Let bygones be bygones

"Ah—!" I screamed and lunged forward, smashing the cake I was holding onto them. Cream streamed down Liam 's cheeks like mocking tear tracks. I turned and rushed into the garden, uprooting all the flowers he and Vanessa had planted together, smashing the flowerpots to pieces. Iris petals littered the ground, like my shattered heart.

" Clara ! Haven't you made enough of a scene?!" Liam burst out wrapped in a towel and grabbed me. He was so strong that my wrist ached. Vanessa hid behind him, wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, and said timidly with teary eyes, "Sis, don't be angry, I..."

"Don't call me 'sister'!" I shook off Liam 's hand, pointed at Vanessa 's nose and yelled, "I treated you like my own sister, and this is how you repay me? You ungrateful wretch!"

“ Clara , watch your words.” Liam pulled Vanessa closer, his eyes as cold as ice. “It’s not what you think. I initiated it. It has nothing to do with Vanessa . You’re shameless, but Vanessa still has to face people at school. Close the door!”

"It's not what I thought?" I laughed, tears streaming down my face. " Liam , have you forgotten what you told me back then? You said you'd only be good to me for the rest of your life, you said you'd never betray me! And now you're holding another woman, making me shameless?"

I rushed forward to hit Vanessa , but Liam shoved me hard to the ground. My lower back hit the steps, and I winced in pain. He looked down at me, his eyes full of disgust: " Clara , look at yourself! You're like a shrew! Where's your ladylike demeanor ? Vanessa is more sensible, more considerate, and understands me better than you!"

"Understand you?" I stood up, leaning against the wall, trembling all over. "I've been through eight years of hardship with you, helping you with your tuition, staying up all night with you, and standing by your side when you were being questioned. I don't understand you? What does she understand about you? Does she understand how you grow flowers, or does she understand how you betrayed your wife?"

I pressed him for an explanation, but he frowned, as if dealing with troublesome experimental data: " Clara , you are still my wife. The villa and the savings are all yours. As long as you behave yourself and don't make a scene, Vanessa will never affect your position. She is just my confidante, nothing more."

"A soulmate?" Before I could speak, Vanessa suddenly knelt down in front of me with a thud, tears streaming down her face. "Sister, I know I was wrong, but Linchuan and I are truly in love. We talk about physics, we talk about flowers; we are soulmates, something you and he never had. Don't worry, I don't want any titles or money. I just want to stay by his side, help him with his life, and take care of him. That will be enough for me. I will always remember your kindness. From now on, I will serve you tea and water and take care of you for the rest of my life!"

She cried so hard she was hoarse, looking wronged and pitiful, but I clearly saw a faint smile creep onto her lips when she lowered her head.

I was only twenty-five years old that year, an age when I valued love and dignity more than life itself. How could I tolerate such betrayal? How could I accept my husband and "sister" having such a "threesome"? That night, I stayed up all night writing a letter of denunciation, writing down their sordid deeds word by word, and attaching records of Liam transferring money to Vanessa and intimate photos of the two of them—which I had accidentally discovered before, and at the time I had deceived myself into thinking it was a misunderstanding.

Clinging to my last shred of hope, I sent the whistleblower letter to the school leaders. But reality dealt me the cruelest blow.

Three days later, the punishment came down—not to Liam , but to me. I was given a public reprimand for "maliciously slandering a colleague due to personal grudges, affecting school conduct and discipline," and my performance bonus was docked for six months. Liam , on the other hand, not only escaped unscathed, but was also personally called in for a talk by the principal, who told him to "pay more attention to the growth of young students."

Ironically, at a physics department meeting, Liam publicly said, " Vanessa is a bright and promising student. I hope all the professors will put in a lot of effort and nurture her well." When his gaze swept over me, there was not a ripple of emotion, as if I were just an insignificant stranger.

I cried for a long time in the office that day. My colleagues either pretended not to see or whispered among themselves. An older woman who was usually on good terms with me secretly slipped me a tissue: " Clara , let it go. Liam is the school's cash cow, who can touch him? Vanessa is on his side now, you can't beat him."

I looked out the window and saw Liam walking side by side with Vanessa on the tree-lined path. He was carrying a thermos, probably bringing her lunch. The sunlight shone on them, making them look just like the people I used to walk with on campus back in the day.

Just then, a sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen. I clutched my stomach and crouched down, my clothes instantly soaked with cold sweat. I remembered the two red lines on the pregnancy test that morning, and I realized I hadn't had a chance to tell Liam —we were having a baby.