03
Forbes and I truly share a connection. He always appears during my most disastrous and desperate moments. Once again, he brings me to the hospital.
“Miss Kelly, have you gone mad? Don’t you know the condition of your body? Even if you refuse treatment, you went out drinking on top of it. You’re driving
me crazy!” Forbes is furious, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him like this.
Though I haven’t seen him many times, every time he has been gentle and calming, offering warmth and reassurance. Today, he’s so angry he’s practically
stomping his feet.
“Are you even listening to me?” he demands.
I nod. The IV has eased most of the pain. “Dr. Forbes, why are you so upset? It’s not good for your doctor’s image.”
Forbes glares at me. “I’m not your doctor right now. I’m speaking to you as a friend.”
I smile. “Who would’ve thought I’d make a friend with death so close?”
“Kelly, is there anything more important than your own life?”
“Maybe I’m just evil, trying to use my death to get revenge on everyone?”
Forbes is taken aback for a moment before slowly replying, “People have to face the consequences of their own actions. But you? You only get one life. Do you really want to throw it away just to wake their conscience?”
His words hit me hard. After that night of heavy drinking, my health deteriorated, and I’ve been vomiting blood frequently.
As I stare at the snow falling outside, a whirlwind of emotions stirs within me. What will next spring be like? Will summer be unbearably hot?
It seems I won’t live to see summer, or maybe even spring.
Something major happened on New Year’s Day. Beth, who had been dead for two years, came back.
She strutted into the Walton family residence. Stanley received a call that night, and I didn’t hear about it until the next morning.
He handed me the divorce papers, saying, “Beth has returned, and I won’t let her suffer. Sign these, pack your things, and get out. I don’t want her upset because of you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he slammed the door, no doubt off to see Beth. I stared at the divorce agreement, laughing bitterly before suddenly -bursting into tears.
Why? Why would the universe play such a cruel joke?
I became the scapegoat after Beth’s mysterious death, enduring inhuman treatment for two years. And now, with me on the verge of death from Beth comes back!
What about me? What was the point of everything I’ve suffered through these two years? Who can I turn to about the pain I’ve endured?
I arranged a meeting with Beth. We set it for 11 in the morning.
I arrived at the café half an hour early and waited almost two hours before she finally showed up, fashionably late.
Beth sat down, casually brushing her long hair aside. She glanced at the coffee I had ordered for her and sneered, “I stopped drinking that years ago.”
* He thought i killed my half sis so he married me as revenge. As I was tortured to death, my sister came back…
She called the waiter and ordered something else.
“I’m sorry for being late. I was with Stanley.” She laughed smugly. “I didn’t tell him you invited me here, of course. Stanley doesn’t let me out of his sight these days–he’s scared I’ll get hurt again. If he knew about this, I’m afraid he’d break your leg.”
I remained calm, not letting her words get to me.
Undeterred, Beth continued, “I heard you haven’t been doing well lately. Even though you married Stanley, your life is worse than a dog’s.”
I stared back at her coldly. “Thanks to you, I’m in this mess. I took your place and married Stanley.”
Beth’s smug smile faltered as she snapped, “Stanley loves me the most. He only married you to spite me. Now that I’m back, he’ll give me the grand
wedding I deserve. You’d better disappear as far away as possible.”
I didn’t bother wasting more words on her. I reached into my pocket for the voice recorder and spoke directly.
“Beth, it’s just us here today. I’ve always wondered why you picked a fight with me that day, why you mysteriously disappeared at sea, and how you’ve suddenly come back from the dead.”
Last night, my mother had called, urging me to divorce and stop holding onto Beth’s place. She scolded me, then went on about how Beth had narrowly escaped death and how I, the villain, deserved to die.
She mentioned Beth told them she fell into the sea but was saved by someone. She lost her memory due to a head injury, only regaining it recently after years of hardship. Apparently, the person who saved her was wealthy and gave her a job as a nanny. When they learned Beth had been reduced to a maid, the family was heartbroken.
But I’ve always doubted her story, and seeing her in person today only strengthened my suspicions. Beth’s complexion is rosy–better than it was two years ago. Her hands don’t look like they’ve done two years of maid work; they’re impeccably maintained, smooth, and delicate.
Beth didn’t bother hiding the truth. “Who else would be a better scapegoat than you? I met a rich man, Charles. He’s handsome, fun, and much better than Stanley, who keeps harping on our childhood memories, including that stupid jade pendant. I had to be careful with him every day, afraid he’d figure out the truth.”
“I didn’t dare break up with Charles because I wanted to keep my options open. In case things didn’t work out with him, I could always return as Mrs. Williams.”
“I lied to Charles, saying my father wouldn’t let me go. That’s when he came up with the plan for me to fake my death.”
“I deliberately picked a fight with you that day so everyone would think you were the cause of my death. This way, I’d be remembered, especially by Stanley. He’d feel guilty, thinking our argument–because you wanted to marry him–drove me to die in a car crash at sea.”
Beth smirked, pleased with herself. “I didn’t expect Stanley to be so heartless. He’s treated you horribly because of me. If he knew you were the one he’s been searching for all these years, he might lose his mind. But it doesn’t matter, because the image of you in his heart is already set. He’ll never believe you.”
She looked so smug, as if she’d pulled off something brilliant. A cold chill washed over me. Human nature can truly be terrifying.
“One more question. How did you get my jade pendant?”
Beth took a casual sip of her coffee. “Back when we were kids, I fought with you over everything. Even when you were beaten to a pulp, you never gave in. I got so mad, I skipped dinner that night. The next morning, a broken jade pendant appeared on my pillow. It wasn’t hard to figure out–it had to be from your mom. She was always trying to please me and my dad, willing to do anything to make me happy.”
I had suspected as much for a long time but didn’t want to believe it.
Stanley had left our house countless times, and whenever the jade pendant came up, my mom would always acknowledge it as Beth’s. How pathetic. All the suffering I’ve endured in my life–who’s really responsible for it?
Three days have passed since my meeting with Beth. Stanley hasn’t come home during that time. Instead, his assistant calls me daily, asking if I’ve signed the divorce papers yet.
I glance at the latest entertainment headlines. Beth is constantly by Stanley’s side at every social gathering or event.
I guess I’m not the only one who’s been kicked out. That little replacement they found for me probably isn’t doing much better.
These past few days have made me realize a lot. Forbes was right. We only get one life. And mine is almost at its end.
I’ve lived in Beth’s shadow for as long as I can remember, enduring daily beatings and scolding. I finally made it to university, only for my mother to send me off as Beth’s sidekick. Then, in some naive belief in true love, I thought I could win Stanley’s heart. Instead, I’ve been tormented to the point wher “m neither human nor ghost. Now, I’m ready to end this tragic existence.
I’ve spent my whole life living according to others‘ whims. But for whatever time I have left, I’ll live it for myself.
