I Died in Darkness, So You Could Wake in Guilt

Just because I broke James Jorgensen's secretary's diamond bracelet, he auctioned me off at a low price at the wedding.

"Compensate her? Jennie Jarquín, do you still think you're the Jarquíns' precious daughter? Look at yourself now, this used-up body of yours isn't even worth a cent. Just use yourself to pay off the debt for Jordyn's bracelet."

"Everyone, she used to be the lady of the Jarquíns. Starting bid: one dollar."

I was auctioned off cheaply, but James didn't care.

"She's like an animal, you can't even chase her away. Just watch, in less than two days, she'll call me, begging me to take her back."

Two days passed, but this time, I didn't call him. Instead, James came to pick me up himself.

However, when he broke down the Wade Family's door, all he found was my corpse.

——

"Marry me, but I hate strangers living freely in my house. So, you have to sleep in the yard. I won't give you a single cent for a dowry and the wedding dress and ring will go to Jordyn. Even with all that, are you still willing to marry me?"

"I am."

This answer has never changed since I was 18 years old.

James scoffed and laughed.

"Jennie Jarquín, you're really pathetic. You saw I had money and couldn't wait to cling to me, right?"

He laughed, but his eyes turned red. He threw away his cigarette and bit down hard on my lips.

"You didn't marry me because I was poor, I get that. But why did you have your father throw my mom out of the hospital? Why did you have to get my dad killed? Just because I loved you, you had to destroy my family?"

It felt like my body was being torn apart. I trembled from the pain, but I didn't fight back.

"I'm sorry. If it'll make you feel better, I'm willing to die."

James' movements paused. The next second, he bit my shoulder, leaving a bloody tooth mark.

He grabbed my throat, his voice dripping with hatred. "Die? Jennie, don't even think about it. You're not getting off that easy. You're going to stay by my side for the rest of your life, trapped between life and death."

Tears streamed down my cheeks, landing on James' hand.

His fingers trembled. He let go, his voice cold and full of disgust.

"Now get out of my room. The courtyard is where you belong. Don't dirty my floors."

As I walked out of James' room, I received a call from my psychiatrist. Her voice was urgent.

"Who let you check out of the hospital? You're in a very dangerous state. If you stop treatment now, you could … "

I cut her off, telling her somewhat happily.

"I'm getting married. James is going to marry me."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. I kept talking.

"From the age of eighteen until now, I've been waiting for him to marry me. I never thought I'd actually live to see this day."

Sandra Lake finally spoke, "Are you still not going to tell him? You clearly ran away back then, but you just didn't escape."

I smiled faintly. "No, the damage is done. Let the hatred stay pure. I won't go back. In my last moments, I'll properly atone for my sins."

I hung up. Then, I heard a mocking voice behind me.

"You're getting married, huh? Jennie, don't you find it laughable to say those words? How's it feels living in the courtyard?"

Jordyn Nolan spread her fingers, revealing the dazzling diamond ring on her ring finger.

"James said you're not worthy of his diamond ring. Married? Your diamond ring, your wedding dress, even your husband, are all mine."

I listened expressionlessly until she took out a diamond bracelet.

"This is James' mother's keepsake, only passed down to the Jorgensens' daughter-in-law."

I instinctively lunged forward to look, then retreated two steps in a daze.