My path of revenge

chapter 3

I wearily opened the door of my home, prepared to pack my things, leave the divorce agreement, and walk away. But to my surprise, Derek was sitting on the sofa, drinking.

He looked up as I entered and spoke first, "Joyce, do you know you're wrong?"

I found it laughable and shot back, "Derek, in these five years of our relationship, what exactly have I done wrong?"

He didn't answer my question directly, instead demanding, "Joyce, who is that other man you're protecting?"

My anger flared at him, "Don't assume everyone is as bad as you. You can mock me, but not my friends."

Derek's expression remained indifferent, unaffected by my outburst. "Joyce, you owe Celia an apology."

I almost laughed at the absurdity, "Derek, before you say that, think it through. Apologize? For what? What unforgivable thing have I done?"

He didn't respond right away; instead, a coy voice called from the bedroom, "Derek, my leg hurts so much, could you help me?"

Derek rushed to Celia's side, his expression worried, his movements gentle as he carefully placed her on the sofa. He had never been that tender with me, not even with a glance that didn't betray his impatience. Watching him, I couldn't help but laugh at my own futile efforts, at how no matter what I did for Derek, it was never enough compared to Celia's coquetry.

"Joyce, the injury on Celia's leg is because you pushed her today. You should apologize to her!"

How Celia got her injury, she knew best. The push I gave her was not hard enough to cause harm, but what could I do?

Derek didn't believe me; no matter how I explained, I was wrong.

"Derek, I know better than anyone how that injury happened. I haven't done anything wrong, and no one can force me to apologize."

His face filled with annoyance, "Joyce, an apology won't kill you. Could it be that Celia deliberately fell?"

Every word was a defense of Celia, and a smug, provocative smile appeared on her face. "It's okay, Derek, I can bear the pain; it will pass."

Unbeknownst to her, these words only enraged Derek more. "Joyce, you are truly a venomous woman, with such malicious intentions!"

His words stabbed at my heart. "Derek, I'm disappointed. You've broken my heart completely. Let's not contact each other anymore!"

I placed the divorce agreement on the table for him to sign. Derek's face darkened, frowning at me, "Joyce, what do you mean?"

He couldn't believe it and clutched my hand tightly, but I couldn't break free. "What? Is it because I'm leaving, and you won't have a free caretaker, nor someone to bear your anger all the time, so you're unwilling? Derek, I'm really tired. Please let me go, I beg you!"

My voice softened as I spoke, almost to a whisper, and my eyes no longer held the love I once had for Derek.

Derek was taken aback, as if something was slipping away. It took him a while to process it, but he finally agreed.

After packing my belongings and leaving that house, I looked back. It was time to let go. Derek always believed Celia, never listening to my explanations, while I kept making excuses for him.

Now, it was time to leave. After everything that had happened, I finally saw clearly. I returned to the hotel and sobbed by the bedside, venting my resentment. I needed to let out the years of grievances, sadness, and frustration that had finally found an outlet.

Five years-it wasn't a short time, nor was it long, but it was my entire youth.

I lay by the bedside, enduring the pain in my abdomen, and recalled the moments with Derek.

Derek and I attended the same high school, but we were in different classes, so I didn't know him. However, one incident made me start to pay attention to him.

During a physical education class in high school, I happened to have the same class as Derek. He was playing basketball with his friends, and I, trying to escape the sun, sat under a tree for shade.

As I was about to get up, a basketball fell from the sky and hit my head. Unable to withstand the impact, I fell to the ground.

Before I could get up, a boy ran over, helped me up, and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

I shook my head slowly. Seeing my response, Derek was about to return to the basketball court, but when he turned and casually noticed the injury on my leg, he immediately picked me up and headed towards the infirmary.

Held in Derek's arms, I could hear his strong heartbeat, and the boy smelled pleasantly.

It was the first time I had been held by a man, and something was slowly sprouting in my heart. My heartbeat had already betrayed the composure on my face.

Since then, my interactions with Derek increased. He, feeling guilty, often bought gifts for me. Consequently, my affection for Derek deepened. I would stealthily watch him when he passed by my class, quickly averting my gaze before he noticed.

Derek in high school was not as silent as he is now; he was lively and cheerful, with his handsome looks attracting a crowd of admirers at school.

Celia was one of them. Unlike me, her crush on Derek was well-known, while my feelings for Derek were a secret.

Celia pursued Derek relentlessly and successfully won him over. After learning about Derek's feelings for Celia, I maintained my distance and hid my emotions.

When I thought my unrequited love had ended, Derek approached me. I couldn't describe the mix of confusion, happiness, joy, and excitement that filled my heart.

Derek had become inscrutable, and I now understood why. I could only laugh at myself internally; his changes were all because of Celia. He could become gloomy and ruthless because of her departure and gentle and tolerant because of her return.

From beginning to end, I was always an outsider.

Thinking of this, my heart ached unbearably. Derek's bottom line had always been Celia, the one he truly loved. Even after all these years and all my sacrifices, Derek's first choice remained Celia.

He could hurt me without hesitation for Celia, stand by her side regardless of right or wrong.

And I was just an unimportant person, a mere passer-by in his life.