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I asked a detective friend to trace the number and get the traffic camera footage from the accident scene.
As I hung up,a knock came.Ethan stood at the door.
A wave of disgust washed over me, but before I could slam the door in his face,he handed me papers—divorce papers and a wedding invitation.
He and Sophie were getting married.Fitting—a perfect match.
He searched my eyes for pain,misreading my pause as regret.“Claire,if you say no,I won’t go through with the divorce.”
I scoffed.Where did he get his audacity?
“Really?But Sophie and your‘son’are waiting.Remember?I wished you a happy marriage.I meant it.”
Not wanting to sicken myself,I slammed the door.
That night,Emily hid the invitation,thinking it would hurt me.
Silly girl,I’d already seen it.
She brought me a bowl of oatmeal,brushing hair from my face.“When you passed out,Dad said he was sorry.He said you should let go of those who don't deserve you. He said his daughters are the best and deserve all the good things in life.”
My lips trembled,tears falling.“He didn’t fail me.I loved Ethan for him,not as a way to repay George.Why didn’t he believe me?Why take the blame?I’m the fool.If I’d seen Ethan’s true nature earlier and let go,George might still be alive.”
Emily hugged me,always trying to protect me from pain.“Dad wanted us to live joyfully,to move forward,to live well for him.”
Two days later,I stared at the invitation.Emily scolded herself for not hiding it better,thinking I was upset.
Silly Emily,I didn’t care.Her hiding places were so easy to predict.
“Emily,let’s go to Ethan’s wedding.I have a gift for him.”
She couldn’t read my mind but trusted me,nodding reluctantly.
At the wedding,Ethan and Sophie greeted guests.Sophie’s face soured seeing me,but to save face,she forced a grim smile.
“Claire,thanks for lgiving Ethan to me.I can’t live without him.But your bad luck’s dangerous to him,so stay away.Oh,and George’s house now belongs to Ethan now.We are moving in after the wedding.You and Emily should find somewhere else to live.”
Emily was about to lunge at her,but I held her back,whispering something to her,then turning to Sophie.
Sophie,unnerved by my stare,kept talking.“What’re you looking at?Ethan,I told you not to invite them.They’re here to cause trouble.”
I sighed,“I was wondering why you smell so bad.Then I realized—some people are just like dogs, they can't resist wallowing in filth.”
