The Past is Like a Failed Painting

On the day of the international painting competition finals, I was kidnapped by criminals and my tendons were cut, so I could no longer hold a paintbrush.

My best friend won the competition and announced it publicly on the podium with my fiancé.

In despair, it was my best friend’s brother who saved me from slitting my wrists in the bathtub.

He pursued me crazily, expressed his love to the whole world and married me n a lavish wedding of the century.

But in the fifth year of our marriage, I overheard his conversation with his family doctor.

"As usual, replace the pills she uses to treat her hand with vitamins and the injections with glucose."

The doctor hesitated to speak. "Mr. Gillard, if she doesn't receive systematic treatment for her hand, I'm afraid she won't even be able to lift cutlery in the future."

"Before, you hired someone to cut your wife's tendons in order to help Ms. Gillard win the championship. But now Ms. Gillard is already a world-famous young painter, so why do you to ...."

"Stop talking and do as I say." Joseph interrupted him with a cold and stern tone.

"Since I can't be with Joana, I will protect her for the rest of her life. I will never allow her happiness to be threatened in the slightest!"

——

Hearing these words, my body froze in an instant and the teacup in my hand trembled.

I never expected that the person I thought was saving me in the dark, was actually the culprit who pushed me into the abyss!

My heart ached, as if a knife had been stabbed deep inside.

I heard footsteps approaching from inside the door and I ran away in a panic, lifting my skirt.

The hot tea in my hand spilled on me, but my whole body felt cold.

The door closed and the family doctor hurriedly left.

Joseph Gillard walked into the room, held my face and gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"My Dear, why are you standing at the door?"

"I was just about to bring you a cup of tea, but it ended up spilling on my body."

He had a gentle smile on his face as he wiped away the remaining water stains on my skirt.

"Just let the maid do this kind of thing. It's inconvenient for you to do it and I will feel bad if you do this."

As he spoke, his kisses fell delicately, from the forehead to the corners of the mouth, his movements were as gentle as if he was treating a rare treasure.

But I could no longer feel any warmth or tenderness.

I avoided his intimacy without making him suspicious.

"It's been cloudy lately and my hands are a bit uncomfortable. I want to rest early."

He was stunned for a moment, then took a warm towel and put it on my hands.

He started massaging my fingers carefully.

It was something he did every day before going to bed. It was said that it could help my hand recover soon.

I lowered my eyes and watched his movements, so gentle and delicate.

If I had not heard his conversation with the doctor, I would never have suspected that he was the culprit who caused my hand to be broken.

At night, lying on the bed that I once thought was full of love.

I could hear the man's even breathing behind me, but I felt no sleep at all.

After hesitating for a long time, he quietly got out of bed barefoot and walked to the door of the storage room on the top floor.

It was a restricted area in the house.

Joseph said that it was full of family secrets and he never allowed me to take even a single step inside.

I took a deep breath and tried the combination just once, then the combination lock opened.

As soon as I saw what was inside, I was so shocked that I covered my mouth, afraid that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from screaming out.

The wall was covered with paintings and photos of Joana Gillard, from childhood to adulthood.

Every single one of her works had been bought by Joseph, carefully framed and put on display on the wall.

The photos of her at every age were also recorded and arranged in chronological order, fully depicting the process of a girl from a toddler to a graceful young lady.