Chapter 10
630 Words
In the memorial hall at dusk, Samantha bowed mechanically to each mourner, her spirit already gone with Willow's passing.
Her phone still displayed Jessica's message: This is the fifth time Archer has left you for me. You lose.
Just then, the jarring sound of high heels echoed through the quiet memorial hall.
When Samantha looked up, she saw Archer and Jessica walking in side by side.
A searing, tearing pain gripped her chest as the agony of watching her mother die in her arms returned.
After offering incense, Archer approached Samantha and asked, "Samantha, are you okay?"
"Who allowed you to come?" Her voice, unused for hours, rasped like gravel, each word rough-edged.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize your mother's condition was so critical..." Archer's eyes held apology.
Samantha curled her lips mockingly. "Seems you've got a lot you never considered."
Her biting tone grated on Archer, but he suppressed his temper out of respect for her grief.
Jessica casually flicked her long hair, then spoke with open taunting, "Sorry, Ms. Russo. I had period pains and needed care. Who knew your mother would just drop dead like that..."
Samantha jerked her head up, eyes swollen from crying as she spat out, "Get out!"
Jessica feigned fright, shrinking behind Archer with a whining voice. "Archer... I really didn't mean to. You know how severe I was..."
Archer shot Samantha a disapproving glare. "This isn't Ms. Donovan's fault. Don't take your anger out on her."
Just that sentence made Samantha's pulse pound in her temples. Staring at Jessica's hypocritical face, Samantha burned to shred that face right then!
She drew a sharp breath. "Archer, get her out of here!"
"Since when did you become so unreasonable? Where's your decency?" Archer demanded.
"Decency?" Her voice scraped out between clenched teeth, trembling with barely-contained fury. "How dare you speak to me about decency?!"
"Hey, don't fight because of me." Jessica smiled faintly, patting Archer's chest while fixing Samantha with a look dripping with malicious delight. "Ms. Russo lost her mother. I won't hold it against her."
Archer said, "See how understanding she is? Don't be ungrateful, Samantha..."
Archer tried to continue, but Samantha cut him off with a guttural shout. "Enough! If you won't leave, I will!"
Staying any longer, Samantha might lose control. Better to step away and make the necessary arrangements with the funeral staff.
*****
Half an hour later, Samantha returned to the memorial hall.
The absurd sight before her made her pupils contract sharply.
Jessica clung to Archer's neck. They were locked in a passionate, unbreakable kiss.
In the silent night, their intimate sounds echoed clearly.
Jessica's stifled moans stabbed through Samantha's heart like a dagger.
An icy gust swept by, making Samantha shiver. Her phone vibrated with a message: Still clinging to Archer?
Accompanying the message was a photo of them embracing and kissing before the funeral altar.
The text and reality overlapped, sending her heart plummeting into the abyss of despair.
'Am I supposed to just slink away like this? I can't accept it. Why should Willow lie alone in the cold funeral hall while this adulterous couple flourished? How dare they engage in such depravity before my mother's memorial!'
The lewd images burned relentlessly in her mind; her heart was bleeding and empty.
Samantha clenched her fists, her gaze shifting from grief to hatred.
She wouldn't accept this! She would have her revenge!
Since it was a five-time bet, they deserved fivefold punishment!
After capturing their entanglement in a photo, Samantha turned and left, commissioning a funeral wreath as she departed.
As Archer left, he noticed the wreath at the entrance.
His pupils shrank abruptly, his heart plummeting like lead.
Displayed prominently was a single damning line: I don't keep a disloyal man. Archer, we're done.
- Writer
