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When I presented the proposal to the Walton family and expressed my desire for revenge on Kelly, Mrs. Walton agreed immediately, without hesitation. This left me somewhat taken aback. Kelly is her biological daughter, and the fact that her own mother would assent in this manner suggested that Kelly was likely even worse than Beth had described.
So, I married her. I subjected her to all sorts of humiliation, even tormenting her physically. However, it seemed I was becoming somewhat addicted to her. I used work trips as a means to restrain myself, but each time I returned and saw her, I couldn’t control my impulses.
In truth, I didn’t want to hurt her so severely each time. When she was in pain, I felt uncomfortable myself. But being gentle with her felt like a betrayal to Beth, so I thought we might as well suffer together. After each incident, I would call Grace, asking her to come and help apply medicine to Kelly the next day.
There was that time when I broke Kelly’s wrist in a fit of anger because she dared to smash Beth’s photo in front of me. When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor revealed she had been pregnant for two months but had now miscarried. Suddenly, I felt as though I had lost something–a bitter emptiness settled in my heart.
I continually comforted myself: it’s better this way. She caused Beth’s death; she doesn’t deserve to carry my child. This baby shouldn’t have come into this world. Just as I was silently reciting these words to myself, the doctor rushed out of the operating room, telling me that the patient was experiencing heavy bleeding and that only a hysterectomy could save her life..
In that instant, the only thought in my head–one that sprang from the deepest part of my heart–was: she cannot die. With unwavering determination, I signed the consent form for the operation and stood outside the door, quietly waiting for it to end. Kelly cannot die; she has not yet finished what she
owes Beth.
When the operation finally ended, she kissed me. My pulse quickened at that moment, and as my heart eagerly wanted to deepen the kiss, she sl .I despised myself for nearly succumbing to temptation.
I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Every time I touched her, I had to remind myself that I was avenging Beth and would not fall in love with Kelly. So I started to avoid home, seeking out women who resembled Beth on the outside. With them, I could offer gentleness, but there wasn’t an ounce of genuine emotion or desire to touch them.
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Once, while accompanying clients for drinks, I acted on a complete whim. Watching Kelly being held in the arms of an old man, being touched everywhere, ignited an uncontrollable anger within me. If she hadn’t shouted those words, I would have stepped in. I could feel the wine glass clenched tightly in n Hand
<He thought killed my half–sis so he mamed me as revenge. As I was tortured to death, my sister came back…
ignited an uncontrollable anger within me. If she hadn’t shouted those words, I would have stepped in. I could feel the wine glass clenched tightly in my
hand.
Two years passed. Beth didn’t die; she returned. I proposed a divorce, fearing that Beth would be hurt again, so I kept her by my side every day. When the assistant told me that Kelly had already signed the papers and moved out, I was taken aback.
That night, as I stared at the divorce agreement, I felt stunned. After two more days, I couldn’t shake the emptiness in my heart. Even with Beth beside me, I felt irritable. I wanted to go home every day, but I didn’t know why.
One day, I returned to the Walton house with Beth to discuss our marriage. Mr. Walton, out of sheer happiness, had drunk more than usual. Somehow, the conversation turned to the jade pendant. He mentioned, “When she was young, Beth tried to snatch the jade pendant from Kelly, nearly causing Kelly to be beaten to death by her mother. Now, it is this very pendant that has brought you two together.”
I felt as though I had been struck on the head. But before I had a chance to ask anything further, Beth had already assisted Mr. Walton into his room. I began to ponder Mr. Walton’s words. Something felt odd.
I started tracking down Kelly and looking into her social activities over time. Yet, it seemed she had absolutely no social life; apart from work, she didn’t seem to visit anywhere else. However, she had resigned from her job six months ago, and after quitting, she was frequently seen at the hospital.
The hospital? A realization struck me, and the pieces began to fall into place. Things she had said that day… her continuous weight loss… Sometimes at night, I could hear her vomiting… I couldn’t bear to think any further, but my assistant had already brought back Kelly’s medical records.
When I read the words “Late–stage Stomach Cancer,” tears began to trickle onto the medical report. Her words echoed in my mind: “Stanley, I am dying; I have late–stage stomach cancer!”
What was I saying? I don’t believe it… I did say such a load of nonsense. I had been searching for her for so long, but it felt as if she had vanished from the
face of the earth; I couldn’t find her anywhere!
