When I Found Out His Lie

My marriage to Myron was because of my brother. My brother and Myron were college classmates. After graduation they partnered to start a small company. Their business thrived and within a few years, the company went public.

Happiness turned into sorrow. While on a business trip to discuss a new venture, they were involved in an accident. Isaac shielded Myron with his body, resulting in him receiving a severe impact and passing away before the medic arrived, while Myron survived with some injuries.

Our parents passed when I was still in the junior school. Isaac and I had to rely on each other as we grew up. Isaac knew I had a crush on Myron, he entrusted me to him before he died, hoping Myron would marry me. Grateful for my brother's sacrifice, Myron agreed on the spot and only then my brother close his eyes. 

All the Hayes knew that Myron owed his life to my brother, so no one opposed our marriage. They said Isaac had traded his life to secure a wealthy, privileged future for me. None of them knew that Myron proposed to me ten times before I finally agreed. The first nine times he proposed I would always grabbed his collar, crying and begging him to bring Isaac back to me. He was my only family in the world. The tenth time, Myron told me that it was my brother's dying wish for me to marry him. He said if I refused, I would betray Isaac's heartfelt efforts, so reluctantly, I agreed.

After marriage, Myron treated me well. He provided for me in every aspect, giving me the full appearance of a respected lady of the Hayes in public. However, I could never enter his heart. We maintained a respectful distance, but there was no true companionship. The day our daughter was born, I sensed a relieved ease in him. In a daze, I heard him muttered, “I owe you a family member. I return you one, today. Now we don’t owe each other nothing.”

I thought I misheard. Myron may not have loved me, but he always treated me with respect. Later I realized my mistake. He never respected or valued me. It was Isaac's life that he valued. Naively, I believed our daughter's birth would open his heart to me. Yet, after her birth, he found an excuse to move into the guest room and never set foot in our bedroom again.

On our daughter's one-month celebration, I overheard him on the phone with Ruby, slightly drunk, “There won't be any more children. I've paid off what I owed her. I won't touch her again.”

At that moment, I finally understood that what I had vaguely heard before was not my imagination. It was his remarks of liberation, he was celebrating his freedom. That moment, I wanted a divorce. But when I saw my daughter's innocent face, I compromised.  I wanted to give her a complete family. 

I even humbly hoped that if I tried hard enough, I might change Myron's mind. But I was wrong. This marriage was a mistake from the beginning. Born from death and ended with death. 

I returned to the house where I lived with my brother. This house multiplied the sorrow I felt. Although this place reminded me of my other losses, at least the shadow of Ivy wouldn’t haunt me here. I maintained this house because of its sentimental value, hiring a housekeeper to look after it. 

I went to my old room and lay on the bed, clutching Ivy's urn tightly. I cried my eyes out, not eating or drinking. Night after night passed, yet I felt as though time stood still. 

Half awake, half asleep, I felt that Myron burst in and he grabbed me by collar. His face full of rage, shaking while demanded, “Where's that little demon”

Ruby, trailing behind him, affected a semblance of persuasion, “Myron, slow down. You’ll scare Ivy.” 

Her feigned concern only intensified the anger on Myron's face, his gaze piercing like a poisoned knife. “Hurry up and get that little brute out of here. Hide her again and I'll slash you too.”

I was so furious that my body trembled. I retorted, “You’re her father. If she’s a demon, what does that make you And who the hell do you think you are to threaten me” 

Myron raised his hand and planted a slap on my face. The sudden intense pain on my cheek caused me to collapse onto the bed. I covered my face, staring wide-eyed in disbelief at the fierce and malicious man before me.

Myron stared at his palm in shock for two seconds. A hint of guilt flashed across his face as he forcefully continued in anger, “How could you You are so jealous of Ruby that you told that kid to kill Bailey and then you hide her, shielding her from the consequences. If I don't discipline her, she's going to turn into a vicious monster.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Ivy was bitten by a dog when she was three and she had been scared of them ever since. She was gone since two days ago and now Myron was accusing her of killing Ruby's dog. Was there anything more absurd and laughable that this

It was ridiculous how Myron, this so-called father, believed Ruby's instigation without hesitation, nailing his own daughter to the shameful rack of cruelty. He didn't deserve to be a father.

I burst into laughter, half-mad, half-delirious and pointing at the urn containing my daughter's ashes on the bed.

“There! That is your daughter. If you want to discipline her for the sake of that lying whore, go ahead and do it.”