Cheated On, Traded Up

At the dinner table, my wife's best friend suddenly speaks to her in Lytian.

"Three years ago, you married Julian in a grand wedding just to help Jace get Julian's letter of forgiveness. Over the years, I've seen Julian fall more and more deeply in love with you. Yet, you're still lying to him.

"You gave him sterilization pills but passed them off as his depression medication. Aren't you afraid that he'll fall apart if he finds out the truth?"

My wife, Erica Inman, briefly shows a conflicted expression on her face.

She then gives a bitter smile and says, "A child unwanted by their mother has no reason to be born. As long as Julian doesn't stand in the way of Jace's happiness, I will keep my promise and stay by his side for the rest of his life."

No one knows that I've learned Lytian to keep up with Erica.

I stand in the living room and look at the fresh kiss mark on my neck. As I glance at the medication I take regularly for my depression, my whole body turns cold.

It turns out that all of Erica's affection toward me was fake. What I thought was my salvation turns out to be nothing but a carefully planned deception.

Since that's the case, I'll do my part to make sure they all get what they want.

The voices around the dinner table kept going.

Tori Glover couldn't bear it any longer.

"Forget the medication," she said. "Three years ago, Jace jumped into the river to take his own life. Julian's father did everything he could to save him, but Jace went berserk and shoved him under the water until he drowned.

"Come on, Erica. Anyone who saw that video would think he did it on purpose. It made perfect sense for Julian to sue him for murder."

She paused for a bit before continuing in a measured voice, "But to keep Jace out of prison, you deliberately became Julian's legal guardian. Then, you signed a letter of forgiveness behind his back.

"Jace walked away scot-free, alright. But Julian was left with severe depression. He's been blaming himself every single day. If he ever finds out the truth, he'll break."

Erica Inman frowned in frustration, but her tone was cold and resolute. "Jace didn't do it on purpose. He was drowning! Those movements were unintended. Kenneth died trying to save him, and Jace regrets it deeply.

"I hid the letter well. Julian will never know the truth. I'll treat him right and spend the rest of my life making it up to him. I'll give him a home. He'll forget the pain, and he'll heal."

Tori let out a long sigh. "Don't be mad. I just feel sorry for Julian. You were there for him when he was at his lowest, and he started falling for you. But the one you've always truly loved is Jace. Whatever. I hope you can keep this hidden forever. And I hope you won't regret it."

Erica finished her coffee and said, slowly and firmly, "I won't regret it."

Her resolute words shattered whatever strength I had left. I fled my house, which had been the sanctuary I once saw as my salvation.

The next day was New Year's Eve, and the streets were bustling with a cheerful energy.

That very morning, Erica had held me tight after making love to me with passion. She'd whispered over and over that she loved me.

Now, each one of her proclamations of love was like a knife that plunged deep into my chest, stabbing me until I was a bloody mess.

I ran to the park and collapsed onto a bench. My eyes burned, and I clenched my jaw hard, struggling to contain the storm inside me.

Buried memories began to resurface alongside the dissipating feelings of love and adoration.

The day I got engaged to my girlfriend, Sabrina Levitt, Jace couldn't take it. He was deeply and madly in love with her. So, he left behind a suicide note and jumped into the river to drown himself.

He was an excellent swimmer, and although he was actually my mother's illegitimate son, my father, Kenneth Swenson, still dove in to save him.

Many people captured the scene on video. I saw Dad doing his best to lift Jace toward the surface. But Jace pressed down on his shoulders, stomped on his head, and shoved him deeper into the water.

Tragically, Dad drowned.

When I rushed over, Jace's eyes were filled with tears as he sobbed pitifully, "I-I just… lost control of myself for a moment. Please don't blame me for this, Julian. When Dad saved me, I'm sure all he wanted was for me to live…"

I broke down and screamed at him. He could swim! So why would he push Dad under like that?

Still, he kept repeating that it wasn't intentional.

I filed charges for attempted murder.

Out of nowhere, Sabrina called off our engagement… and married Jace.