The Biggest Oathbreaker

Before their fifth wedding anniversary, Ameera Meyer found out her marriage certificate with Marlow Brunsfield was forged. Meanwhile, he was in Anderia, a country where you can only marry once and that was it. There, he was marrying a younger girl he had brought up. His love for her was sincere. The tenderness he had for her was true. However, his heart had the capacity for two women… Chapter 1 After five years of marriage, Ameera Meyer was finally pregnant. The first thing she did was to get a birth record registered. She figured it was the perfect fifth anniversary present for her husband, Marlow Brunsfield. The only hiccup was that when she tried to enter her marriage certificate information, the display indicated that the certificate was invalid. "Ms. Meyer, are you sure your marriage certificate is legitimate?" The employee asked in a puzzled voice upon noting the repeated error message issued from the machine. Ameera was slightly upset. "We've been married for five years. There's no way it's fake!" The employee tried again, only to return the document to her eventually. "I recommend that you take this up to City Hall so they can take a look at it. Submitting an illegitimate certificate is wrong. Besides, you can apply for a birth record even if you were single." Ameera understood what the employee was implying. Then, she went to City Hall. When she emerged from the office, her face was drained of color. All of her previous joy had all but vanished. What the employee at the counter said struck into the core of her heart, "It says here that you and Mr. Brunsfield are not married. The marriage certificate is a counterfeit." Their five-year marriage... was fake this entire time! She was Marlow's childhood sweetheart. Everyone knew he loved her deeply and would give her the world. Why would he forge their marriage certificate? With that, she immediately bought a plane ticket headed to Anderia to look for Marlow, who was on a business trip. She was going to get to the bottom of this! Soon, she arrived at the hotel where Marlow was staying. There happened to be a wedding ceremony taking place at the time. Anderia was a special country with a unique law dictating that everyone could only get married once in their lifetime. Divorce was not permitted. She was not interested in observing the ceremony, but as she squeezed through the crowd to get to the elevator, she caught something from the corner of her eye. Her recognition of the groom who was surrounded by a crowd sent bolts of electric shock through her! The groom was dressed in a leather jacket paired with fitting pants and dark boots. He was dressed in local fashion, featuring a beret and a red belt strapped around his waist. The entire time, he was smiling from ear to ear. There was no mistaking it. This was the man she had been married to for five years—Marlow himself! If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it. "Congratulations on getting married, Marlow!" "Truly impressive. Both your wedding ceremonies back home and over here are so grand!" "Marlow, I have to ask, are you serious about this Josette girl? She comes from a poor family, doesn't she?" Another person asked curiously, "Isn't this bigamy? Haven't you already married Ameera back home?" "Don't you know? Back then, Marlow wanted to wait for Josette Klemer to come of age, so he never actually married Ameera back home. Legally speaking, he has been single for the past five years!" "Is that so? You sure are a player, Marlow." Ameera stood frozen in the crowd. It felt as if her blood had stopped flowing. At first, she believed it was just a misunderstanding. However, the continuation shattered her hopes. Marlow answered contemplatively, "Of course, I'm serious about Josette. Back then, she risked a blood transfusion to save Ameera's life. She was willing to live under Ameera's shadow for the rest of her life, and all she asked for was a lifetime with me. I can give her that much at the very least." So that was what happened! Ameera felt herself tearing up without realizing it. The truth was out. Marlow had arranged the forgery of their marriage certificate. Five years ago, she got into an accident. Josette, who was a freshman in high school at the time, was the one who rushed her to the hospital and donated blood to save her life. Josette came from a poor family, and the only one she ever had was her mother, who was very sick. As a gesture of appreciation for saving Ameera's life, Ameera and Marlow decided to pay for her education and even arranged for her to study abroad. Marlow stated that by saving Ameera, Josette had saved him as well. He was willing to give everything he could to express his gratitude. Little did Ameera know, the extent of his gratitude included raising her until adulthood and marrying her. What was even more ridiculous was that she didn't suspect anything in the last five years. She never knew they had gotten together. Marlow's friend could not resist the urge to ask, "And what about Ameera? Aren't you worried about her finding out?" The look in Marlow's eyes darkened. He tapped his fingers rapidly against his phone and declared with a hint of confidence in his voice, "I will continue to love her. She will never find out about this. And none of you will ever mention this to her." Immediately after that, Ameera's phone vibrated. When she noticed it was a text from Marlow, she felt a chill run through her body, which almost made her heart stop. "Honey, I miss you. I hate having to go on business trips and being away from you. Every moment away from you is torture! I'll try my best to get home in time for our anniversary. Love, your dear hubby." Ameera clutched her phone and glanced at Marlow's figure, which was walking away from her. Pain crept into the tunnels of her heart. Her vision gradually became misted with tears as she began to cry. This was not the Marlow she knew. Marlow was her childhood sweetheart. He was the boy who broke his leg climbing through a window just to help her retrieve a fallen hairpin. He consoled her softly and told her not to cry after