Till Betrayal Do Us Part

Chapter 4 The Unseen Sacrifice

Jacob's voice crackled to life over the phone. "Wendy, I've managed to get Lily out, but she's still emotionally on edge. I'm heading to the hospital to grab some sedatives. Her graduation's looming. Her mood is just all over the place, so please be patient with her.

"I'm in a bit of a bind, though. Do you think you could help me out by ordering a graduation dress for her? Something to cheer her up, maybe?

"Her measurements are 33.5 inches for the bust, 23.2 inches for the waist, and 96 pounds."

Jacob issued his detailed request, and meanwhile, my gaze drifted towards the wedding dress, draped elegantly in the living room.

He was always so thorough, never missing a detail when it came to Lily.

Yet, blissfully unaware, he had missed the fact I had discreetly altered the dress's waist by an additional three inches.

I had wanted it to be a surprise for him, meant for our wedding day.

With a hand on my gently swelling belly, the tears trickled down.

After erasing our contact from w******p, I booked an appointment, an abortion.

The next morning's pounding on my door shattered the silence, jolting me from sleep.

Jacob stood there, dragging me to my feet, eyes blazing with barely contained fury.

"Wendy, I always thought you were decent," he spat, "but you're utterly shameless."

My brain stalled. His accusations were baffling.

Disgust etched into his features, Jacob coldly declared, "Stop with the innocent act. Isn't it your doing that Lily can't get her diploma?"

She had bunked classes and flunked exams. Her diploma woes weren't my doing.

Before I could voice that, his scornful gaze pierced me, words dripping with resentment.

"Isn't your stepfather at Grandford University?" he accused. "Don't tell me his position played no part in this."

A sharp pain cleaved through my heart, and I struck him, the blow resonating with the betrayal.

Jacob knew full well about our estrangement from my stepfather.

Five years back, in a drunken masquerade, my stepfather had intruded on my privacy, confronting me after a spat with my brother.

He had forced me down, his hands constricting my throat.

I was a creature caught in a death throes.

Just as hope seemed a distant memory, Jacob burst in, his rage manifest in a single, saving punch to the man's jaw.

Suddenly, in a fit of madness, he slammed his head against the wall.

It wasn't until I wrapped my arms around him that he slowly came back to his senses.

But now, Jacob believed I was plotting with my stepfather to set up Lily.

My fingertips were numb with tingling, and a chill seeped through my entire body.

I pointed at the door, annunciating each word clearly, "Leave and never show your face to me again."

Barely had the words left my mouth when Lily burst through the door, throwing herself at my feet.

"Wendy, I'm begging you. Please spare me. Even if I was wrong before, ruining my future is like taking my life. You know I can't get a job without my diploma."

Her tears fell like scattered petals, as if I had done something truly unforgivable.

Jacob's eyes softened with sympathy as he helped her up, shooting me a scornful glare.

"Wendy, do you find pleasure in treating people like this? You owe her an explanation for this."

With that, he dragged me out in one swift motion.

Panic blared in my mind as I struggled violently.

My voice shook as I asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"To your stepfather's house."

Though my mother and stepfather had divorced long ago, he detested me. Going there felt like being thrown into hell.

"I'm not going. I would rather die than go there!"