Left to Sink, I Chose to Rise

Married life turned out to be unexpectedly uneventful. There were no power struggles like those found in soap operas about wealthy families, and Jack's father had long since retired to Clarida.

Strangely, this place gave me the freedom I never had in the Montgomery household.

I kept my habit of studying. As such, the study was filled with journals and papers that the Northbridge Institute of Technology continued to send. Even though I had taken a leave of absence, my advisor continued to email me about my research progress. I had never given up on my academic dreams.

In the first few months, Jack was like a ghost. He left early, came back late, and more often than not, didn't come back at all.

We lived under the same roof, yet we were like strangers sharing an apartment. That all changed on a stormy night. He came home drunk, helped through the door by the driver. His suit was wrinkled, and sweat glistened on his brow.

"My leg… hurts…" he muttered.

I helped him to bed, watching as his face contorted from the pain. That night, I sat by his bedside, pressing a warm towel to his leg until dawn.

When he woke the next morning and noticed me sleeping by the bed, a conflicted look crossed his face.

From then on, he started coming home right after work. He'd even let me know when he had business dinners, texting, "Home before ten."

I began obsessively studying sports medicine. I learned from Grandspire's best physical therapists, bought a pile of books on medicine, and even audited courses at Paverly School of Medicine.

"You're going to help with my rehab?" When I first brought it up, he nearly spilled his whiskey. "Claire, your field of expertise is in food science."

"I can learn everything I need to know." I pulled out the materials I'd prepared. "Professor Keller in Helvetia developed an innovative method. I've already contacted him."

"Why would you do this?" Jack stared at me.

"Because I'm your wife."

That answer left him silent for a long time.

Every night at 9:00 pm, without fail, I would help him with his rehab. At first, his whole body was stiff, and I had to explain the theory of every movement repeatedly.

"Relax." I bore down on his calf. "Take a deep breath."

"You're pretty strong," Jack uttered through his gritted teeth.

Gradually, he stopped resisting. He started changing into workout clothes on his own, even buying specialized equipment.

Three months in, he could already walk without crutches. By six months, he could jog.

The doctor exclaimed during a check-up, "This is nothing short of a miracle!"

"Thank you, Claire." That night, he thanked me for the first time.

Life with him began to feel warm. He'd bring me warm milk when I stayed up late reading papers, and I'd make him homemade lunch boxes.

Though we didn't talk much, a sense of mutual understanding began to form between us.

Change came the day I went to the Harrison Group building to deliver some documents. In the elevator, a woman in black-rimmed glasses kept staring at me. "Are you a Northbridge Institute of Technology student?"

"I used to be."

"Perfect!" She pulled out a business card. "I'm a casting director for Streamora. We're looking for someone to play a genius from the Northbridge Institute of Technology. Are you interested?"

I was going to turn her down, but she enthusiastically said, "The script's fantastic. It's about young prodigies changing the world."

On impulse, I took her card.

When Jack found out, he merely shrugged. "Go ahead. Just don't use the Harrison name."

Thus, I became Claire Montgomery, a rookie actress. The show "Mindspire Alliance" became an unexpected hit. Even as a supporting character, I gained fans. They started calling me "The Brilliant Belle".

My agent, Maria Ponce, began booking me for intellectual roles such as a scientist in a space agency, a successful entrepreneur, and a professor from a top college.

At night, I'd read fan comments to Jack while he reviewed financial reports. Occasionally, one of the remarks would make him smile faintly.

"Listen to this," I said with a smile. "Claire is the perfect blend of beauty and brains. Where do I find a girlfriend like that?"

Without even looking up, he said, "Tell them you're married and to stay away. "

That night, as I read out the comments while helping him massage his leg, my fingers accidentally slid to the inside of his thigh. He instantly tensed up.

"I'm so sorry!" I quickly removed my hand.

The next second, the world spun, and I was pinned beneath him.

His kiss was gentle yet desperate. Gone was the roughness of our wedding night. We truly became one that night.

The moment he was inside, a moan of satisfaction escaped our lips.

The days that followed were nice. He would bring me my favorite raspberry macarons, visit me on set, and hold my hand on strolls through Elms Park.

"Can't you cut back on acting?" Jack once complained. "You've only been home for ten days this month."

"You're one to talk. You had to fly to three different countries last week!" I shot back.

We were like any regular couple that would fight and make up. I thought things would stay that way. That was until the third spring of our marriage, when Sophia came back.

The Montgomery couple threw a lavish banquet for her. In a custom designer gown, she shrieked and threw herself in Jack's arms the moment she saw him.

"Jack! Oh my gosh!" She clung to him, tears streaming down her face. "It's been three years! Do you know how much I missed you?"

Jack stood frozen, his hands suspended in midair. Guests whispered all around us, and a few of them pulled out their phones.

It took her a full 30 seconds to notice me. "Oh, Claire! I guess you're married to Jack now."

Jack's expression darkened. Grabbing my hand, he said, "Let's go inside."