that. When they were eighteen, he climbed to the top of a snowy mountain just to profess his love for her. He vowed to love her forever and never lie to her. When they were twenty, he had written her ten thousand love letters and baked a hundred cakes for a wedding proposal. When they were twenty-two, he planned the wedding of a lifetime for her and couldn’t bear to spend a single night apart after. He was not the liar she was looking at now, the one who would marry another woman behind her back. She felt an ache in her heart as she bit her lip hard. Then, her phone vibrated again. It was Marlow calling. She hesitated for a second before picking up. "Honey, where are you? Have you eaten? Why does it sound so noisy in the background?" Marlow's voice was as gentle as ever. Every word he spoke contained all the love he had for her. "What are you up to?" Ameera instinctively tightened her grip on the phone as she spoke. She told herself that if Marlow owned up to what was happening, perhaps she would have a proper sit-down with him and give their relationship another chance. Marlow answered without hesitation, "I'm in a meeting right now, but I missed you so much, so I stepped outside to call you. Are you shopping now? Buy whatever you want, honey." Ameera felt her lips jerk involuntarily. The light in her eyes dissipated as she fell silent before murmuring, "Okay." Marlow immediately noticed the change in her tone. He became slightly distressed, "Honey, is something wrong? You can talk to me." "I need to go. I'm in the changing room." After Ameera hung up, she spotted Josette, who was also dressed in the local fashion, throwing herself into Marlow's arms. "Honey, how do I look?" "You look wonderful. My girl, you would look good in anything." Marlow smiled gently as he lapped his arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. The sight of it stung Ameera. This entire time, his adoration and tenderness were not only reserved for her. He could split them into halves for two women. 'Marlow, how could your heart contain two different women?' With that, she ran out of the hotel in a fit of panic before retreating into a dark alley where she curled into a ball to bawl her eyes out. It was only when she was close to passing out from crying that she suddenly got up with a determined look in her eyes. She was done with this five-year-long marriage that was nothing but a lie! She was done with Marlow Brunsfield as well! Since he was legally wed to Josette, she was going to give them what they wanted. Her parents' death anniversary was in two weeks. After that was over, she was going to remove herself from Marlow's life for good. With that, she took a taxi to the airport and caught the earliest flight back home. The first thing she did upon returning was to schedule an abortion at the hospital. Chapter 2 "Ms. Meyer, it's a miracle that you could get pregnant at all, especially after factoring in your abdominal injuries as a result of the car accident in the past. I'm afraid you might have trouble conceiving again if you were to terminate the pregnancy," the doctor informed Ameera in a conflicted tone. "You should reconsider and discuss this with your husband." Ameera clenched her hands involuntarily and felt a throb in her heart. Marlow never told her about this. Whenever their parents asked when they were having children, Marlow would always tell them they wanted to wait a little longer before starting a family. She teared up at the thought of how Marlow had been looking out for her feelings this entire time. Still, regardless of how kind he had been, it did not change the fact that he had lied to her. "Thank you, doctor. I'll think about it." She walked out of the hospital in a daze, only to run into Marlow and Josette in the corridor. It looked like they had just returned home. Marlow was carefully helping Josette out of the ultrasound room, and his brows were tense with what seemed like agitation. Still, he fixed a gentle look on Josette and did not avert his gaze the entire time. "Don't worry. It's not like I'm sick. I'm pregnant!" Josette remarked with a hint of a smile in her eyes. Marlow smiled and looked like he could no longer contain his joy. "Of course, I'd be nervous. This is our first child! We have to take good care of the baby." Ameera clenched her fingers tightly around the appointment card. She felt as if the temperature of her body had plummeted, and she could vividly hear the sound of her heart shattering. Her eyes were red-hot, but the tears simply would not come out. The pain was so acute, yet she could not cry. She watched as Marlow helped Josette into the elevator. After that, she slowly unfolded the appointment card and returned to the counter to schedule a procedure for the day after tomorrow. Neither did she want her child to be born into a web of lies nor did she want her child to be born without a father. As if God was playing a joke on her, she just had to bump into Marlow and Josette again in the basement parking lot. Without a second thought, she tailed their car. Marlow took Josette to the Carousel Restaurant. Ameera felt her heart drop. This was a restaurant Marlow had specifically designed and built for her as a birthday present last year. She remembered him telling her she was the only person with the honor of dining there, and yet, here he was with another woman. He had seated Josette in what was Ameera's favorite seat. There was already some dessert set on the table while Marlow wheeled in a cart of delicacies for her. He suavely produced a flower from his jacket and handed it to Josette to reveal a diamond necklace dangling right below the flower. "Congratulations, my little princess. You’re officially a mom-to-be." "Marlow, thank you. I'm thrilled!" Josette looked like she was about to cry. "You even cooked for me!" "Why don't you go after I finish eating? I've been taking up enough of your time the last few days. You should head back to Ameera." She looked like she was fighting back tears as she said this. Marlow was heartbroken at the sight of her tears and held her tightly. "Silly girl, I'm not going