Chapter 3 Ryan's Ex-Wife
1068 Words
Among the random items, there were some crumpled papers, a lighter, a small knife, and a finely crafted but dusty wallet entangled in my seashell necklace.
I opened the wallet and found a photo of me as a teenager, standing next to a teenage boy. Below the photo, a handwritten note read: I'm sorry I forgot you. All I can do is wait for you where I last remember. My ex-wife, where are you? Ryan.
'The wallet belongs to Ryan, and the boy in the photo is him too!'
I stared at the blond man's back in disbelief. 'Why does he call me his ex-wife? He shouldn't recognize me... Did he lose his memory too? What happened in the time we both seem to have forgotten?'
Although I had countless questions, I wasn't interested in love anymore. After three failed marriages and being betrayed by both Kaitlyn and Benjamin, I was done. So, I didn't ask anything. Instead, I casually handed the wallet back to Ryan.
We disembarked and drove for a while. Eventually, Ryan's motorcycle stopped in front of a small house overgrown with ivy. The roof had a large hole, the paint on the walls was peeling off, and the yard was overrun with weeds.
"So this is the place you were looking for?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"Bingo!" I hopped off the bike. "It's a bit of a fixer-upper, but we can turn it into a dream house. My kids are going to love this place!"
As I spoke, I walked over to the faucet, trying to turn it on.
"Damn it. Why is there no water..."
My tugging on the faucet pulled my T-shirt down further, exposing most of my breasts. The black lace bra I was wearing became almost fully visible in his view.
"Let me take a look." Ryan stepped forward, his deep blue eyes locked onto my breasts, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
I didn't notice his reaction and continued struggling with the faucet. "This damn valve must be rusted shut! I need to find a wrench..."
Ryan crouched down, inspecting the pipes. "Hmm, the valve's busted. I'll have to go into town to buy a new one."
"I'll check inside to see if there are any tools," I said, turning toward the house.
My back, almost fully exposed through the tattered shirt, resembled a patchwork of rags. My fair skin peeked through the fabric, shimmering with every step I took, like waves rippling on a quiet sea.
"Uh... Don't bother." Ryan's voice was a bit hoarse. "All the tools are in town. I'll be back soon," he said before hopping on his motorcycle and speeding off.
I shrugged and bent down to search the grass for anything useful.
Suddenly, something sharp grazed my finger. I quickly pulled my hand back, and a drop of blood landed squarely on my seashell necklace.
I clutched my finger and looked down at the necklace. To my astonishment, the blood was slowly being absorbed into the shell, which began to emit a faint glow. It was changing!
I stared at it, wide-eyed, unable to believe what I was seeing. 'What is this? Magic?'
Panicking, I took off the necklace and noticed it had become more ancient in appearance. The large shell pendant now had intricate patterns etched on its surface. The shell was semi-transparent, cool to the touch, and inside it, there seemed to be some kind of liquid.
Curious, I inspected the liquid, even daring to take a whiff. A light, pleasant fragrance filled the air.
As I observed it, a drop of the liquid accidentally dripped onto a nearby plant. To my shock, the once lifeless plant sprang back to life, even more vibrant than before. Startled, I tossed the necklace to the ground!
After a while, seeing that the plant continued to grow without any other strange occurrences, I cautiously picked up the necklace using a stick.
Once I confirmed there was no danger, I was left with more questions than answers. 'What is this liquid inside the shell? Why does it make plants grow so fast? Could there be any side effects?'
Determined to find out, I caught a mouse scurrying around the yard. I cut off a piece of the grass that had grown and stuffed it into the mouse's mouth, watching as it swallowed. I then locked it inside a metal box and decided to leave it alone for now.
'If the liquid is toxic, the mouse should show signs soon, right?' I mused to myself.
After hiding the seashell necklace, I finally felt at ease and went back to organizing the house.
Ryan returned not long after, accompanied by a stunning redhead with a perfect figure and flawless makeup.
Ryan introduced us. "This is Olivia. She owns the beauty shop in town. Olivia, Alice used to live here."
As he spoke, he fixed the broken valve, and soon, clear water was flowing from the faucet.
Olivia shot me a disdainful glance, her tone dripping with malice. "I know you, proud Alice. You and my cousin Kaitlyn were best friends growing up. Kaitlyn just called me to tell me you went bankrupt and came back here to escape your debt."
'She's Kaitlyn's cousin! So Kaitlyn once lived in Harbor Town too! We must have known each other back then... but I don't remember any of it, and she's never mentioned it...'
"I'm going to clean up the rooms inside." I didn't want to argue with the locals on my first day, so I turned and went inside, shutting the door behind me.
Through the thin door, I could faintly hear Olivia's sugary voice. "Ryan, Kaitlyn said she's a b***h. You should stay away from her!"
Ryan seemed annoyed, brushing her off with a few words before calling out to me through the door. "Alice, I've got to go. See you later."
As the sound of them leaving faded, I let out a sigh of relief. 'Whatever Ryan and I were in the past, I just want him to stay a good neighbor now.'
Before bed, I remembered the mouse I'd locked in the metal box. I opened the box and found the mouse alive and well, bouncing around as if nothing had happened.
I could finally relax. 'Looks like the liquid in the shell makes plants grow fast, and whatever it produces is safe to eat.'
- Writer
