4
12:09 PM
<
“Emma? Why didn’t you tell me you and Tommy were coming back? I could have asked our housekeeper to prepare a table of your favorite dishes,” my mother said with a surprised look as she saw Tommy and me.
Our housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson, took Tommy back to the bedroom.
I sat down next to my mother, tears suddenly streaming down my face, “Mom, I’m divorcing Jack.”
My mother’s expression changed slightly, “He wronged you, didn’t he? Your father and I never approved of Jack. When you insisted on going on that island vacation with him alone, I tried to persuade you for so long, but you wouldn’t listen. You even snuck out with fake IDs. Sigh, we wanted
you to marry his brother Daniel back then, but then Tommy came along…”
I sniffled and interrupted her, “If it weren’t for Tommy, I would have cut ties with him long ago.”
My mother sighed, lovingly patting my head.
“He and his secretary…” I choked up, unable to continue.
“Emma, men who crave novelty never end up well, my mother said with a cold smile.
At 10 PM, I lay in my childhood bedroom, lost in thought.
In our teenage years, Jack was always the one with witty words to make people laugh, while Daniel was like a gentle and silent shadow. I was too young then, always captivated by Jack’s grand promises and sweet talk, forgetting to pay attention to the one who consistently took action.
I remember one snowy night in New York when I was playing chess with the two brothers at their house until late.
Jack looked at the dancing snowflakes outside the window and yawned, “It’s snowing heavily today, so cold outside – Emma, since our houses are close, could you just wrap your scarf tightly and go home by yourself?”
Before I could respond, Daniel silently stood up, put on his coat, ready to brave the snow to send me home.
Under the dim streetlight shrouded by wind and snow, Daniel stood there looking at me, his eyes full of endless cherishment and tenderness.
My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively avoided Daniel’s gaze, rushing towards the gate of my family’s house in a few quick steps.
I also recalled the incident during the island vacation with Jack.
Unknowingly, I drank the glass of spiked wine Jack handed me, falling drunk into his arms, leading to a night of passion.
Afterwards, he apologized pitifully, “Emma, I love you so much that I resorted to this. I just wanted to make you mine before anyone else could.
I know my brother has feelings for you too, and I was so afraid he would steal you away.”
When the doctor diagnosed me as one month pregnant, Jack caressed my belly with a joyful expression, “That night’s effort wasn’t in vain after all. Now that you’re carrying my child, I can rightfully marry you.”
I lowered my gaze, hesitating for a long time before deciding not to tell him about my application to study oil painting abroad. The next day, I quietly canceled that application.
After all, at that time, the aunts and sisters around me were all women who sacrificed themselves for love and family.
I thought my sacrifice was also necessary.
Later, when I married Jack while carrying our one–month–old child, everyone was smiling and applauding in congratulations. Only Daniel stood in the crowd, his expression solemn as he gazed at me from afar. After that, Daniel never got involved with any other woman. He immersed himself in his archaeology career, using his skilled hands to restore many precious and rare artifacts.
I took a deep breath and covered my face with my hands.
Perhaps, I had loved the wrong person from the very beginning?
