Chapter 2 Burned Away
923 Words
Two years ago, Sophia visited our home. The moment she noticed my teaching certificates and photos from my years in the mountains displayed in the living room, tears streamed down her face. Through sobs, she said she never wanted to remember those days of poverty again.
Sean responded by gathering every outfit I'd ever left there, all my belongings, my teaching honors, and every photograph. Then he tossed everything into a fire.
I only found out later from the housekeeper.
By then, I was standing outside my crude mountain cabin when I heard the news. I went completely still.
It was the first serious fight Sean and I ever had. In the end, all I got was a tired sigh over the phone.
"Lily, do you have to be so narrow-minded? Sophia's not like you. She never had the life you did. What she went through in those mountains is something you can't even begin to understand."
Then he hung up. My tears were still hanging on my lashes.
Indeed, life in the mountains had never been easy.
The thin quilt did little against the bitter cold. Moisture soaked into the bedding, and even my dreams seemed filled with the musty smell of mildew.
The wind slipped through the cracks in the walls, leaving me shivering, while dust lingered in the cramped room with every breath.
But Sean had never once asked how I was coping.
I forced myself back to the present.
"They're just things. If you want them back, I'll buy you new ones. Better ones." Sean kept his eyes fixed on me, searching for the slightest reaction.
He found nothing.
As I pulled open the front door, his hoarse voice sounded from behind me. "The company dinner is tonight. You're going with me."
"No way," I said.
He hesitated briefly. "It's supposed to be your welcome-back dinner. You're still my fiancée. Not showing up would look bad."
I changed into a different outfit and went with him. The private room was already full when we arrived.
But the banner stretched across the wall read:
[Congratulations to Sophia on Successfully Completing Her Internship and Joining the Company Full-Time]
Sophia sat beside the guest of honor's seat, smiling sweetly.
"Sean, Ms. Lynn, you made it."
Sean walked straight over and took the seat beside her.
I didn't. Instead, I settled into an empty chair near the door.
Propping her chin on her hand, Sophia beamed at me. "Ms. Lynn, it's been five years."
My gaze landed on the diamond wedding ring glittering on her finger. Lilies adorned the setting. It was my favorite design, but it rested on another woman's hand.
I managed a faint smile. "Yeah."
Sophia was the first student I ever taught.
Whenever it rained, the mountain roads became dangerously slick. During late-night study sessions, she sometimes spent the night at my place.
One night, someone tried to force open my door. I pulled her beneath the metal bed, clutching a fruit knife so tightly my hand ached. I didn't sleep a wink.
For more than half a year, I poured everything I had into her. I helped her get into college and leave the poor town behind.
In the end, she ended up standing beside my fiancé.
The mood around the table was cheerful. Glasses were raised one after another to celebrate Sophia's successful promotion and her official position at Sean's company.
Lifting her glass, Sophia touched it only lightly against Sean's.
"And of course, I owe special thanks to dear Ms. Lynn. When everyone in town tried to stop me from going to college, she stood up for me and was dragged into the woods because of it..."
She covered her mouth and sighed softly. The room instantly grew quiet. Some people looked at me with pity, others with poorly hidden amusement.
Sean's fingers tightened around his wine glass.
Sophia rose elegantly and walked over to me herself.
"Ms. Lynn, this toast is for everything you sacrificed. Thank you for bringing me into Sean's life."
I left my glass untouched. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Sophia grinned. "I mean Sean and I are together now."
"So you registered your marriage with my fiancé?" I asked.
Sophia's smile faltered for a moment.
I looked at her calmly. "If you were truly grateful to me, you wouldn't be with my fiancé."
The private room fell silent instantly.
Sean slammed his knife and fork onto the table. "Lily, is this really all because I got a marriage certificate with Sophie?"
His voice carried a note of exhaustion. "Fine. Tomorrow we'll get divorced. I'll have another ceremony with you. Will that make you happy?"
I said nothing. The color drained from Sophia's face.
She hurriedly poured a glass of water and set it in front of me. "Ms. Lynn, I'm sorry. Please don't let me come between you two. If it comes to it, I'll resign."
I rose to my feet. "I need to use the restroom."
Sophia quickly followed me out.
Biting her lip, her eyes reddened. "Ms. Lynn, you were the one who helped me escape the slums. Now if I drive you away, everyone will say I'm ungrateful. But that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" I asked.
She fell silent for a second. Then she suddenly grabbed my hand. Her palm was ice-cold.
"I just wanted to tell you something..."
She leaned closer, her voice so low that only I could hear it. "Sean has feelings for me. This marriage isn't ending."
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