Lie and Regret

2

He was holding a rabbit doll in his hand—the very one I had once sewn for him, stitch by stitch.

But now, the entire body of the rabbit had been maliciously cut up beyond recognition.

With trembling hands, I looked at Cameron.

Was this really the child I had nearly died giving birth to?

But he hadn’t always been like this.

He used to call me “Mom” so sweetly, and would even help me with housework like a grown-up.

I didn’t know when everything began to change.

He began to resent my increasingly haggard appearance from caring for him.

He pointed at my nose and said, “You’re so ugly now, no wonder Dad doesn’t even want to come see you!”

A sharp pain pierced my heart, as if someone had stabbed e with a dagger.

Cameron held the doll and glared at me impatiently.

“What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and fix it!”

I looked deeply into his eyes and calmly told him, “Go ask Joanna to fix it for you.”

With that, I walked toward the balcony, intending to get some new clothes.

But in the next second, I heard the distinct click of the balcony door being locked.

My heart skipped a beat in alarm as I banged on the door, shouting desperately, “Cameron, open the door!”

But Cameron only scoffed coldly and then pulled the curtains shut, ignoring my cries of despair.

The cold night wind was harsh, and my soaked clothes clung to my skin, making me shiver uncontrollably.

My heart, too, had turned completely cold.

I curled up in the corner, trying to find a sliver of warmth.

But just then, I heard a woman’s moan.

“Oh stop, do you really like this outfit that much?”

“Laura is right next door—you’re not even worried she might come out and see us?”

Jack laughed breathlessly and said flirtatiously, “Relax, with Cameron out there, how would she have time to care about us? Besides, we’ve been apart for so many years—don’t you miss me?”

The sounds of their passion filled my ears, and I finally couldn’t take it anymore and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

That night, their room burned with heat and lust.

And I, out on the balcony, was chilled to the bone by the wind and betrayal.

It wasn’t until the next day at noon, when I was nearly dehydrated, that Jack finally found me.

He quickly wrapped me in his coat, seeing how weak I had become, and for the first time, he scolded Cameron with a stern face, “Cameron, who told you to do this?”

Cameron pouted her lips. “She refused to fix my doll.”

“You still can’t do something like this!”

Cameron huffed and casually grabbed Joanna’s hand, running off.

Jack sighed and held my hand to comfort me.

“Laura, Cameron thinks Joanna is you now. Everything he does is because he loves you. You have to understand him. And no matter what, I will always stand by your side.”

His eyes were full of tenderness and sincerity, as if he still loved me deeply.

If it weren’t for that bright red mark on his neck, I might’ve actually believed him.

I turned my head away—I didn’t want to look at him anymore.

Seeing my attitude, Jack lost his temper.

“Laura, this constant drama is getting old.”

I smiled. “Oh really? Then I’ll keep it up just for fun.”

“Childish behavior!”

Jack slammed the door behind him.

The loud sound made my temples throb with pain.

I lay on the sofa for a while, slowly recovering, before getting up and heading to the hospital.

I needed to buy my medication.