15
The door slammed shut. Julian pounded on it.
“Sera, I know you’re listening. Please, let me explain.”
“I didn’t mean to cheat. She had sex with me when I was drunk.”
“I wanted to get rid of her, but then my parents called, pressuring us for a grandchild.”
“I didn’t want you to go through the pain of childbirth.”
So I… I just…”
He trailed off, unable to articulate the rest. They both understood.
Sera leaned against the door, her eyes filled with bitterness. He didn’t want her to have a child, but he was okay with her being cheated? Emotional pain was far worse than physical pain. The day she discovered his infidelity, the pain was almost unbearable. She’d rarely been to the hospital before, but that day, the grief had led to respiratory alkalosis, nearly killing her. And what was he doing then? He was in bed with Chloe.
He had better ways of solving the problem, but he chose the most humiliating one. Even if he’d decided to get rid of Chloe, she was still a woman he’d slept with. Given his possessiveness, wouldn’t he have secretly made love with her again?
Actually, he had treated Chloe differently from the others before that- he mentioned her all the time, even when he was with Sera. Chloe’s seduction had simply given him a convenient excuse to cheat.
Sera closed her eyes, ignoring his pleas. The clock ticked, and he continued to beg. He wouldn’t give up until she gave him an answer.
His voice was also irritating and disruptive to the other patients. One of them wanted to yell at him but stopped upon seeing his face. In the end, he just closed his door in frustration.
Julian wanted to say more when the door opened.
“Sera?”
The joy on his face froze as he met her icy stare.
“Julian.” She sounded cold and distant.
“I’ve said everything I needed to say. You said you loved me, that you slept with Chloe because I couldn’t have children. But didn’t you initiate all of your sex except for the first time? I saw you. I heard you.”
She clenched her hands, the memories still disgusting.
“Cheating is cheating, and you’re dirty. Don’t make excuses. Our relationship ended the day you slept with her.”
She turned away, ready to leave. He reached for her hand.
“No, it’s not like that.”
“I’m not dirty! If you think I’m dirty, I’ll wash myself clean. Don’t abandon me, please.” She wrenched her hand free, her laughter bitter.
“Then don’t cheat!”
་་ཅན་འ ོང་བ་
020:28
< 15
Meriu
He used to be her true love, her rock, her husband. But he cheated!
“Julian, why did you cheat?”
“Why you were in bed with another woman when I needed you?”
“Why do
you still say you
love me after betraying me?”
Her calm voice was a sharp knife, piercing his heart. He was cornered, his face drained of color. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.
Sera gave a mocking smile.
You can’t even answer a basic question.”
“What else can you say?”
“Julian, I wish I’d never met you.”
She wouldn’t have been repeatedly hurt and suffered SO much without him.
She saw his pain, but his explanations were pale and unconvincing, making her more sick of him.
She watched him impassively, her eyes unwavering.
“Finished?”
He nodded eagerly, looking at her nervously, like a child awaiting punishment She gave no response. She’d wasted too much time. Her aunt and uncle would be worried. She turned to leave, saying, “Don’t show up again.”
Julian sat on the ground, watching her go with despair in his eyes. Did she hate him that much? She wouldn’t even give him a chance?
He chuckled bitterly.
For the next few days, Sera didn’t see Julian. After her aunt’s discharge, Sera decided to show them the city before they returned home.
One afternoon, while her aunt and uncle was napping, she prepared to go out. She opened the door, only to find Edward and several maids standing there.
Seeing her, the maids rushed forward.
“Mrs. Stone, we heard you were back, and we wanted to see you.”
Heard? Almost no one knew she was back except Julian.
Concealing her displeasure, she invited them in.
They refused, stating their purpose. After Sera left, they returned her gifts to Julian, who thẹn bought them new gifts, thanking them for taking care of Sera. Feeling obligated, they came to beg Sera to forgive Julian. They’d been husband and wife, and Julian was truly remorseful. They hoped Sera would give him a chance. They couldn’t bear to watch him drink all day. Sera found it absurd. Understanding their good intentions, she smiled politely and said nothing. Then, they left.
Sera abandoned her plan to go out. She returned to her room to nap.
Her sleep was restless. She hadn’t dreamt of Julian in months, but he was back in her dreams. It was their wedding.
