Cliff and Ginger’s wedding ended in haste, and afterward, they never obtained a marriage certificate–just lived together as mere companions.
That night, Cliff returned home early, absent and withdrawn. The moment he stepped into the house and saw the vacant space in the center of the hall, something shifted. He went straight to the basement.”
That spot used to display the wedding photo of me and him.”
After Ginger moved in, she had discarded it, treating it like trash. Cliff rummaged through stacks of old paintings in the dusty basement until he finally found the shattered frame, the photo buried beneath torn canvases.”
Dust veiled the glass, now cracked and splintered. In the photograph, I smiled brightly, eyes full of hope and dreams. He, beside me, wore a solemn expression, but his eyes were focused on me.”
Cliff gently wiped the glass with his sleeve, brushing the dust off my face in the photo. His hand paused over my image, his fingers trembling as he stared, the longing in his eyes unmistakable.
—
The first time I met Cliff was at a prestigious charity auction in Cleveland.”
He wore a crisp white suit, walking confidently on stage to perform a piano solo. His music captivated the entire audience- especially me. My parents introduced us afterward. I learned that he was a prodigy, skilled in multiple instruments since childhood.” From that night on, I fell for him.”
I began pursuing him. I never missed a concert–always front–row VIP. I sent flowers and gifts after every show. I studied music to understand his world better, and eventually, I was involved in every aspect of his budding career–making lunchboxes, securing sponsorships, planning his solo concerts.”
All my efforts paid off.”
On my 20th birthday, Cliff appeared at my door, knelt with flowers and a ring in hand, and proposed. I cried tears of joy and nodded, overcome with emotion.
But I had no idea that this marked the beginning of my nightmare.
—
After the wedding, everything changed.”
My parents gifted us a luxury home, yet from the moment we moved in, Cliff grew distant. He abandoned his piano, the very thing that once defined him.
He used to wake up early to help me make lunch. Now, he barely noticed my presence as I scrubbed the house alone. The sweet, thoughtful man who once surprised me with handwritten letters and handmade gifts had vanished.
Instead, he became cold and business–obsessed. Even on my birthday, he didn’t bother to offer a simple wish.”
Worse still, he began hinting at wanting to start his own business. For his sake, I leveraged my family’s connections to get him off the ground. I finally understood: I wasn’t just his lover–I was a stepping stone.”
When I confronted him, our fights became constant.
And yet, in this moment in the basement, as he gazed at the faded wedding photo, tears welled in Cliff’s eyes, spilling silently onto my smiling face behind shattered glass.
—0
At that same moment, I was also in tears.
After the press conference, I returned to my parents‘ home.”
The moment my mother saw me, she dropped the newspaper in her hands and rushed forward to embrace me. That familiar warmth unraveled the wall I’d built around myself. I broke down and sobbed.
With my parents, I could finally be a child again. I cried without restraint, and they held me without question.
Once I calmed down, my father quietly told me they had watched the press conference. Their eyes were filled with sorrow and guilt. After I was institutionalized, they had never believed I seduced a married man–especially one who was my cousin. But to protect the family’s reputation, they had bowed their heads and apologized to Cliff and Ginger. They even offered company shares to settle
the matter
-No one knew the shame and humiliation we endured.”
My mother held my hand tightly, tears brimming.
“Let me look at you, Vivian. We haven’t seen you in so long.”
“Did they treat you well in the hospital?“}}
“Why are you so thin? Stay home now. Let us take care of you.”
Her gentle words reopened every wound I had sealed shut. I wanted to tell her everything–but I couldn’t. I could only nod.
They saw through my silence but didn’t press. Instead, they prepared a home–cooked meal with all my childhood favorites. I hadn’t
3:51 PM
They saw through my silence but didn’t press. Instead, they prepared a home–cooked meal with all my childhood favorites. I hadn’t
eaten properly in months. As I took my first bite, I cried quietly into my bowl, the familiar flavors bringing back memories of peace and safety.
—
–M
Later that night, my father handed me a folder. Inside was a share contract for Hooper Group.”
“This is for you, Vivian,” he said gently. “Your mother and I are getting old. The company will be yours one day.“”
Before I married Cliff, I was being groomed to take over the family business. But after marriage, I gave everything to support Cliff my time, my mind, my heart.”
Now, it was time to reclaim what I lost.”
I signed the contract without hesitation.”
My parents beamed with pride, holding my hand tightly.”
“Our Vivian has grown up. Go ahead and do what you want–we’re behind you all the way.“”
Then my mother brought out a cake–chocolate, my favorite.”
“It’s a small celebration,” she said. “Just for our Vivian.”
I laughed through tears, hugging them tightly as we cut the cake together.”
—>
But just as the warmth of home returned, the doorbell rang.”
And with it, came the sound of the past–demanding to be answered.”
