I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. I was staring at Harry’s phone number that he gave me earlier. Harry’s offer echoed in my mind, repeating like a haunting melody.
Marriage. Not for love. Not for companionship. But for revenge.
I never imagined Harry would be the one to offer me a way out. He had always been a distant presence in my life, a friend of Jake’s who occasionally stood up for me when Eleanor’s cruelty of words became unbearable. But now, he wasn’t just offering me an escape, he was giving me the power to destroy the people who had destroyed me.
Revenge wasn’t something I had ever thought about before. I had spent years enduring, suffering because of my children’s stillborn deaths, and believing that my love for Jake would be enough. But love had gotten me nowhere. It had only turned me into a fool.
If I wanted justice, I needed power. I needed money. I needed someone who had both. And Harry had them. In return, all he asked was for me to be his wife and the mother of his son.
The revelation still unsettled me. I had never known Harry had a child. It made me wonder what else I had missed, what other truths had been hidden from me. But none of that mattered now.
This was my chance. My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts.
Jake: My out-of-town trip will be extended. Business matters came up.
I stared at the message, feeling nothing. Well, now that I know that he’s busy with Clarissa, I don’t care about it.
Me: Take the time you need.
A few seconds later, another message came in.
Jake: You’re always so understanding. I’ll bring you souvenirs, okay? I will buy you a bag that you wanted.
Souvenirs. I almost laughed. What a joke. He thought I would still be here when he got back. He thought I would wait, like I always had. Maybe It’s time to move on. I’m done being a fool. Not this time.
I pressed down on the call button, my fingers steady as I dialed Harry’s number. He picked up on the first ring.
"Lindsay?" His voice was calm, as if he already knew why I was calling. I smiled.
"I’ll do it." My voice didn’t waver. "I’ll accept your offer. But only for a year."
A brief pause. Then, "Understood."
"When do you need me to leave?"
"Tomorrow."
So soon. I tightened my grip on the phone. Well, it’s not like I wanted to stay in this wretched place. "I’ll be ready."
“Okay, I will tell my driver to pick you up. See you soon.”
I ended the call and exhaled. This was happening. It was real. I stood up and walked to the closet.
Everything in there had been chosen by Jake. The dresses, the shoes, the handbags—all of them were things he had picked for me, things that made me fit into the role he wanted me to play.
I pulled them out, one by one, dragging them into the backyard. The night air was cool, but my skin burned with purpose.
I dosed some oil in it and I struck a match, then watched the flame come to life.
The fire consumed everything. The dresses, the handbags, the little love notes Jake used to leave when he pretended to care.
I let them all burn. But not the jewelry. Jewelry had value. It wasn’t sentiment—it was currency.
And I would need all the resources I could get. The fire crackled, and the scent of burning fabric filled the air. I watched until there was nothing left but ashes. Then, for the first time in years, I felt free.
Morning came faster than I expected. I stood by the doorway of the house I had lived in for eight long years, a single suitcase by my side. It didn’t take much to pack—I was leaving everything behind.
I turned back for one final look. This wasn’t a home. It had been my cage, my prison, built on lies and filled with pain. No more. I stepped outside, closing the door behind me.
And I never looked back.
---
Jake was looking for souvenirs when Clarissa came and laid down on the bed and snaked her arms to Jake’s torso. Clarissa saw that Jake was picking out some souvenirs for me. Clarissa, not liking what she sees and Jake’s action, decided to ask him a question.
“Are you planning on having a child again with Lindsay?” Clarissa asked like she’s just inquiring. “It’s really too bad that the child has been cremated, I’m lacking materials for my experiments.”
Jake looked at Clarissa and hugged her back. “I’m sorry about it, next time I will make sure to bring it to you before she even asks to cremated it.”
“What do you think about bringing Lindsay here? Like she could be part of our wedding?” Clarissa suggested. “Explain to her that you needed to do it because your mother wanted it and It’s just for show?”
Jake looked at Clarissa, skeptical. “Are you really sure about this?”
Clarissa nodded. “Of course, she’s your wife, after all! Don’t forget about Harry too!”
“Okay.” Jake can’t win against Clarissa. Jake then called his secretary and told her to bring Lindsay but the Secretary surprised her.
“Sir, Madam is nowhere to be found!”
