“It’s too late.”
I had counted the days. In three days, the fetus would be three months old.
www
www
The
It was the seventh day since Grandma’s passing, and according to tradition, Grandma’s ashes were to be enshrined at The Serenity Monastery atop the mountain.
It happened to be the monastery’s monthly communal prayer and meditation session, so the place was bustling.
I saw Marcus, whom I hadn’t seen in days.
He was standing among the college volunteer group, carefully protecting Lila Monroe, who was doing volunteer work.
He held an umbrella over her to shield her from the sun, periodically offered her water, and gently wiped the sweat from her temples.
The surrounding students cast envious glances at them. Whispers filled the air,
“Wow, he’s the epitome of a good man. I want to find a man like that someday?
“Wow, he’s the epitome of a good man. I want to find a man like un
“Lila Monroe is so lucky. Even if she’s the other woman, I hear she’s about to become the official wife.”
“He’s such a great catch, I’d be willing to be the other woman too.”
shook my head, carrying Grandma’s urn into the main hall.
After the ceremony, as I prepared to place Grandma’s urn in the columbarium,
”
W
”
A pair of hands suddenly reached out. Before I could even see who it was, I felt my hand lighten,
Then I heard Lila Monroe shriek.
*Crash!*
www
The urn hit the ground with a heavy thud, shattering into pieces, and the grey–white ashes scattered everywhere.
“I’m so sorry! I… I’m so sorry!”
“I just wanted to help, I’ll clean it up right away.”
Lila Monroe frantically tried to scoop up the ashes, only making a bigger mess.
I trembled with rage, unable to bear it any longer. I slapped her across the face.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Lila Monroe clutched her cheek, looking utterly wronged.
“I didn’t!”
“The columbarium is part of my volunteer duties today, I just wanted to help! How could you just hit me?”
Marcus appeared from somewhere, pulling the tear–streaked Lila Monroe into his embrace. His eyes, when he looked at me, were like shards of ice.
“So what if an urn got broken? Was it really worth hitting someone over it?”
I snapped my head up, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. Heartbreak and despair surged through me again.
“So what if an urn got broken?”
“Marcus Thorne, are you even human?”
Marcus clearly flinched.
In three years of marriage, I had never said a harsh word to him, always gentle and poised.
Perhaps my gaze had startled him. He softened his tone slightly.
Uta didn’t mean it.”
M
<
“I can pay for it!”
With that, he pulled out his checkbook from his inner suit pocket, and with a flourish, he signed a number and handed it to me.
“Is that enough?”
Looking at the check he offered, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain so intense I could barely
breathe.
Seeing me hesitate to take it, he frowned slightly, then tore off another check and wrote a new number.
“Not enough?”
His tone was so cold, as if he were merely discussing a business transaction.
“What about this then?”
The amounts grew larger and larger, but my heart grew colder and colder.
Finally, I took the last check, and with all my strength, I said,
“It’s enough.”
Not just this check was enough…
*We*, were enough!
7
With that, I turned to clean up the ashes, but before I could, Marcus’s icy voice came from behind me.
“Stop.”
I paused, raising my eyes to him.
“I’ve paid for the urn. Now it’s your turn to apologize!”
I stared at him, my voice trembling as I said,
“What if I don’t?”
Marcus pulled Lila Monroe’s wrist,
“Don’t be afraid. Hit her back.”
My pupils constricted. Before I could react, I saw Marcus’s well–defined knuckles wrap around Lila’s hand, swiftly swinging
towards me.
Slap!
My cheek stung, burning hot all the way to my scalp.
But the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart, which felt like a gaping hole, hollow and whistling with
wind
Marcus tenderly wiped away Lila Monroe’s tears with his thumb,
5
