Shattered Dreams: Moving On From an Ex's Betrayal

As the evening shadows lengthened outside, I huddled motionless on the sofa.

Suddenly, there was a noise at the door as someone pushed it open and turned on the light.

When Kenny saw me, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes as he let go of Serena's hand.

"You're home..."

I sat up, coldly watching them, my face still marked by the tears from my earlier breakdown.

Kenny tried to approach me, reaching out to touch my hair, but I pulled away.

He sighed softly and sat down beside me.

"Alyson, Serena's terminally ill, and she doesn't have much time left.

"She's terrified, so I have to be there for her.

"Alyson, you've always been so understanding. Please don't be upset over this small thing, okay?"

"Small thing?" I thought to myself, "In his eyes, was our wedding and my grandmother's death all just insignificant? Does only Serena matter to him?"

I glared at him, feeling a surge of anger, and I even began to resent him. A part of me wished my father had never saved him.

"Kenny, what am I to you?

"How could you marry her on our wedding day and make me the scorned third party?"

I didn't understand why, despite my disappointment in him, my heart still ached so much when I questioned him.

Kenny's gaze shifted away from me and landed on Serena, his expression conflicted.

Serena, standing next to Kenny, handed me a glass of water, her eyes full of pity.

"Alyson, don't be mad at Kenny. This is all my fault.

"I just didn't want to leave this world with regrets. He only feels sorry for me.

"Alyson, I'm not trying to take him from you. Once I'm gone, Kenny will be all yours.

"Can't you be generous and let me borrow him for a few years?"

Serena's words sounded pitiful, but her eyes were full of triumph.

With a swift motion, I knocked the water glass out of her hand. I didn't use much force, but Serena fell to the floor immediately.

I stood up and looked down at her.

"I'm not falling for your pitiful act!

"I'm not your mother, so I have no obligation to coddle you!"

Serena lay on the ground, helplessly looking up at me with tear-filled eyes.

"Alyson, I thought you'd understand me. I didn't expect you to be so heartless.

"Didn't you use your grandmother to force Kenny into marrying you?

"For so many years, you've been using your father's death to blackmail Kenny and his family. You've gotten so many benefits, and you should be satisfied by now!

"Your grandmother, really, using that trick at her age. She's always whining about dying. How annoying."

I trembled with anger. I could tolerate them hurting me, but I couldn't stand them insulting my family.

In a fit of rage, I slapped Serena across the face.

Kenny immediately helped Serena up and then roughly shoved me. I hit the edge of the table and was in too much pain to stand.

"Alyson, if you're angry, take it out on me! Serena's sick. She can't handle this kind of stress!"

I glared at him fiercely. If looks could kill, I would have shattered him into pieces.

"Kenny, you ungrateful bastard. You two will get what's coming to you!"

Kenny froze for a moment as if feeling a pang of regret.

Serena sobbed, but when she looked at me, her eyes were full of malice.

"Alyson, why do you always bring up old things?

"Kenny knew how to swim by then. Even if your father hadn't saved him, he could've swam back on his own. Besides, there were other people there.

"Your family just took advantage of Kenny's wealthy background. Your father must have purposely saved him to make him feel indebted, so you could blackmail him for life!"

Back then, when our family went on a picnic, we happened to run into Kenny and his family.

Kenny, young and brash, insisted on swimming in the reservoir right after learning how.

The water in the reservoir was very cold, and just as he got in, the upstream gates opened, and he was quickly pulled into a whirlpool.

His family and friends stood on the shore, helplessly watching the raging current, all in a panic.

My father, a firefighter, didn't hesitate. He jumped in, fighting to pull the unconscious Kenny to shore. However, my father couldn't make it out himself.

"Do you think so too?"

I stared hard at Kenny.