anywhere today. I'll stay right here with you." "What about Ameera? Isn't it your anniversary tomorrow? She'll be sad if you don't go home." "I've already made arrangements. There's nothing to worry about." Marlow gently patted her head before putting the necklace on for her. "You're my wife. From now on, I'll make time for you and our child." Ameera retreated around the corner and pressed her back against the icy wall. She shivered from the cold. That was right. Josette was Marlow's lawful wife. Meanwhile, she was nothing but a fool with no title to speak of. She still remembered the first time Marlow brought her to the restaurant. He had gifted her a diamond necklace and revealed that to cook for her, he had secretly trained with a Michelin chef for a whole month. "Honey, try my cooking. From now on, I will make all of your meals for you. I will love you and only you wholeheartedly for the rest of my life." He pressed his lips into Josette's ears and vowed as he put on the necklace for her. It seemed as if he had duplicated the love and affection he once had for Ameera. Ameera felt a heavy weight pressing against her chest. She was in tears by the time she left the restaurant. By the time she scrambled out of the restaurant, tears were already flowing down her face. She went straight to the law firm and had her lawyer, Hubert Klein, liquidate all of her assets. She made sure everything belonging to Marlow was returned to him. The inheritance her parents left behind for her was enough for several lifetimes. Money was no issue; all she wanted was to cut things off with Marlow for good. It was dark by the time everything was taken care of, and she drove home. The house was dark and empty, save for a lonesome light which the housemaids had turned on. She lay wearily on the couch and stared at the pictures of her and Marlow that decorated every part of the room. Her heart had never felt heavier, and she felt a throb of pain every time it beat. After she rubbed her fingers over her brows, she got up and removed the frames one after another. She looked at the first picture they had taken together as children. She was in a pink dress. He had called her a beautiful princess. Then, the picture of their first dance. His hand was gently placed on his waist, and he had asked for her to be his only partner for the rest of their lives. Then, the picture of their first date. He spun her around in circles and declared that he was the happiest man in the world. … She tore through the pictures one after another and shoved them into the shredder to decimate their memories for good. She went at it all night, eradicating every last bit of the romance they once had. By the next day, when her hands had gone numb, Marlow was still nowhere to be seen. It was supposed to be their anniversary. Chapter 3 On the day of the anniversary, Marlow posted a long post on his social media the moment the clock struck twelve. It was a heartfelt post expressing his love and gratitude for Ameera. Within a few hours, the post had received over ten million likes and shares. Every screen in the city featured the video he had filmed and edited himself, so everyone knew just how devoted he was to Ameera. Then, a group of people arrived outside the house and laid out a path using thousands of bouquets of roses. At the end of the path, there was a large collection of clothes and bags from a variety of trending fashion brands, as well as a giant crystal ring. To top things off, a music box looped Marlow's beautiful voice on repeat. "Happy anniversary, honey! As always, I love you." Ameera observed the spectacle indifferently before shutting the door and burrowing under the blankets. She behaved as if this had nothing to do with her. Shortly after that, Marlow called her. His voice was filled with guilt, "Honey, there was a hiccup with the project, and I'm afraid I can't make it back home for our anniversary today. I promise I'll make it up to you when I get back." Ameera sniggered upon hearing his flimsy excuse. Her voice quivered when she spoke, "It's fine. Take your time sorting things out." "Honey, I can tell you're upset." Marlow was very observant and pointed it out right away. "I have a lot more surprises in store for you. I hope you like them. I'll make it up to you, I promise." "I'm not upset. I know you have work. I'm feeling a little sick, so I'm going to get some sleep," Ameera remarked dully before hanging up. Then, she curled up in a ball and tried to ignore the nagging pain within her. Meanwhile, the commotion went on outside the house. Marlow had made arrangements for a drone show exhibiting all kinds of intricate formations professing his love for Ameera. A crowd of reporters had made it to the scene, hoping to score an interview with Ameera to write about their romance. Ameera ignored them. Meanwhile, her phone rang persistently. When she saw Marlow's name on the display, her vision became clouded with tears again. A part of her wanted to pick up and ask him why he had gone back on his word and why he would fall for another woman. In the end, all she did was turn her phone off and bury her head underneath the blankets. She was not sure how long she remained underneath the blankets when it was suddenly ripped away. A sudden burst of light blinded her momentarily. After adjusting to the brightness, she made out the silhouette of Marlow, who seemed disheveled. His hair was messy, and his face was pale. There was even a stark look of concern in his eyes. When he realized Ameera was upset, he rushed back home immediately. His agitation mounted when she refused to pick up his calls on his way home. The moment he saw Ameera, he embraced her tightly. His voice was choked up and on the verge of breaking. "I'm so glad you're home! Honey, I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry!" His eyes were frayed red, and he was trembling uncontrollably. "I'll never leave you home all by yourself again. I was worried sick when you wouldn't pick up. It felt like the world was ending. Nothing in this world is more important than you. I'm back. Let's celebrate our anniversary