He Built My Cage

Winona was so scared by my dad's mean streak that she stumbled backward right into Hank's arms.

"You're a convict. What right do you have to talk to me? If it hadn't been for you, your mom would still be here. You killed your own mother. How can you even show your face here?"

My dad's loud scolding caught the attention of everyone around us.

I kept my head down, not saying a word. Hank was about to come over and stick up for me, but Winona grabbed his arm before he could.

"Hank, Mr. Jones is here too. Let's go over and say hi," she said.

Hank looked over at me, worried. "But..."

"It's okay," Winona reassured him. "Juliana's dad is just being really strict right now. He still loves her a lot."

Winona did not let Hank say another word and pulled him away. Hank wrapped his arm around Winona's shoulder and walked off into the crowd, not even giving me another glance.

My own son, whom I had raised, just sneered at me and followed Winona.

I was surrounded by a circle of people, their gossip buzzing in my ears. I could not take it anymore. I covered my face and ran.

Behind me, I could hear my dad yelling, "Feeling ashamed now? Why didn't you think of that when you were faking the accounts?"

I sat by the fountain, crying softly, when Winona came up to me with a big grin on her face.

"So, Juliana, how does it feel to be all alone? I was the one who liked Hank first. This is what you get for taking him from me. Did you enjoy your three years in jail? All I had to do was say I wanted a villa, and Hank actually used the company's money to buy it for me."

Her grin grew even wider as she spoke. "You could have gotten out of it, but your husband didn't want to drag me into it, so he made you take the fall."

I took a deep breath.

Three years of my life wasted behind bars—just like that. Over a thousand days and nights, each one filled with torment.

I went from the dazzling Mrs. Chapman to someone that anyone could just walk all over.

The second I remembered all the tough times that person in front of me had caused, I could not hold back my hands anymore. However, before I could do anything, Winona flashed a sly smile, ripped off her clothes, and jumped into the pool.

"Juliana, I'm sorry. I'll take off the dress. Please don't push me!"

Before I knew what was happening, Samuel rushed at me like a rocket, shoving me into the pool. My head hit the hard marble at the bottom.

Hank ran over when he heard the noise. He looked so worried as he helped Winona out and wrapped his own clothes around her trembling body.

She was shaking like a leaf. "Hank, I think Juliana is mad. Maybe I should take this dress off," she said.

At first, Hank looked a bit worried when he saw me bleeding, but that worry disappeared in an instant. Without even trying to find out what happened, he shouted at me, "Juliana, it's just a piece of clothing. If Winona gets hurt, I won't forgive you."

Samuel agreed, "Yeah, I don't have a mean mom like you!"

Hank gently picked up Winona, who was soaked to the skin, and did not even glance my way again.

Winona, held over Hank's shoulder, smirked at me like she had won.