I turned around. Though I had long grown used to their intimacy, the fresh marks on Sally’s body still made my heart ache involuntarily.
No one knew that I had once briefly loved Leonard. It was during the time I was pregnant.
During that time, Leonard had changed. He no longer treated me with disdain. He would walk over to hug me while I was reading on the sofa, gently kiss the top of my head. He’d bring me beautiful flowers or carefully wrapped gifts on his way home from work. And every night as we fell asleep in each other’s arms, he would murmur, “Mary, let’s live well together from now on.”
I had believed him.
That day, when my water broke, news came from abroad that Sally was having a difficult labor. Leonard panicked and immediately booked a flight with his parents to go overseas, leaving me alone in the hospital to give birth.
Later, Leonard came back, bringing Sally and their... illegitimate daughter.
"Mary? You're coming to the family banquet tonight, right? Mom and Dad definitely have something for you too!" Sally affectionately hooked her arm through mine and a sticky, cloying scent wafted over. I calmly pulled my arm away.
"I'm not going."
"Why? Mary, are you still blaming me and Mom and Dad for what happened in the past?" Her eyes quickly welled up with tears.
Leonard walked out wrapped in a bath towel. When he saw Sally crying, he gave me a displeased glance.
"The past was your own fault for having impure thoughts. No one else is to blame. Tonight is a big night for Sally, it's the Yale Family banquet. As Sally’s younger sister and the second daughter of the Yale Family, you have no reason not to go!"
Hearing that line again, I took a deep breath, an indescribable bitterness welling up in my heart.
"Leonard, do you know what people in the circle are saying about me now?"
The video of me with my right cheek pressed against the floor, tongue out, desperately licking apple pie mixed with vomit had been spreading like wildfire.
"They’re all saying I’m no different from a filthy dog!"
The Yale Family was holding a banquet today and everyone from the circle would be there. If I showed up now, it’d just be giving them more to laugh at.
"And Anne was just discharged today. She hasn’t fully recovered yet. I need to be with her."
Leonard froze for a moment, a complicated look flickering in his eyes.
“What they said might’ve been a bit harsh, but Mary, didn’t you bring this on yourself? If you hadn’t deliberately handed the apple pie to Kylie and caused her allergic reaction, would I have had any reason to come after you? You’ve always been lowly. After all, you even drugged your own future brother-in-law just to get into his bed. Now people are just talking about it a little and you can’t handle it?”
“And really, it was just a mild allergic reaction. Did she really need to stay in the hospital that long? You’re raising that child way too delicately.”
“Anne isn’t being delicate…”
Before I could finish my retort, Leonard cut me off impatiently.
"Enough! I’ll arrange for someone to look after Anne. Tonight is very important for Sally and I won’t allow a single member of the Yale Family to be absent!"
I fell silent.
When the car pulled up at the Yale Family residence, Leonard got out first with Sally. Their daughter, Kylie, came running out in a light green princess dress, smiling brightly.
Leonard bent down and lifted her high into the air, holding Sally’s hand as they walked forward together. They were just like a perfect little family.
I followed behind them in silence.
This was how it was always supposed to be.
Everyone gathered around to greet them. Leonard handled everything with ease and grace, with Sally by his side.
I quietly slipped into a corner, trying my best to make myself invisible. But still, someone noticed me.