together." When Ameera remained silent, Marlow assumed she was still upset with him. He proceeded to get on one knee and tried to sweet-talk her, "Honey, please promise me you won't ignore my calls anymore, alright? I can't handle the thought of you ignoring me." His agitation and fear did not seem forced at all. He truly loved her. The only problem was that this was not the only devotion he had. "It didn't take you long to come back," Ameera remarked with a jerk of her lips. The color drained from Marlow's face, and for a moment, he seemed to be wracked with guilt. "Honey, you haven't eaten all day, have you? Come, I'll take you to your favorite restaurant." He swiftly changed the subject and gently raked his fingers through her hair. "No." Ameera shook her head. Marlow grew frantic. "Alright, I'll let you get some rest while I make you something downstairs." "Hm," Ameera grunted before turning her back to him. Assuming she was still upset, Marlow took a deep breath before retreating from the room. About fifteen minutes later, Ameera heard some noises downstairs. She went downstairs to find the living room packed with Marlow's friends. They were helping him hang up a collection of newly printed pictures on the wall. When they saw Ameera, they all started to vouch for Marlow. "Ameera, you sure had Marlow frightened. I have never seen him so nervous!" "If he does something to upset you again, tell us and we'll lecture him for you! Just don't throw out the pictures or ignore his calls. You had him worried sick." "He was going to lose his mind if he couldn't find you." "Yeah! He nearly passed out when he came home to see all the pictures removed. He went straight to the trash can to look for them." ...... "Silence, all of you." Marlow hadn't even had time to remove his apron when he emerged angrily from the kitchen. "This was on me. I shouldn't have upset my wife. I deserve to be punished." "Marlow, you're so obsessed with your wife that you don't even care about your dignity when it comes to her," Josette popped out of nowhere and remarked with an envious gaze. Marlow remained poised and stated with a gentle smile, "Of course. She's my wife. It's only right that I have a soft spot for her." Ameera felt a chill run down her spine when she sensed how hypocritical he was being. Nevertheless, she did not want to expose him right then and there. She stated calmly, "Forget about the pictures. I was thinking I'd like to repaint the walls." Marlow went up to her and put his arm around her waist. "Alright, guys, take them down. Whatever she wants." "You're such a sucker for your wife!" one of his friends jested, but Marlow did not take it to heart. Then, Marlow helped Ameera to the couch before returning to the kitchen to cook. He made every dish she liked, but they all tasted bland to her. While he served up spoonfuls of food to her plate with one hand, he was interlocking his fingers with Josette's with the other hand under the table. Ameera felt swept over with a wave of nihilism. She wanted nothing more than to get out of here and away from Marlow. However, Marlow did not give her any room to leave after dinner. He bent low to put on her shoes for her before carrying her out the door with his friends gawking behind him. Josette was making light-hearted jokes about his behavior, but it was not hard for Ameera to sense the jealousy and hostility veiled underneath. Marlow specially made arrangements for a fireworks show for Ameera. He even invited her favorite band to perform for her. Midway through the show, he excused himself to go to the bathroom. Ameera discreetly trailed behind him. Chapter 4 Josette immediately threw herself into Marlow's arms inside the VIP lounge. She eyed him seductively before kissing him on the lips. "Marlow, I've missed you so much. Please just let me kiss you for a bit." Marlow wrapped an arm around her waist and palmed the back of her head with his other hand. He responded to Josette's advances passionately, and soon, things started to get hot and heavy. After some time passed, she shoved Marlow away with her face still flushed red before panting. "Alright, you should go back and join Ameera." "You sure you had enough already?" His eyes were red with lust while he continued to caress Josette's lips with his fingertips. Josette lowered her eyes. "Of course not, but I don't want Ameera to be upset. She refused to answer your calls because of me! I can wait for you. Come back to me after you're done spending time with her." "You're so considerate that it hurts me. I can't bear to leave you. Alright, be good and listen to me. Don't think about anyone else, and just focus on being pleasured by your husband." Marlow proceeded to kiss her lips before moving down to her neck, then her chest. A moan of pleasure escaped Josette's lips. She dug her nails into Marlow's back and whimpered, "You can't kiss me there. I won't be able to resist." "You little vixen, you love it when I do this to you, don't you?" Soon, they lost themselves in desire. Ameera felt crushed when she saw what was happening. She had to bite the back of her hand hard to stop herself from crying. She was too foolish to think that the heartache would fade away eventually, but witnessing them in person destroyed her all over again. Marlow had betrayed her both physically and mentally. She felt a burning sensation in the pit of her stomach and soon grew nauseous. At one point, she had to put a hand over her mouth and run to the bathroom, where she threw up violently. Her lower stomach throbbed in pain. Tears blurred her vision as she massaged her stomach. 