Chapter 2

I didn't get a reply from Brandon. Instead, it was Audrey, who was next to him, who spoke first.

"Annie, Brandon and I really aren't like that. If you don't believe me, I can kneel down for you. No, I'll die right now!"

Then came sounds of pushing and Brandon's shouts: "Audrey, what are you doing!"

Although I couldn't see Brandon stopping Audrey, I knew he must be holding her tightly in his arms.

Just like countless times before, when Audrey cried from being wronged, he would definitely hold her close.

If I protested, he would say, "I just see her as a sister."

Brandon's voice came through the phone again: "Annie, do you really have to escalate things to this point? When did you become so utterly irrational!"

I didn't speak, but he seemed to think I was being stubborn, and he said as punishment: "I won't see you before the destination wedding. You're on your own."

In the past, when he said things like that, I would desperately beg for his forgiveness, rushing to him that very night to apologize.

But today, I just calmly said, "Remember to sign the document in your email…"

But before I could finish, he hung up.

It didn't matter. He would see that divorce agreement eventually.

I got up and continued packing. As I pulled open the bottom drawer of my desk, a neat stack of photos fell out.

They were all of Audrey.

By the sea, at a coffee shop, in a laboratory, and a close-up of her in a white lab coat, making a peace sign at the camera.

Turns out, they had known each other for a long time.

Beneath the photos was a folded piece of paper. I pulled it out and unfolded it, discovering it was a prenatal check-up report.

Audrey's name was clearly written on it, along with the prominent words "fetal heartbeat visible."

The date was three months ago, the day Brandon and I confirmed our marriage.

I gasped, then laughed, but the laughter soon turned to tears.

Brandon and I also had a child.

However, that child passed away when I was seventeen.

That year, Brandon and I secretly had sex, and I accidentally got pregnant. He insisted on forcing me to have an abortion.

On the operating table, I trembled all over from the pain, and he cried even harder than I did, holding my hand.

He told me he loved me over and over again.

He said he would be good to me for life, that he would definitely marry me.

Later, I could never get pregnant again.

Just as I was about to photograph the pictures for Brandon, a message popped up in the family SnapChat group.

Mrs. Thompson said: "We've watched Audrey grow up, she's like one of our own. No matter what, Annie, you can't bully her."

Mr. Thompson added: "Someone with your challenges should know their place! If Brandon hadn't insisted, do you really think you'd have a chance to marry into our family?"

Several relatives followed suit below, and unusually, Brandon didn't speak up for me.

It wasn't until the relatives finished their barrage of insults that he finally said: "I'll make her apologize to Audrey."

I stared at the screen for a long time.

It wasn't that I hadn't wanted to integrate into Brandon's family. I had repeatedly suggested joining the SnapChat group.

But he wouldn't let me use a smartphone, saying my eyes were bad anyway and there was no need.

This group was actually one Audrey had added me to.

On the day I joined, Brandon's family all opposed my entry as an outsider, but they never questioned Audrey.

She, clearly also an outsider, had joined the group before me, Brandon's long-established fiancée.

I gave a bitter smile, photographed the prenatal report, and sent it into the family SnapChat group.