Fake

I was still stuck in my thoughts, but then Joseph came closer and broke my reverie. He jeered, "What are you doing here?"

Teresa was holding his arm. With pity, she commented, "You're strong, Selina. Got back to work straight out of the hospital. Me? I can't even do a thing. Joseph wouldn't let me tire myself out."

He kissed her forehead. "She's not you. If not for her heartless behavior, I'd never have run into you. You're perfect."

The sight of them being so in love was making the track marks on my arm prick. I refused to watch this any further, so I went around, but Teresa stretched her leg, and I tripped.

"Oh, be careful, Selina."

I fell to the ground, my files sprawling everywhere.

Gasping, Teresa picked up the files. "What is this? Are you going overseas, Selina?"

It was a cheap house I got for myself. A cemetery sat right beside that place. I had enough savings to afford the down payment.

Joseph took the flyer. "No wonder you wanted money." His face fell, and he hurled the flyer back in my face. "Can't find a place to stay in the nation? You think you can spend my money on luxury overseas? As if!"

She spoke up. "You shouldn't have asked Joseph for travel money. You've leeched enough off him."

Me? Leeching off him? The best joke I'd heard my entire life.

They left, but before they did, Joseph told the boss he would end the partnership unless I went to his place and apologized to him myself.

Though I had no idea what I did wrong, I could not say no to my boss. Not when they were giving me quiet looks of pleas.

I had to go.

…

I stood before Joseph's house and rang the doorbell. The butler opened the door and led me into the living room. Teresa was lying in Joseph's embrace, simpering at him.

I went ahead and said quietly, "I'm sorry."

"Then, show me that you are," ordered Joseph arrogantly.

I clenched my fists. "What do you want me to do?"

Teresa smiled. "Well, I won't make this hard for you. It rained yesterday. See the marks on the windows? Wipe them clean. And Bailey needs the daily walk. Do it for me. Oh, and we haven't had anything to eat, so cook for us."

She laughed.

Joseph chuckled and scratched Teresa's nose lovingly. "Of course." Then, he turned to me. "She can't have anything spicy. Put even a single piece of chili in her food, and you're done for."

They left. The butler came and pointed at the room of tools. I clenched my fists again, but I loosened them up. I was powerless.

Joseph never let me cook. He told me my hands were perfect and that cooking was for servants.

Yet now he would make me cook just because Teresa wanted me to. While I was wiping the windows on the balcony, I heard them flirting in the room next door. Clearly.

The cloth was getting colder, and the chill was hurting my heart again. I pushed the pain down as hard as I could, but sweat poured down my forehead.

I cleaned until night had fallen. Only then did the two come out of their room.

When they came out, I was wiping the sweat off my necklace. That sight alone was a challenge for Teresa. She clenched her teeth and held back her fury.

"Oh, that's a lovely necklace, Selina. Can I have a look?"

No. I covered the necklace with my hand.

Joseph saw the necklace, and his eyes darted away. His mind was probably elsewhere.

Displeased by my action, Teresa darted ahead and yanked my hand away. The necklace was getting pulled off my neck. It was already not sturdy to begin with. Her pulling only made it snap, and it fell to the ground.

Diamonds and pearls rolled everywhere, covering every corner of the room.

That piqued Teresa's interest. An evil smile curved her lips. "I'm so sorry, Selina. I didn't mean to. That necklace must've meant a lot to you. I'll pick them up!"

Evil Woman

Teresa pretended to pick the pieces up, but she was looking at Joseph through the corner of her eye.

He frowned and held her before she could bend any lower. "No, Teresa. Don't dirty your hands. That necklace is nothing. Just some cheap accessory. If she wants it so much, she can pick up the pieces herself.

Teresa put on a fake apology for me. "Sorry, Selina. You'll have to pick up the pieces yourself. I can't do it since I'm really weak."

Then, she sat on the couch and looked at me, trying to watch me humiliate myself.

He went over and put his arms around her. He too wanted to watch me make a show. I told them I could live without the necklace, so I tried to leave.

She said, "No can do, Selina. You can't leave our house in a mess. Besides, you cleaned the place. It’s only right to see it through."

I clenched my fists and held back my fury. Then, I looked at Joseph. He didn't seem to care. The man was caressing Teresa's head.

They exchanged a smile. To me, it was an eyesore. "Fine, I'll pick them up."

I held back the pain in my chest and bent over to pick up the pieces. I tried to piece together the proof of the love I had for Joseph. The love he had for me.

But reality hit hard. Like the broken necklace, our love could never go back to what it was.

When I was done picking up, my bangs were clinging to the sides of my head, and I looked whiter than a ghost.

The worn-out look disgusted Joseph. "You're a shadow of yourself."

Yes, of course I was. His weak heart tormented me. I was no longer the healthy woman I was. "That enough?"

I was exhausted. Now, I just wanted to end this and leave in peace. Joseph waved me off dismissively. God, that was what I needed.

However, before I left his house, he said, "Teresa and I are getting married next week. Come to the wedding."

I froze. "Oh, I will," I replied quietly.

That would be my final act before I left. That would be how I cut him off.

After I got home, I took out the white dress I used to wear all the time. That was the first clothing item Joseph got me. It was my only presentable dress.

No one reserved a spot for me at the wedding. I had to sit in a corner.

The wedding began, and the couple came walking in, hand in hand. A thunderous applause followed. The bride was gorgeous, and the groom was handsome. They were a perfect couple. People envied them.

I watched them exchange vows and rings. I watched them exchange a passionate kiss. I watched them in silence.

The process was over, but Teresa noticed me in the corner. She took the mic from the host and got everyone's attention. "I have someone I must thank for this happy day."

She picked up a glass of wine and approached me. With a hint of ridicule in her voice, she said, "Thank you, Selina. If you hadn't left Joseph, you'd have been the one to marry him."

That stabbed me where it hurt most. Well, no what-ifs in this world.

Before anyone could do anything, Teresa raised the glass and, without anyone noticing it, twisted her wrist. The wine splashed all over me. My white dress was stained red.

I got up without thinking and tried to wipe the liquid off me, but Teresa took the chance and fell to the ground without anyone doing anything. She gasped.

Joseph rushed over and slammed his foot into me. Furious, he growled, "You left me because you didn't want me weighing you down. Now, you're hurting Teresa because you're jealous of her marrying me?"

The fall hurt my body and heart severely. I lost consciousness right away.

There was a doctor among the guests. He noticed my condition and came hurrying over to me. The doctor applied pressure on my chest as he shouted, "Someone call an ambulance! We're losing her!"