He was once a safe harbor

So, he knew all along. I had thought Kevin was fooled by Wendy, but I didn't expect that he knew everything. He knew she was faking allergies and even played along with her act.

I had been the only clown in this three-person game, with my hundreds of hysterical outbursts over the past two years becoming their shared inside joke.

The moment the door closed, I collapsed to the floor as if all my strength had drained away.

"Kevin, can you bring me my underwear?" Wendy called out from her room. "Oh no, not that one! The red lace one, you said it looked the best."

From behind the thin door, I could hear Kevin's hearty laughter mingled with Wendy's coquettish, playful voice. I felt nothing but utter disgust.

Gazing at the foreign moon outside the window, I hugged myself tightly and cried silently.

The first time I met Wendy was two years ago. Kevin pointed at the modestly dressed girl behind him, saying that she was his cousin, lost for twenty years. Since then, he'd fulfilled her every request with care and attention.

But only I knew that Wendy was a fake, someone Kevin hired to act as his cousin to compete with his uncle, Kenneth, for the inheritance.

Over recent years, Grandpa Richard's health had deteriorated, but he insisted on leaving his entire fortune to whoever could bring back the missing cousin.

Kevin came up with this reckless plan and needed me to act along, pleading for my cooperation. He promised that once he secured the inheritance, he'd send her away. But neither of us anticipated that Grandpa wouldn't pass away, instead, his health even slightly improved.

I'd suggested ending this ridiculous charade multiple times, but Kevin adamantly refused, telling me to wait. That wait stretched into two years.

I watched as Kevin went from feigned affection to genuine care and eventually to a heart entirely fixated on Wendy. The cousin was fake, but his feelings for her were real.

That night, I called my agent, Gary Andrews, "Get me some runway gigs. I'm getting a divorce."

For the past two years, I'd put my modeling career on hold to prepare for pregnancy and to stand by Kevin's designs. But now, I needed to live for myself.

On the other end, Gary cheered, exclaiming that I had finally seen the light and happily said, "I'll get everything arranged so neatly that Kevin won't be able to find a trace of you. But …will Kevin agree to the divorce?"

I paused for a few seconds, looking at the wound on my arm and made up my mind, "I'll find a way."

That night, I had an exceptionally long dream, filled with all the happy memories between me and Kevin. In the next instant, I was surrounded by flames, everything reduced to ashes.

The next day, Wendy's laughter woke me up and the sticky feeling all over my body told me I had a fever. I scheduled a doctor's appointment on my phone and got ready to leave.

When I opened the door, I saw the two of them at the dining table, endlessly teasing each other. The table was a mess, with food scattered everywhere.

I glanced indifferently at Kevin and went straight to the fridge to grab ingredients for a salad. Throughout, I noticed Kevin's gaze lingering on me, while Wendy pouted and stomped her feet in mock anger.

After rolling my eyes a few times, I quickly finished my salad at the kitchen counter.

Just as I was about to leave, Kevin couldn't hold back any longer and spoke, "Amy, are you going out?"

I adjusted my clothes in the mirror without responding, then turned and walked out.