I Chose Death When He Decided to Marry Again

Bianca stood frozen in the living room, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst from her chest. Sabrina's words sliced through the air, each one sharper than the last.

"I've sent you pictures of your husband cheating and yet you pretend not to see them," Sabrina sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "Last night, I had sex with him right next to you and you still managed to fake sleep. Why aren't you playing deaf and blind now, sis?"

Bianca's breath came in ragged bursts and her body trembled as though it couldn't contain the weight of the truth crashing down on her. She had known, of course, but hearing it from Sabrina's mouth, seeing the cruel delight in her sister's eyes, was a wound that cut deeper than anything Bianca had anticipated.

Her chest heaved violently, the pain of betrayal searing through her. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. Not now. Not when they were looking at her with such contempt. "Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sabrina's lips curled into a sadistic smile. "Of course," she said coldly. "Because I'm going to be Mrs. West. Why don't you just give it up, sis? You've been a pathetic Mrs. West anyway." Her words were a dagger aimed directly at Bianca's heart and with each syllable, the last vestiges of their sisterly bond were shattered. The facade of affection that had once existed between them crumbled into nothing, revealing the ugly greed and coldness that had been festering beneath the surface all along.

Bianca's legs began to tremble and she felt as if the ground beneath her was giving way. Her body swayed, but she steadied herself by gripping the edge of the table, the cool wood grounding her in that moment. Martha's voice sliced through her thoughts, filled with the same icy authority that had always been present in her presence.

"Bianca, think about it. You've had Sabrina's life for years. If you have any conscience at all, you'll end this pregnancy, divorce Erick and give him back where he belongs—with Sabrina."

The words were a poison, each one twisting in her gut, making it harder to breathe. Bianca's eyes blurred with tears as her chest constricted, unable to take in the magnitude of what was being asked of her.

Before Bianca could process anything further, the front door creaked open and Erick's voice rang out, heavy with confusion and concern. "What's going on?"

He froze in the doorway, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. Bianca stood before him, her face flushed with anger and humiliation, while Sabrina stood beside her, an expression of malicious triumph on her face.

Sabrina's gaze flickered quickly and before anyone could say a word, she burst into fake tears, her sobs loud and dramatic. "Erick, Bianca found out about us."

Hearing his name snapped Erick out of his stupor, but it was too late. His face went ashen, his breath catching in his throat. Panic seized him, his mind racing for a believable explanation. He looked at Bianca, his eyes pleading, but she saw only fear. He'd been caught. "Bianca..." he whispered, his voice desperate.

Bianca's heart was pounding in her chest, but her anger had risen to a boiling point. She no longer cared for explanations, no longer cared about saving face. With every ounce of strength she had left, she lifted her hand and slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed through the room and for a brief moment, the world stood still.

"Erick, you've really outdone yourself," she said, her voice low and filled with contempt.

Martha let out a shrill scream, her face pale with shock. "Bianca, how could you slap Erick?"

But Erick, in his panic, barked at her, his eyes frantic. "Shut up!" he snapped, his voice rising. He turned back to Bianca, reaching out for her hand. "Bianca, listen to me, I can explain. Just please, let me explain!"

Bianca didn't even glance at him. Instead, her gaze stayed cold, unwavering. "Explain?" she sneered, her voice frosty. "Explain what? That you didn't cheat? That you didn't sleep with Sabrina?"

His mouth opened, but no words came out. The panic was overwhelming, drowning out any coherent thoughts. He could see the derision in her eyes, feel the weight of her disgust in the air. And in that moment, he knew that everything he had ever taken for granted was slipping away.

The silence that followed was thick and suffocating. Bianca's tear-filled eyes locked with his for a long moment before she turned away, not sparing him a second glance. Her footsteps were sharp and deliberate as she walked past him, leaving the room without another word.

***

The drive home was quiet. Bianca sat in the passenger seat, her hands tightly clasped together in her lap, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. The world seemed blurry through her tears, but she didn't wipe them away. She let them fall, each one a silent testament to the pain she could no longer suppress.

Once inside the house, the weight of the silence suffocated her. She turned to face Erick, who had followed her in. He stood in the doorway, his hands wringing nervously as he looked at her.

"Erick," Bianca said softly, her voice filled with a strange calmness that didn't match the chaos inside her. "We're getting a divorce."

The color drained from Erick's face immediately. His mouth opened and closed, as if he couldn't comprehend the words that had just left her lips. "No," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Bianca, I was wrong. You can hit me, scold me, whatever you want. Just don't leave me. I can't live without you. Please, don't leave me. I won't let you leave me, not even if I die."

His words were desperate, tinged with a possessiveness that made Bianca's skin crawl. His eyes were wide, frantic and in them, she saw the obsession he had always tried to hide. It was a suffocating, consuming fear that twisted his features into something unrecognizable.

A shiver ran through Bianca, her stomach churning. She remembered him locking her in the house after a fight, fearing she'd leave. She remembered the threats, the control, the ever-present fear beneath his charm. She couldn't let it happen again.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "Erick, I need some time alone," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

But he wasn't ready to let go. In the next instant, Erick dropped to his knees, his face twisted in an expression of utter desperation. "Bianca, give me another chance, please. Please..."

Bianca didn't look at him as she turned and walked upstairs, her steps deliberate and firm. She could hear him pleading behind her, but it only felt distant, like the sound of someone shouting in a dream.

She closed the door to her room behind her and leaned against it, her chest tight with emotion. A strange sadness welled up inside her. If he was so afraid of losing her, why had he cheated?

The next day, as Bianca descended the stairs, she paused at the top. She glanced at Erick, still kneeling on the floor, his face a mask of despair.