'My baby, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you had to see such a terrible side of your father. Please forgive me for not letting you be born into this world.' Her face was drained of color by the time she walked out of the bathroom with her feet floating beneath her. It was very rowdy on the deck, but Marlow and Josette were nowhere to be seen. After the fireworks show ended, Marlow and Josette finally returned together. Josette looked like she was glowing with satisfaction. She intentionally sat next to Ameera and presented a velvet box to her with a smile. "Ameera, I made you something. I want to thank you and Marlow for taking care of me for the last five years. I wasn't the one who saved you back there. You were the one who saved me. I want to wish you a long and happy marriage." The box contained a strikingly green bracelet. Ameera stared at her blankly before forcing a smile. "It's fine. You can keep it. It's not my style." Josette's hand trembled, and it looked like she was going to cry. She instinctively glanced at Marlow. Marlow seemed not to notice the look Josette cast at him. His gentle gaze was fixed on Ameera as if she were the only person in the world as he spoke, "She doesn't like it. It's fine. You can keep it." Josette put away the gift and sulked. "Could I offer you a toast at least? I want to wish you happiness." This time, Ameera did not refuse. She reached for her glass and took a sip. A smile returned to Josette's face after that. As she walked away, a vicious glower flashed across her eyes. She intentionally tripped over a chair and tumbled to the ground with a shriek before palming her hands over her stomach. "Ow!" Everyone was startled by the commotion. The ones who were closest rushed to help her up and were taken aback when they noticed her skirt was stained scarlet red. She immediately turned to look at Marlow. Ameera glanced at him at the same time as well. Marlow's expression remained composed. When he noticed the way Ameera was looking at him, he smiled gently and took her hand before casually instructing the others, "Please take her to the hospital. I want to stay with my wife until the end of the show." With that, a group of people escorted Josette off the boat. Meanwhile, Marlow held Ameera's hand the entire time as they listened to the band play. If Ameera were oblivious about his involvement with Josette, she would have been deceived by his acting. She felt her blood run cold. The pain in her lower stomach intensified. Just as she was about to suggest going home, Marlow's phone rang. "Mr. Brunsfield, you left in such a hurry this morning, so we haven't had time to finalize the contract yet. Are you able to come to the office?" His assistant's anxious voice came through the speaker. Marlow frowned and remained silent for a few seconds before hanging up. Then, he turned to Ameera with a flicker of guilt hanging in his eyes. "Honey, I need to go to the office. Do you mind waiting here for a bit? I'll have the driver take you home, alright?" Ameera sneered to herself before assuring him, "It's fine, go on." Marlow got up and tried to kiss her forehead, but she pretended to have a coughing fit so she could avoid his approach. Marlow left after that without a second thought. Ameera knew he was only making an excuse to go to the hospital. Strangely, the pain in her chest wasn’t as sharp anymore. She waited for half an hour, but the driver was nowhere to be seen. Then, she felt another sharp pain in her stomach that made her hunch over. As she stared at the shards of broken glass on the floor, a terrible thought crossed her mind. Josette had poisoned her drink. Ameera mustered every ounce of strength she could to get up and collect the shards that still held traces of her drink. The pain in her stomach began to intensify and spread across her stomach. She felt as if a violent force was tearing at her from inside. Everything was pulsing with heat. Her first thought was to call Marlow, but he didn't answer. She could not get in touch with the driver either. With that, she used the last of her strength to dial emergency services. Chapter 5 When Ameera came to, she found herself at the hospital. A thought suddenly flickered in her mind, which made her reach for her stomach. Her heart dropped when she realized her baby was gone. "Bed 23, where are your family members? You have an outstanding bill to pay. You just had heavy metal poisoning, and unfortunately, your baby did not make it. Please cooperate with the police while they conduct their investigation." The nurse proceeded to relay the situation to her briskly. Ameera's fingers trembled as she reached her phone and called Marlow, but his phone had been turned off. She strained a wry smile. Not only had he been ignoring her calls since she left last night, but he didn't even bother to contact her. He once told her he would always be there when she needed him. Now, he would rather be with Josette than answer her calls. "I don't have any family members. I'll settle the bill myself," she answered meekly. "You can't get out of bed in this state. I'll do it for you. Get some rest." The nurse kindly attended to her. After the nurse was done taking down her details, she left the ward and lamented to another nurse, "We're all women, but some of us live harder lives than the others, don't we? There was this other girl who looked like she was at risk of a miscarriage. Her husband was so anxious about it that he reserved an entire VIP ward and had a world-class medical team flown over here to attend to her and save the baby." The nurse snuck a glance at Ameera. "That poor woman had a miscarriage from metal poisoning, but doesn't even have a family member to look after her." Based on the story, Ameera realized the nurse was talking about Marlow and Josette. The thought of it no longer made her feelings fluctuate. After that, she made arrangements to transfer to a VIP ward. During her stay, she had someone investigate the glass fragments to find out who had poisoned her. Marlow never even contacted her until she was discharged. The first thing she did was head back to the Meyers' house so she could retrieve the ring her late mother had left her. She made sure to store the relic in a safe. She planned to sell the house and never go back again. After that, she went to legally change her name so that Marlow could never track her down. When she returned home, she found Josette curled up snugly underneath a blanket on the couch, eating snacks and binge-watching TV. Ameera frowned. Before she could even get a word out, Josette shot up from the couch. "Ameera, you're