Marriage Lies
Chapter 1
Third year of marriage, and my husband’s ex,
the one he dated for eight freaking years,
suddenly flaunts a million–dollar mansion on
social media.
And the caption? “OMG, got the dream
house! My dating game is strong!”
I stared at the pic, the one of my husband
swiping his card at the sales office, and
dropped a “?” in the comments.
The next second, my phone rings. It’s Mark,
yelling at me.
“I was just keeping a promise I made her back
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when we were dating, buying her a starter
home, okay? What’s with the snarky
comment?”
“Seriously? You want me to be a total jerk
who breaks his promises now?”
That evening, the ex, Rainey, is back with a
flashy post showing a hundred–thousand-
dollar renovation bill.
I knew Mark must’ve sweet–talked his way
into gifting it to her.
But honestly, I was so over it at this point.
I was popping a Paxil when Mark got home.
Yeah, the anti–depressant.
Ever since Rainey re–entered the picture, this
suffocating marriage had pushed me from
totally normal to clinically depressed.
Mark strides over, snatches my pills, and
chucks them in the trash.
“You’re always popping pills the second I walk
in the door! Can you please stop playing the
victim act?”
He pulls out a bouquet and practically throws
it at my feet.
“Rainey wanted you to have them.”
“She said she wanted to get back at you for
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that comment, so I asked her how to do it
and she was really generous and said it’s
okay as long as you apologize. Says it’ll make
her feel much better.”
I just stared at the half–dead flowers on the
table.
If you got close enough, they kinda reeked of
rot.
Three days ago, Rainey posted these exact
flowers, captioned: “Yaaas, flowers and guys,
living the dream this afternoon! ++
All those crummy memories came flooding
back. I grabbed an apple and a paring knife,
trying to distract myself.
“I don’t want anything from her. It’s all
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tainted.”
Mark frowned, clearly annoyed.
“What, you’re too good for it now? She’s
offering an olive branch! Is an apology gonna
kill you?”
I didn’t budge.
“Don’t get all high and mighty on me. You’re
the one who messed up first! Rainey’s already
trying to make peace!”
Mark, now totally ticked off, kicked the table.
He kicked it hard. The whole thing flipped,
sending me sprawling.
And wouldn’t you know it, the paring knife
L
went straight into the palm of my hand.
Blood gushed out. My white tee was instantly
soaked crimson. I was shaking from the pain.
Mark’s face went white.
“I… I’ll take you to the ER.”
I didn’t argue. I followed him down to the
garage.
As soon as I slid into the car, I noticed the
passenger seat.
It was brand new, bright pink, and covered in
Hello Kitty stuff.
Mark’s car interior had always been all–black,
super basic.
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So, yeah, someone had gotten to him
recently.
“You know I dated her for eight years, right?
Well, I made her a promise: Whatever she
asked for, I’d do it.”
Mark glanced at me, warning me.
“She wanted a new car seat, so she got one.
Big deal. You’re not gonna flip out about this,
are you?”
I just hunched over, buckled up.
“Nah. Pink’s cute.”
Mark’s eyes flickered with surprise.
“You’re not gonna make me take it out?”
Г
I bit my lip.
Back when Rainey was dropping little hints of
herself everywhere, I’d rip them out of our
lives.
Now? I couldn’t care less.
“Just get me to the hospital, okay? My hand
hurts like hell.”
I said, trying to brush it off.
Twenty minutes later, we were practically at
the hospital when Mark’s phone rang.
“Hey, what’s up, Rainey?”
I heard Rainey’s voice, all weepy.
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“Waaah, this mansion’s too big, I’m, like,
totally freaked out being here alone.”
“Don’t worry,” Mark said, his voice going all
soft.
“Turn on the lights, okay? I’ll be there in
twenty.”
Mark floors it, and three minutes later, we’re
screeching to a halt in front of the ER.
I curled up in the seat, and suddenly, I was hit
with a full–blown panic attack.
I couldn’t breathe, I was sweating like crazy,
my hands were shaking, my head was
spinning.
“Mark.” I grabbed his arm.
Г
“I feel awful. Can you help me inside? I can’t
walk.”
Mark just turned to me, looking totally
impatient.
“Oh, come on. You’re faking it! You’re never
sick unless Rainey calls! Is she a friggin‘
knife, stabbing you from afar?”
Mark wrenched open the passenger door,
yanked me out of the car, and peeled out,
leaving me there.
I crouched there, the panic attack leaving me
totally helpless.
It was pouring rain, instantly soaking through
my clothes and stinging the wound in my
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I was pale, huddled on the concrete, watching
the cars go by.
Thank God, a kind woman saw me and helped
me, or I don’t know what would’ve happened.
Half an hour later, I’d finally calmed down.
And that’s when I got the bomb dropped on
- me.
“Ms. Jiang, you’re pregnant.”
“Can I get an abortion now?”
“Have to do it during the day.”
Bandaged up, I went home and changed into
dry clothes. Mark was just walking in.
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He saw me on the bed and kicked at the
chair.
“I told you to iron my suit! What’s wrong with
you? You’re gonna throw another tantrum
because I didn’t carry you into the hospital?”
“God, will you grow up?”
