Chapter 1
"I never told you to hide this from her. Don't go putting all the blame on me!"
Eve Lawrence's sweet, girlish voice rang out, and everyone burst into laughter. Jason Lawrence dotingly tapped her cheek, "That's right. This was all my idea. I can't bear to let you go."
Through the c***k in the door, I watched Eve climb onto Jason's lap, and the two of them kissed passionately, completely lost in the moment.
The heated scene burned my eyes, but the other people inside looked on as if they had long grown accustomed to it, completely unsurprised.
So this was it—everyone here already knew about the secret relationship between these two. I was the only one kept completely in the dark.
It felt as if something inside my chest had shattered softly into pieces.
They were right. I really was a fool.
A complete, utter fool.
I should have realized it long ago. Jason's feelings for his adopted sister, who he'd watched grow up since she was little, had long crossed the line between siblings.
He brought her with him to every important event. On every holiday, there was always a gift for her, along with the one he gave me.
He never let Eve go without, even if it meant denying my gift. Even the wedding I had anticipated for so many years was postponed indefinitely, all to make up for her regrets.
Suddenly, someone spoke up, "How can she even compare to Eve? Jason only took her in back then because she was hurt and had amnesia. Who would have thought she'd just leech onto him and never leave?
"She played so hard to get at the start, insisting on waiting until marriage. But look at her now—she's let Jason have his way with her plenty of times. She's got no curves and is completely stiff in bed. She's the only one who thinks she's anything special…"
Jason furrowed his brows and shot the crowd a warning look. "Angela Pearson's shy. Don't say this kind of thing in front of her, or else…"
Everyone quickly agreed that they would stop.
My head went off like a thunderclap, and my lips turned white instantly.
It was a bright, sunny day, but I felt like I had been thrown into an ice cave, and cold seeped through every inch of my body.
He only prohibited them to say these things to my face—wasn't that just proof that he agreed with every word?
I couldn't stand to listen anymore. I turned, and stumbled out of the courtyard and all the way home.
After crying myself out under the covers, I fell into a heavy, groggy sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, Jason had his arms wrapped all the way around me. He was asleep, and there was a glaring red stain smudged on his white shirt.
I immediately thought of the scene I had just witnessed, and my stomach churned violently.
I pushed him away, got out of bed, and clutched the trash can, retching my guts out.
Jason woke up to my movement. Seeing how I looked, he frowned and got out of bed, his voice laced with concern, "What's wrong, honey? Are you not feeling well?"
As he spoke, he lifted his hand and reached to pat the top of my head, like he always did. I stepped back, and his hand landed on thin air.
Perhaps it was the first time he had felt this distance from me, Jason froze for a moment.
My face was deathly pale, but I still shook my head, "I'm fine."
Jason got up and poured me a glass of water. I took the glass and tilted my head back to drink it, when I suddenly heard him speak again, "The tarot was a bad omen again this time. We'll have to put our wedding off a little longer."
I lowered my head and let out a bleak smile.
On the first time, it was a bad omen, so he told me to wait. Then there was a second time, a third time…
I had waited for him for nine full years. Even after I recovered my memory and reconnected with my mother, I still clung to him, too attached to leave for home.
In the end, I found this whole thing was nothing but a complete scam.
"Jason, how much longer do you want me to wait?" I asked with a hoarse voice.
A notification ping popped up for his favorite contact. He lowered his head, and his mind was already somewhere else.
"Next time for sure." His tone was light, evasive and perfunctory.
I closed my eyes, my nose stinging with tears.
I can't wait for that day any longer.