back! Have you eaten yet? Marlow went to buy a cake. Would you like some chocolate?" She smiled kindly, but the smug look within her eyes could not be concealed. "Who said you could touch my things?" Ameera scowled and felt frustrated when she observed the coffee table in such a messy state. She had always had a strong aversion to other people touching her belongings, especially when they were in her house. Marlow was aware of this and took care not to bring any outsiders home without her permission. Even on the occasions when he did have visitors, he would clean and disinfect everything immediately. However, now he allowed Josette to sleep in her spot, use her blanket, and eat her snacks… "Ameera, are you angry at me? You can have it back." Josette chucked the chips right at her before cocking an eyebrow. "Go on, pick it up." Ameera did a double-take. Just as she was about to speak, Josette suddenly got down on her knees to clean up the mess. "I'm so sorry for eating your snacks. I was starving. Please don't be angry. I'll clean it up right now," she expressed morosely and seemed on the verge of tears. Ameera was thrown off by the sudden change in Josette's behavior when she suddenly heard Marlow's voice coming from behind. "Honey, what are you doing?" It did not take long for her to connect the dots. Josette had orchestrated it all. Ameera turned around to see Marlow staring at Josette planted on the floor. There was a clear look of hurt in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have eaten Ameera's snacks without her permission." Josette averted her gaze and was holding back tears. "You should be sorry. There is nothing my wife dislikes more than other people touching her belongings. Why did you make such a mess of the living room?" Marlow frowned disapprovingly. "Take your cake and go. Don't come around here again." Josette was taken aback by his response. She slowly got up and took the cake Marlow handed her. Suddenly, she seemed to have lost her balance and slammed her weight into Ameera. It all happened so fast that Ameera could not stay balanced on her feet, sending both of them tumbling to the floor. Within a split second, Marlow rushed over and pulled Josette into his arms. Meanwhile, Ameera continued falling backwards before hitting the back of her head against the corner of the shoe cabinet. Pain exploded behind her eyes, and hot blood began to pour down her neck. The last thing she saw was Marlow holding onto Josette tightly... Chapter 6 Ameera slept for what felt like forever. When thirst woke her up, she regained consciousness in a pitch black room. She forced herself to get up before habitually reaching for the bedside table where Marlow usually kept a glass of warm water for her. That night, the top of the bedside table was empty. She felt a sense of emptiness inside her, followed by a self-pitying chuckle. Ever since Josette became pregnant, Marlow could no longer go back to the way he once loved Ameera, even if he tried. With that, she got up and went downstairs. When she walked past the guest room, she heard Josette's voice, which made her stop on instinct. "It was my fault that Ameera got hurt. I shouldn't have been so reckless," Josette sobbed. "You can't afford to starve when you're pregnant. She's the one making a big deal out of nothing. I must have spoiled her too much. Please don't cry. It hurts me to see you cry." Marlow hugged her and gently stroked her hair. "You're always crying these days." "Don't tease me." Josette squirmed and pouted in a way that made her seem more endearing than ever. Marlow gulped at the sight of her before turning away. They nearly caused Josette to miscarry when things had gotten hot and heavy back on the boat, so he had to exercise some restraint. "Are you thinking about doing it? I'm sorry Ameera can't satisfy you because she's injured." "Even if she wasn't injured, she would never be as alluring as you are, you little vixen. I can suppress it for now, but just wait till you give birth. I won't let you get away even if you tried." Marlow smiled suggestively. "I can help you with that," Josette said before kneeling down… The perverse noises she made sharply contrasted with her otherwise innocent appearance. Soon, she had Marlow moaning. "Josette, you're incredible." ... Ameera no longer felt emotional despite witnessing such a scandalous scene. Instead, she felt numb as she went downstairs to get a glass of water to drink. Due to her head injury, she managed to slip off into a deep slumber that night and only woke up the following evening. "Honey, I wanted to save you, but it all happened so quickly that I couldn't grab you…" Marlow explained frantically at her bedside when she woke up. There was a certain sparkle in his eyes. Ameera eyed him and could not be bothered to expose his lie. All she did was ask faintly, "Where is Josette?" "If you're going to blame someone, blame me. She was too clumsy and bumped into you by accident, nearly hurting herself, too," Marlow defended Josette. "I understand," Ameera stated calmly without experiencing any perturbation in her emotions. "Tomorrow is my parents' death anniversary. Will you visit the cemetery with me?" "Of course." Marlow was relieved to see she wasn't upset. However, he could not stop himself from stealing another look at her. He had a feeling there was something different about her, something about the lack of adoration in her eyes. Before he could even voice his thoughts, Ameera had already shut her eyes. She was drowsy all night and seemed to be perpetually sleeping. Whenever Marlow tried to speak to her, she would barely respond. The following day, Ameera got up before dawn and changed into a casual black outfit before departing in the same car as Marlow. Marlow thoughtfully prepared breakfast as well as a wreath for the gravestone. He was hurt when she noticed how grim she looked and assumed it was grief. With that in mind, he tried to make small talk on the way to the cemetery. The entire time, Ameera seemed completely disinterested. When the car approached the cemetery, Marlow received a call that made his brows furrow with tension. Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes before parking by the roadside. Caught off guard, Ameera was flung forward by the sudden change of momentum, bruising her shoulder as a result of the seatbelt yanking at her. She blurted out, "What's going on?" "Honey, something urgent came up at work. I have to deal with it right now." Marlow seemed distraught and could not contain the stark anxiety in his eyes. "Why don't you visit your parents' grave first? I'll join you as soon as I can." Ameera nodded with understanding and proceeded to open the door to step out. She barely had time to steady herself before Marlow stomped on the gas pedal and nearly threw her off her feet. She chuckled at the sight of clouds of dust spun by the wheels. Marlow was careless and seemed to have forgotten his phone was connected to the car's Bluetooth system. The moment he received the call, the name of the caller was spelled out on the display that read, "Baby Josette." Josette must have injured herself and called Marlow to vent. Unsurprisingly, Marlow immediately opted to ditch Ameera so he could go to Josette. Ameera was beyond caring by this point. She no longer felt anything toward Marlow. Neither love nor resentment. Chapter 7 After Marlow left, Josette suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "Did you see that? Marlow loves me! If I were you, I'd leave him," Josette declared boldly while flaunting the phone in her hand. "All I did was make up something about you getting someone to harass me, and look how anxious he got!" "Don't bother trying to instigate me. If you want that trash of a man that much, you can have him." Ameera shot her a dull look before turning to pay respect to her deceased parents. Upon noting her lack of reaction, Josette began to seethe with rage. "You're the one being dumped here. Who do you think you are to have an attitude with me? Marlow waited five years to marry me! You've been nothing but a joke for five years. You are nothing without him!" Ameera stopped in her tracks. Although she was completely over him, she still felt a hint of sadness. She turned to face Josette and said while holding back her emotions, "I'll still be a daughter to the Meyers even without Marlow. You have no right to challenge me, even if you are his wife. Remember, you're not the one who chased me away. I am the one who chose to walk away on my terms." "Ameera!" Josette's eyes flashed with anger as she glared at Ameera's departing figure. "I'll make you regret this!" Ameera ignored her and went to visit her parents' grave. She told them everything that had happened to her over the past five years. She was surprisingly calm the entire time and hardly shed a tear. "Mom, Dad, I don't love Marlow anymore. Don't worry about me. I'll take care of myself." It was almost dark when she reluctantly left the cemetery. The entire time, Marlow never showed up or called. The cemetery was in a remote area, so she had to walk for a while before she could hail a taxi. Having bid her parents goodbye, she slowly made her way toward the main road. After walking a short distance, she had the feeling she was being stalked. With that, she quickened her pace and reached for her phone so she could call the police. Before she could even dial the number, a stealthy figure caught up to her and pressed a handkerchief against her nose. She fought violently, but it was no use. Her vision became blurred, and soon, she passed out from the solution on the handkerchief. Then, she was rudely awakened by a freezing sensation. Someone had poured a bucket of ice over her to jolt her awake. She found her hands tied behind her back and strapped to a column. Her eyes were covered with a black cloth, and she shivered from the cold. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" she cried out in a quivering voice while a wave of fear washed over her. "Say something! Who are you? You want money? I have money, more than you ever need! Give me your bank account and I'll transfer it right now!" She could not see anything and could only resort to negotiating, but there was no response the entire time. Her clothes were drenched with icy water, and every gust of wind made her teeth chatter from the cold. She was growing increasingly frantic and continued to struggle helplessly. "Let me go! Who are you?" The sudden blow of a bat against her stomach made her yelp in pain. "Ah!" "You don't need to know who I am. All you need to know is that you're going to pay for what you've done," the man declared while raising the bat in the air and swinging it against her stomach again. Ameera felt her organs pummeled by the blow. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about." The man stopped bothering to respond and continued to pound her stomach with the bat. Each blow he inflicted was so tremendous that it felt like her organs were going to rupture. She would pass out from the pain from time to time, only to be awakened again. By the end of the beating, she was numb with pain. There was blood everywhere, trickling down from the corner of her lips down to her shirt, and even her pants were soaked with blood. It looked like the man had finally grown tired of beating her. He dropped the bat and proceeded to untie her, causing her body to slump to the ground like a rag doll. Her blood continued to spread across the ground as she faded out of consciousness. When she woke up, there was nobody around her. After she removed the cloth from her eyes, she saw a projected screen in front of her. It was playing a video of Marlow holding Josette and kissing her on the forehead repeatedly while consoling her, "Don't cry, dear. You're fine." "Marlow, I refuse to believe this. I don't believe Ameera would ever try to hurt me. She's such a good person! Why would she try to hurt me just because I accidentally shoved her?" she whimpered and cried. "That may be so, but people change." A pained look flashed across Marlow's eyes. "The truth is that she hired someone to teach you a lesson. If you hadn't called the police, who knows what would have happened?" "Even if that's what happened, I don't want you to get revenge for me. I don't want you to hurt her." "You're still looking out for her at a time like this. Don't worry. I'll just teach the person who tried to hurt you a lesson. As for Ameera, I'll make sure to give her a warning." His eyes were filled with disappointment as he spoke. He looked wholly convinced that Ameera had hired someone to harm Josette. Meanwhile, Ameera collapsed to the ground and convulsed from the pain. She glared at the faces of the couple on the screen and felt as if her heart had been ripped out of her body all over again. The blood would not stop flowing. Marlow, the man who once trusted her, was accusing her of a crime she did not commit just to defend Josette. He even wanted to have her punished. Feelings changed. Everything else changed after that. She smiled bitterly until she cried. 