3
John didn’t return until the following morning.
く
He had someone with him.
“Sarah, long time no see.
Ashley peeked out from behind John, flashing
me a playful smile.
John explained.
“My parents said they missed Ashley, and we
were having a family dinner tonight, so I
thought I’d bring her along.”
As if afraid I’d misunderstand, he added, “I
was working late at the company all night and
just picked her up this morning.”
<
Ashley and John had grown up together.
It was understandable that his parents wanted
to see her.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t overthink it. It’s getting
late, let’s go.”
Seeing I wasn’t angry, John visibly relaxed.
John opened the passenger door for me, but
Ashley quickly slid into the seat.
“Sarah, I get carsick easily, I can’t sit in the
back.”
She gave me a challenging smile.
く
Since John didn’t object, I climbed into the
backseat.
I kept my eyes closed during the drive.
Ashley and John reminisced about their
childhood, effectively excluding me.
At dinner, John’s parents were cold towards
me because of the third stillbirth.
The accumulated resentment finally erupted.
I excused myself and walked out to the
garden.
I took off my wedding ring and tossed it into
<
the pond.
Ashley suddenly appeared beside me.
“Sarah, it must be hard, not being able to
give John a child after three years.”
“You know, premature babies aren’t always
stillborn.
33
“I saw one once, alive. Its eyes were beautiful,
just like yours.”
“Too bad it never got to see its mother…”
“Enough!”
<
I raised my hand, not even touching her
clothes.
But she fell into the pond.
Before I could react, John had jumped in and
pulled her out.
He turned on me, his voice filled with fury.
“Sarah! Are you crazy? What did you do to
Ashley?”
“You know she’s not well! Were you trying to
kill her?”
Ashley clung to John, her voice weak.
<
“I was just trying to comfort Sarah because
she lost the baby… I didn’t expect her to
push me into the pond…”
“Don’t blame her, she’s just grieving.”
John’s face was ice cold.
“Sarah, apologize to Ashley right now!”
I looked at him, a bitter laugh escaping my
lips.
“Apologize? I think you two are the ones who should be apologizing!”
“Don’t you know how I lost my babies?”
<
A flicker of panic crossed John’s eyes.
“The doctor said it was just bad luck.”
“You can’t blame us just because you lost
the babies.”
33
Hearing the commotion, John’s parents
rushed over.
“She can’t even continue our family line! Why
are we even bothering with her?”
“We shouldn’t have stopped you from being
with Ashley in the first place. Who knew she’d be so frail.”
–
く
“Quickly, take Ashley inside to change. She
can’t catch a cold.”
I watched them leave, my teeth clenched in
anger.
I walked out of the house and hailed a cab.
A few minutes later, John texted me.
“Don’t take what happened tonight to heart. I
was just putting on a show. Ashley caught a
bit of a chill and needs to stay here to
recover. I’ll stay here for a few days too, to
keep my parents company.”
“My parents aren’t really mad at you. They
く
just want a grandchild. Just buy them some
gifts in a few days and they’ll be fine.‘
They wanted a grandchild, did they?
I would make sure they received a gift they
would never forget.
John didn’t come home for the next three
days.
I threw away everything in the house that
belonged to me, or reminded me of him.
Before boarding my flight, I called John.
Ashley answered, her voice deliberately
<
Ashley answered, her voice deliberately
lowered.
“Sarah, John’s making me some soup. He’s
busy.”
“So, it seems you’ve figured it out. But
there’s something you don’t know. I’ve been
fine for a while now. I fed those babies‘
hearts to the dogs.”
“There’s no such thing as a heart–based
cure. It was just a joke, I never thought he’d
actually believe it.”
Before I could respond, John took the phone.
<
“Honey, I was busy. What’s up?”
The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
“John, I have a gift for your parents. It’ll be
delivered shortly.”
“Honey, you’re the best.
I hung up, removed the SIM card from my
phone, and tossed it aside.
I turned and boarded the plane.
John went back to fussing over Ashley’s
soup.
In mindan L
to dalin the wift I cont
<
I turned and boarded the plane.
John went back to fussing over Ashley’s
soup.
He reminded the maid to deliver the gift I sent
to his parents.
Moments later, their horrified screams echoed
through the house.
“What is this?! John, get over here! Look
what Sarah sent!”
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“realnovel“.
く
4
John rushed into the living room.
Water stained the floor, and chunks of
unidentifiable flesh lay scattered amidst
shards of broken glass.
A foul odor filled the air.
The confusion in John’s eyes slowly morphed
into horror, his face draining of color.
He turned to the trembling maid.
“Sarah sent this?”
<
“Where is she?”
“Ma’am…didn’t come. A delivery guy left it at
the door.”
John’s panic intensified.
He frantically dialed my number, only to be
met with the automated message that my
phone was switched off.
Ashley tugged at his sleeve.
Her voice soft, she said, “John, don’t be mad
at Sarah.”
“She’s probably upset about you blaming her
く
the other day, so she sent this to…gross out
your parents.”
“I’ll have someone clean this mess up.”
She turned to the maid.
“Get rid of this…garbage. It’s disgusting.”
“Don’t touch it!”
John flung Ashley’s hand away.
She fell to the floor, her eyes welling up with
tears.
John, oblivious, walked towards the mess.
L
Ignoring the glass shards, he reached out and
touched the flesh.
“It’s over. It’s all over.”
“I hid it so well…how did she find it?”
His parents stared at him in bewilderment.
“John, what are you doing? Throw that disgusting thing away.”
“What is in those jars Sarah sent?”
John looked up, his eyes bloodshot.
“These are my children with Sarah. Your
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<
grandchildren!”
His mother recoiled in horror.
“Is Sarah insane? I just scolded her a little,
does she have to resort to this kind of
revenge?”
“They say stillborn babies carry negative
energy. Get rid of this cursed thing!”
John remained motionless.
Consumed by fear and regret.
His assistant rushed in, handing him an
envelope.
<
“Mr. Anderson, this is from Mrs. Anderson. It
was delivered to the company.”
“I couldn’t reach you by phone, so I took the
liberty of bringing it here.”
A flicker of emotion crossed John’s face.
He took the envelope, his hands trembling
almost imperceptibly.
He tore it open. Two divorce papers, bearing
my signature, fell to the floor.
John looked up sharply, his eyes blazing.
“Find Sarah! Now! I need to see her!”
く
His frantic demeanor startled the assistant,
who quickly dialed my number.
The automated message played again.
“Mr. Anderson, maybe you should check at
home? The return address on the envelope is
your home address. Perhaps Mrs. Anderson is
waiting for you there?”
“Maybe she just saw… the remains and is in
shock?”
“You’re right. Maybe she just saw the jars,
maybe she doesn’t know the whole truth.
There’s still a chance…‘
<
John grabbed his car keys and sped off.
He floored the gas pedal, running countless
red lights.
He burst through the front door, only to find
the house empty. All traces of me were gone.
“She knows. If she didn’t, she would’ve
confronted me, not just…left.”
