All’s Fair In Love and War

Benjamin stared in disbelief at Emma, her petite frame illuminated by the soft evening light, standing quietly in the yard. Her once sickly, pale complexion had been replaced with a healthy, radiant glow. She didn’t look sick anymore.

“Emma, have you finally come to your senses and come back? No matter how sick you are, I’ll do everything in my power to cure you. Just don’t leave again.”

I had never seen Benjamin look at anyone with such tenderness. It was like she was the most precious thing in his world—a treasure he'd lost and miraculously found again. On the contrary, when his eyes fell on me, all I ever saw was cold indifference.

Why did he marry me if he never loved me? Why drag me into this nightmare of a marriage?

Emma nestled into his arms, her voice soft and gentle. “Benjamin, actually, my illness… it's been cured.”

Emma then began to tell him about her strange experience overseas.

After leaving the country, overwhelmed with despair, she had planned to end her life. However, she then met a miracle doctor, who cured her of the kidney disease that had plagued her for years after just a few treatments with some herbs.

Benjamin was too overjoyed to question her story.

Holding Emma tightly, he whispered, “I’m just glad you’re healed. Now, no one can come between us again.”

What a picture-perfect scene. They looked like a perfectly matched couple, standing there together.

I watched, my chest tightening, making it hard to breathe. Everyone had their happy ending, except for me. I had died alone in the wilderness, forsaken.

I cried out, demanding answers from Benjamin, but my words fell on deaf ears. We were no longer in the same world, and no one could hear me. What I didn’t notice was Benjamin glance in my direction, his brow furrowed for a moment, as if sensing something was amiss.

Benjamin took Emma upstairs to the master bedroom—our bedroom—and lovingly tucked her into bed. “Emma, you’ve just recovered. You should rest here and regain your strength.”

Just then, Emma, who was never afraid of the dark, clutched his hand, her voice soft and pleading. “Benjamin, I’m scared. Will you stay with me tonight?”

I knew for a fact that Emma had never been afraid of the dark. I, on the other hand, had been terrified of it ever since my time at the orphanage, where I was often locked in a pitch-black room as punishment. I’d told Benjamin that many times, but he always brushed me off, calling me dramatic.

‘Please don’t stay with her, Benjamin. If you do, I’ll know for sure you never loved me,’ I tried calling out and telling him.

Yet, all he did was smile indulgently and say to her, “You’re such a handful.”

Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he climbed into bed beside her.

I stood there, stunned. How foolish I was to ever think I could compare myself to Emma. I should’ve known better all along.

Emma’s eyes sparkled with joy as she gazed at Benjamin, her fingers tracing down his cheek, clearly hinting at something more. However, Benjamin gently grabbed her hand.

“You’ve just recovered. Don’t push yourself.”

As the two of them drifted off to sleep, my awareness began to fade. Luckily, I was a ghost. I didn’t need sleep or feel tired.

When I regained consciousness, Benjamin had taken me downstairs. The security team stationed at the edge of the forest was giving their report.

“Mr. Shane, it’s been two days, and there’s been no movement from Mrs. Shane. The guys are worried something might have happened. Should we go in and check on her?”

The same man who had kissed Emma goodnight now wore a hardened expression, and his face twisted in disdain. “Why would we want her back? So she can make her sister sick again?”

“But what if something’s happened to her?”

“What could possibly happen? If she’s hungry, she can find fruit. If she’s thirsty, there’s dew. If it’s dangerous at night, she can climb a tree. Let her stay there and learn her lesson. Maybe next time she’ll think twice before lying.”