my back. “Morning sickness again? I’ll grab you some preserved plums…”
But when he turned around, his expression faltered. “We’re out of plums. I’ll get something else, okay?“}
Out of plums? That couldn’t be. He knew how bad my nausea was. We always had them stocked. Always.)
Faye pointed at the trash bin and said sweetly, “Sorry, Sister Everly, I suddenly craved something sour, so Brother Ace gave me all the preserved plums. You know I’m not like you delicate girls. I can gobble up a whole handful in one go.”
Then she threw a wounded glance at Ace. “Brother Ace, really? You knew Sister Everly was nauseous, and you still gave them all to me…” She stepped closer and grabbed my hand, letting two delicate tears slip down her cheeks.
“If you’re upset, then blame me. It’s my fault. I was just being greedy.“>
i yanked my hand away without a word.
Ace’s face darkened instantly. “What’s with that attitude? They’re i what right do you have to throw a tantrum at Faye?“}
a few plums. You eat my food, wear my clothes, spend my money;
My chest constricted, and a sharp pain shot through me again, the same place where they had scraped the child from my womb. I could barely breathe.
He had left me, left a pregnant woman stranded on the highway, without a single word. Yet now, just for pulling away from Faye’s hand, he looked at me like I was the villain.
Realizing he might have gone too far, Ace finally offered me a way out.
“Fine, you’re pregnant. I won’t hold it against you. Just apologize to Faye, and we’ll let this go.”
“Why should I?”
Why should I apologize for her eating the plums meant for me?>
I asked with clenched teeth, the tightness in my chest spreading like a damp cotton ball, wet, heavy, and suffocating.”
“Because you’re older. You should know better. Faye… she’s too soft–hearted. She can’t take even a hint of grievance.”
Ace knew I had claustrophobia. Yet he still locked me in the bathroom.
“If you don’t apologize, then stay here tonight. I’ll let you out once you’re ready to say sorry to Faye.”
Faye hesitated by the door. “But… locking Sister Everly in the bathroom doesn’t feel right?“N
“Don’t worry about her. Petty old women like her need to learn their place.”
Suddenly, the bathroom light flickered, then snapped off. Darkness swallowed the tiny space.
I slammed my fists against the door, my voice cracking and my breath shallow.
“Ace… I was wrong… I know I was wrong.. Please, let me out…”