'Marlow, would you regret everything if you ever found out about the truth one day?' Chapter 8 The projector continued to replay the footage of Marlow and Josette together. The thought of Marlow harboring such suspicions toward Ameera made her feel stabbing pains in the depths of her heart. Soon, the projector played a new video of Marlow cooking for Josette. His previous hateful glower was substituted with a warm and doting smile. He looked at Josette with so much tenderness and love. It was the same look he once reserved for Ameera in the past. "Ameera, when can I finally call you my wife?" "Ameera, my dear, I love you so much. Hurry up and marry me already." "I, Marlow Brunsfield, will love you forever. Whoever tries to pick on you will have to go through me." "Honey, I'm a great cook. Let me cook you all three meals. You're the only one in the world who gets to eat my cooking. Not even my parents have that right!" "Honey, Josette saved your life and mine, too. She's an orphan, so let's take care of her." "Of course, I'm serious about Josette. All she asked for was a lifetime together. I can give her that much at the very least." ... Everything Marlow once said continued to replay in her mind. His promises, his heartfelt confessions, and his lies stung her ears like a thousand needles. The man who loved her in her memory was a far departure from the man she was looking at on the screen. In her mind, the distance between them could not be reconciled. The sky had darkened completely by now. She lay helplessly on the ground and allowed the darkness, along with the cold, to consume her. When she regained consciousness, she tried to drag her lethargic body. The dried blood pooled beneath her body and streaked across the floor as she moved. She had lost all feeling in her lower stomach. Nevertheless, she forced herself to get up and walk out. Even the warmth of the sunlight could not warm up her body or her soul. She eventually collapsed on the side of the road before someone took her to the hospital. "Miss Meyer, you sustained serious injuries in your lower abdomen, and your uterus has ruptured. We need to perform a surgery to remove the damaged tissue." Ameera listened to the doctor's advice with hardly a trace of emotion. Ever since she lost her baby, she had accepted the fact that she was never going to conceive again. So be it... At least, she got away from Marlow alive. As soon as she regained consciousness after the surgery she found herself gagged with a cloak thrown over her head. She was yanked to meet Marlow. "Josette, she's here. After you teach her a lesson, no more sadness, okay?" Marlow regarded Josette with a tender look as he spoke. Josette kissed Marlow and asked with a coy wink, "I can do anything to her?" "Yes, whatever you want. I'm here with you." Marlow indulged her. He would take care of things even if someone ended up getting killed. Josette clapped his hands triumphantly and ordered the bodyguards to bring the urns over. Ameera recognized the urns immediately. They contained the ashes of her parents. "What are you doing?" She tried to speak, but her voice came out as muffled groans. "Marlow, I'm going to destroy the ashes of her parents as punishment." Josette grinned coyly and turned to Marlow for approval. "Alright." "Stop it, Marlow! Look! These are your parents-in-law. You were the one who made the urns yourself! Please, you have to stop her!" Ameera was crying hysterically and squirming desperately, but everything she said was muffled. However, Marlow only had eyes for Josette the entire time. He hardly noticed the urns she held. Ameera felt nothing but dread as she watched the ashes scatter in the air. Her heart was in pieces. 'Marlow, why do you only have eyes for Josette?' She was restrained by the bodyguards and could not even budge a muscle. The pain in her body was too much for her, and soon, she passed out. Upon seeing this, Josette scattered the remaining ashes. "Let's go, Marlow. I'm not upset anymore." "Alright." Marlow carried her away. He suddenly slowed down his pace as they drew near the unconscious Ameera. Regardless, he didn't even spare a look at her. He barely even turned to acknowledge her. When Ameera woke up, the ashes on the ground had all but vanished. She palmed the empty urns. Her tears had run dry. After she returned to the house, she collected her newly processed documents and took one last look at the house where she had spent five years of her life. A cynical smile curled upon her lips. Then, she grabbed a baseball bat and proceeded to smash the Lego sets they had built together. She ruined the couch they bought together, then the television they bought together… She used the final ounce of her strength to destroy everything in the living room. After she was done with her rampage, she looked at the chaos and broke out into a jaded chuckle. Then, she threw the baseball bat aside and scribbled a long sentence on the wall with her lipstick. "Marlow, do you remember telling me that the punishment for betraying someone true to you was to swallow ten thousand needles? The greatest regret in my life was falling in love with you!" With that, she left the house without turning back, leaving everything she once had with Marlow in ruins.