Before my grandfather died, he held my hand tight, urgently placing a shining, openwork golden cross in my palm. He kept saying, “The soul goes to heaven, but if you make even a small mistake, it will go to hell.”
After that, I wore the cross around my neck.
My life changed quickly; it felt like luck was finally on my side and I earned a hundred million dollars overnight.
But after I married Luther Edwards, the cross around my neck slowly lost its shine.
Luther and I were deeply in love; I brought him homemade meals every day.
Until I reached his office early with lunch and saw a scene that would change my life forever.
In the office lounge, Luther kissed his childhood sweetheart, Calliope Collins, who was sitting on him.
Calliope’s bra hung loose on Luther’s arm and she laughed as she pressed his head against her chest.
"Listen to Lyra’s son’s heart, isn’t it full of life?"
In that moment, I felt my breath stop and my heart felt like it was being ripped apart by a giant hand.
"It was most lively when it was in my body. I lied to her, saying the organ transplant papers were company documents and only a fool like her would sign them."
My body started to shake wildly. I never thought that my trust in my husband would take my son’s life!
Just as I tried hard to push down a sob in my throat, Luther’s slightly excited voice reached my ears.
"Then, we’ll push Lyra aside and all her money will be ours and the child’s."
At that moment, the cross around my neck broke.
A piece of cloth with my grandfather’s handwriting slipped out…
…A month after marrying Luther, the cross around my neck fully lost its light.
I believed maybe it was using its last strength to bring me to my loving husband, so I didn’t think much of it.
I never guessed this was the cross’s warning to me.
Until my fourth wedding anniversary, I got an unnamed package.
Inside was a pregnancy ultrasound report, clearly showing: Calliope Collins, six weeks pregnant.
At that moment, I felt a chill move through my body, my eyes stuck on the report.
Wasn’t Calliope Luther’s childhood sweetheart?
He told me he never had feelings for Calliope.
But he and she were now having a child.
I held the report, grabbed my prepared lunch and rushed to Luther’s company ahead of time.
I wanted to hear his explanation.
I noticed a split in the cross pendant around my neck, running down the entire length.
The unease in my heart grew, making it hard to breathe.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I saw Luther kissing Calliope’s exposed lap.
All the questions I wanted to ask stuck in my throat and tears slid down my face on their own.
At that moment, Calliope noticed me at the doorway. She raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of challenge and asked the man on top of her in a weak voice, "Baby, do you think Lyra will know her son’s heart is in my body?"
"She’ll never know. I lied to her, saying the organ transplant papers were company documents and only a fool like her would sign them."
Organ transplant papers?
I killed him!
My trust in my husband killed my son!
I could no longer hear the sounds around me; my ears rang and everything before my eyes started to blur. Their voices echoed in my mind.
Three months ago, I got a call from the doctor saying they had found a matching heart. My son had waited since birth; he finally didn’t have to be jealous of other children anymore and could run freely.
Hugged my kid, tears running down my face. I did not look at the papers Luther gave me; trusting him, I signed them.
But in this moment, I did not notice the dim red shine of the cross on my chest.
Three days later, my son passed in an operation accident.
Luther calmed me, telling me how all surgeries have issues and kept near me, scared I would pass out.
I wept on his shoulder, again stating, "I just got you now. Grandpa is gone, now my son is gone, I only have you left."
I yet recall his warm face as he held my face, promising.
"I will forever stay by your side, I will not allow you be harmed."
Now it looks like he was scared I would learn he had quietly handed my son's heart to his childhood sweetheart.
My back felt as if it was being pressed by a heavy rock; I nearly dropped to my knees.
My fingers held the door frame hard, my body rocking as I aimed to leave that place of pain, when Luther's final lines hit my now broken heart like a knife.
"Our kid needs a good place. One month from now, we will plan a car crash to end Lyra and grab all she has. If it was not for her money, I would not have wed a boring, mindless woman like her."
My own eyes tightened and my eyes rose with pain when I looked hard at this man in this space.
In this moment, I felt he seemed truly gross.
Instantly, the cross near the throat broke all the way.
"Nope!" I yelled, wildly bending low to grab the bits, the sole item Grandpa gave me.
But I suddenly hit a worn piece from a rag holding on to my grandpa’s writing over this…
