Once Tortured,Never Forgotten!

By the serene waters of Willow Lake, my wife, Jane Whitman, clad in a wedding dress, embraced Josh Grey, her childhood companion.

An impromptu pastor, a mere onlooker, cried out, "Radiant bride, do you pledge your hand in marriage to him?"

Josh gazed at Jane tenderly. With a coy flutter, Jane lowered her lashes.

The onlookers chanted in unison, "Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!"

I clutched my aching heart and turned away.

——

"Darling, I'm home. The business trip has left me utterly spent."

It had been three nights since Jane's return. As she entered, she dashed straight towards me, her steps light and eager.

Had I not witnessed her embrace Josh in bridal finery just three days prior in Cliffland, her rush towards me might have convinced me of her true love for me.

I sidestepped her with indifference.

Jane faltered, a flicker of displeasure crossing her features. "Honey, why the cold shoulder?

"I see. You must be miffed because my business kept me away too long, isn't it?"

She approached me like a petulant child, arms outstretched for a hug, but I evaded her touch once more.

In the past, her slightest pout would have me orbiting her whims, regardless of my own.

Jane lifted her head, a look of hurt etched on her face. Her eyes were reddening with tears when she stared at me.

"Honey, why treat me coldly?"

She felt wronged as if I had wronged her.

"I'm weary. I think I should sleep early."

I retreated to the study instead of the bedroom because I was unwilling to share her bed again.

Yet, no sooner had I lain down than she followed.

She perched on the bed, shaking my frame. "I brought you a gift, yet you greet me with a scowl?"

Then, she presented me with a beautifully wrapped box, jiggling it. "Ta-da! I got you a watch. Come see if it pleases you."

As she spoke, she unpacked the box.

The watch was a Patek Philippe 5270p, a piece I knew well, valued at around two million dollars.

Why did I recognize it? Because it was Josh's prized possession, and Jane had promised it to him as a birthday gift.

Just today, I had seen Josh's social media post: a photo of him sporting a Patek Philippe 6300a, boasting: [Jane said the Patek Philippe 5270p pales beside me; only the 6300a, a rarity, befits my stature.]

Another image showed the 5270p discarded in the trash, the very one Jane now offered me.

The auction price of the Patek Philippe 6300a was a staggering 31 million dollars.

"Is it fitting to gift me with what Josh cast aside?" I inquired coldly.

Jane was flustered and quickly retorted, "Don't be jealous. Josh is just a dear brother to me. I merely gifted him a watch; you truly don't mind that much, do you?"

"Jealousy no longer plagues me. I merely refuse to be a fool any longer, Jane. Let's divorce."

I stated impassively.

Jane stood stunned in disbelief.

Never before had the word "divorce" crossed my lips, even when her ire threatened to consume me.

This time, I was the one to broach the subject, and panic flitted across her features.

"Justin Carter, do you know what you're saying?

"You'd divorce me over such a trifle?

"I merely gifted Josh a watch. Though the one I gave you was trashed by him, he merely sought to boast on social media. This watch is still worth two million dollars.

"I'm willing to lavish two million dollars on you, yet you're still vexed. You're being utterly unreasonable!"

Jane was always the one to argue her point. She would blame me even when reason failed to sway her. Loving her too deeply to bear her anger, I would always capitulate.

I merely glanced at her, too weary to engage further.

I knew her too well; in this state of mind, nothing I said would penetrate.

"Reflect on your actions, and I'll address this with you tomorrow!"

She huffed coldly and hurled the watch at my head.

I sat up from the bed, my mind rewinding to the day I first met Jane.

That fateful day, I was donning a frog costume and handing out flyers on the bustling pedestrian street when Jane, out for a stroll, was accosted by a drunken ruffian.

With a swift slap, she attacked the drunkard, who retaliated with a knife.

Seeing this, I seized her hand. We fled, and the drunk was in hot pursuit.

Her heels snapped, and she stumbled, so I hoisted her onto my back and sprinted on.

I knew not how long we ran, but the drunk was eventually subdued by the police. Yet, I was hospitalized due to the exertion, and my heart was in agony.

She remained by my side throughout, murmuring, "Frog, please don't leave me. I beg you. Frog..."

In my eyes, she was a vision of beauty that I couldn't help but adore. Though I knew my love was humble, I gathered the courage to cherish her in secret. Even if it remained unspoken, the courage to love was mine.

But since that incident, my heart had never been the same, yet I harbored no regrets.

Later, when Whitman Group came to our school to recruit, she chose me, a choice that would weave our fates together.