Cheated On, Traded Up

"You killed Dad, Jace! It was you! I'll kill you!" I shouted furiously.

Jace struggled against me, laughing maniacally. "Do you have any proof that I killed him? Your ex-fiancee loves me. Your wife loves me. They both believe I'm innocent and kind. They're on my side. What can you do about it?"

His words only fueled my rage. But after years of being ill, my body was so weak that I couldn't muster enough strength to strangle him.

Instead, Jace shoved me away violently and exclaimed, "Do you hate me that much, Julian? I'm sorry for everything. Please stop hitting me…"

"What's going on?" Erica rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

She glared at me in fury and slapped me hard across the face with eyes full of disappointment.

Erica started yelling at me. "Julian, he's your brother! How could you strangle him? Are you insane?"

Jace shook his head pitifully. "Please don't get mad at Julian. This is all my fault. I'm the one who got Kenneth killed."

I ignored the stinging pain in my cheek and stared at Erica with bloodshot eyes. "Only you and I knew where Dad's grave was. Was it you who took him there to dig up Dad's ashes?"

"What are you talking about?" Erica was stunned. "Jace went to pay his respects. How can you assume that he'd do something so terrible?"

She had once promised to keep her feelings for Jace hidden in front of me. But the moment things got turbulent, she exposed herself completely without even realizing it.

I looked at her, trembling in anger. And then, I started to laugh.

"Erica, if you're going to protect him, then protect him all the way. Never stop. Even if I die tonight, don't you ever change. Because if you do, I'm afraid you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Without waiting for my reply, Erica left with Jace.

As they walked away, Jace turned back and gave me a mocking smirk.

I stared after him, frozen in place with my hands trembling, barely able to breathe. A flood of overwhelming emotion surged through me, and I collapsed to the floor in despair.

I knew what was happening to me. This was a somatization episode.

My phone rang over and over again, but I didn't even have the strength to pick it up. After a long while, I finally answered the call.

"Mr. Swenson, I'm calling from the Jeston Police Department on North Street. We've retrieved the letter of forgiveness you requested. It's already been mailed to your home. Please keep an eye out for it."

"T-Thank you," I said, struggling to steady my voice.

My body felt like it was falling apart as I left the restaurant.

I deleted all of Erica's contact information and tossed my old SIM card away.

From that moment on, I was done with Erica. There was nothing left between us.

Later that night, while Erica was driving Jace home, her phone suddenly rang. She answered, only to hear something that chilled her to the bone.

"Hello, this is the Jeston Police Department. We've recovered the body of a man who drowned in the river, along with a suicide note and a letter of forgiveness.

"The letter of forgiveness was written by you for Jace Swenson. We have verified the suicide note. It was written by your husband, Julian Swenson. We need you to come and identify the body."