Love Betrayed: A Heart's Agony

“I don’t have the time or money to hire someone to spy on you, Rosalie,” I said.

“When you guys landed, Blake posted pictures of you both on social media.”

Rosalie went silent for nearly half a minute before speaking again, her tone cold. “So, you’re asking for a divorce because you think something’s going on between me and Blake, right?”

“Eason, how many times do I have to tell you? Blake and I grew up together. We’re like siblings.”

“I’ve always seen him as a brother, and he sees me as a sister.”

“If there was anything between us, I’d have married him already. You wouldn’t even be in the picture.”

“You used to be reasonable. When did you become so insecure and paranoid?”

“Yeah, I lied to you. I went to Phuket with Blake for work.”

“But that was to spare your feelings, to keep you from overthinking. It was just a white lie.”

“We’ve already signed the client contract. If you don’t believe me, I’ll show it to you when I get back.”

“Eason, I’m really disappointed in you.”

“Don’t be disappointed or upset,” I replied.

“I’m not interested in what’s going on between you and Blake, and I don’t care about your contracts. But your grandma being in the hospital is real. You should come to the hospital.”

Then I heard Blake whisper in the background, “Rosalie, the meds are working. Let’s get on with it.”

Rosalie’s voice turned even colder. “Eason, I’m in the middle of a meeting right now. I don’t have time for your nonsense.”

“I know my grandma’s condition better than you do.”

“I talked to her this afternoon. She told me she was fine.”

“If you’re trying to trick me into coming back, it’s not going to work.”

“We’re both adults, so stop playing these childish games.”

“I’m not coming back tonight, and don’t expect to see me for the next few days either.”

“Grow up!”

She hung up the phone.

When I tried calling her back, the phone was already off.

As I put my phone down quietly, the lights in the emergency room dimmed.

The doctor came out, his face somber.

I hurried over to him, and he said that my grandmother likely wouldn’t survive the night.

“Family should come to say their final goodbyes,” he said.

I felt a deep sense of bitterness.

In her last moments, my grandmother gripped my hand tightly, tears streaming from her eyes.

After all this time, with neither her son, daughter-in-law, nor granddaughter around, she had figured out what was happening.

To make sure she didn’t die with regrets, I tried calling Rosalie’s parents again in front of her, but their phones were still off.

It suddenly occurred to me that they had mentioned a round-the-world trip recently and wouldn’t be back for at least a month.

I dialed Rosalie’s number several more times, but there was still no answer.

When I finally gave up and put my phone away, the last glimmer of hope in my grandmother’s eyes slowly faded.