MARRIED FOR REVENGE, LOVED FOR LIFE

The night had been engulfed in sheets of silver by the unrelenting,merciless rain that had been falling for hours. As thunder crackled across the sky,Lina Carter gripped the driving wheel more tightly. The road ahead was dangerous and glistened in the streetlights. Every second that went by felt heavier than the last,crushing against her chest like an incomprehensible silent warning. Once more,her phone vibrated. A name that she once trusted more than her own instinct appeared on the screen. Ryan : You’re overthinking things again was another message that showed up. Her fingers tightened their grip on the steering wheel. Whenever she questioned something that didn't feel right,he would always use that word. Another vibration. Ryan :To me,Sophie is like family,why are you behaving this way? Lina exhaled nervously. Family. Her mouth tasted unpleasant after hearing the word. She had witnessed Ryan lean too near to Sophie just moments before. She had witnessed Sophie's gentle smile,which concealed deceit and cruelty under a facade of innocence. Pretending had always come naturally to Sophie. "You misinterpret everything so easily,Lina". Earlier that evening,Sophie had spoken in a soft,patient,almost compassionate tone. Beside her,Ryan had sighed,already worn out from Lina's inquiries. He said softly, "You're making this uncomfortable”. Uncomfortable? As though her discomfort wasn't a warning,but rather an annoyance. Lightning struck,illuminating the deserted road. She couldn't shake the image of Sophie's hand staying on Ryan's arm for too long. "I would never betray you,you know that”,Ryan had whispered,his gaze steady,calm and convincing. Too convincing. Lina blinked, her eyesight becoming a little hazy. Why did it feel so wrong? Her phone began to vibrate again. Margaret was the sender this time. Her stepmother seldom get in touch with her unless she had to. Stepmom :Your father is disappointed in you again. Lina's throat constricted. Disappointed. Another well-known term. Margaret never had to speak louder. Her criticism was usually subtle and well-planned. Despite Ryan's constant "business with work",Lina continued to make an effort to be understanding. Meanwhile, he still finds time to visit the Carter home frequently and spend time with her supposed sister. She continued to ignore how at ease Sophie and Ryan appeared to be in the same house. She made an effort to comprehend why it was constantly expected of her to be the one to compromise. As the rain got heavier,it pounded on the windshield like a warning that she could no longer ignore. Her thoughts were disorganized and chaotic. There was a problem. There had always been a problem.The car struck a shallow puddle,causing her phone to slip a little.The tires made a shriek. Lina gasped for air. In her hands,the steering wheel trembled forcefully. The vehicle skidded. Her heart struck her ribs with agony. She was briefly blinded by the headlights' reflection off the wet road. Everything went by so fast. The car swirled. Metal sighed. Her heart pounded in her ears loudly,louder than the storm itself. The guardrail charged at her. Desperately,her fingers clenched. "Please…stop". The silence was broken by the crash. Glass burst like snow all around her. Pain rushed through her chest,causing her body to lurch forward. Everything seemed suspended in the air for a little while. Then… The cold water rushed in. The vehicle sank slowly into the murky river beneath the bridge as it tilted. Ice water crawled up Lina's legs,waist and chest,making her gasp. Her mind was jumbled like shattered glass. Memory fragments appeared in a disorganized manner.Ryan's tone…soft and comforting,filled with false promises. Sophie's soft smile…"All I want is the best for you." Margaret's gentle remarks…"You ought to express gratitude for all that this family has done for you". Express gratitude for love that has always seemed conditional? Thankful for a kind of acceptance that never really came. When the water reached her shoulders,her chest constricted.She fought against the seat belt,her hands shaking. It wouldn’t move. Why wouldn't it move? She let out weak breaths of breath.Fear tightened around her lungs,blurring her vision. "No..no..please...",she murmured. As she attempted to steady the wheel, her voice wavered. Now memories she had disregarded came to light with agonizing clarity. The fleeting looks,the quiet omissions,the persistent sense of being outside a life she believed to be her own. Had she ever really been chosen? Or had she just been convenient and gullible? Now water fills the vehicle more quickly. Icy..hefty…vicious. She felt regret settle deep in her chest, causing her heart to race. For the life she had lived, not for the life she was losing. A life in which she consistently demonstrated her value to those who never meant to notice it. A life in which she mistakes love for tolerance. A life in which she was never the first. As darkness began to seep into her vision,her lips quivered. If she had another chance… She wouldn't ask for love. The malice concealed under courteous smiles would not go unnoticed by her. She wouldn't give up herself to fit into a world where she wasn't loved. Her last breath came out slowly. This time... She would pick herself. Silence was engulfed by darkness. Then a voice…gentle, urgent and far away. "Lina" Her eyebrows slightly quirked. "Lina,get up". The blackness fractured. "Are you listening,miss Carter?" Weakly,her fingertips brushed the blankets under her. Sheets? The bitter cold gave way to warmth. Abruptly,air filled her lungs instead of water.Her eyes snapped open. And everything was wrong...