Moon’s Embers West Pavilion
Chapter One
My ex–husband, Ethan Reed, brought his new
girlfriend, Willow Hayes, to our company’s
anniversary gala.
He announced to everyone that Willow was
his wife.
He peeled grapes for her, his fingertips.
stained with juice, and without looking up,
said to me,
“Willow’s allergic to the smell of medicine,
get rid of all those pills.”
“She’s allergic to the smell of hospitals, stay
away from her.”
I didn’t argue. I grabbed my already packed
medicine and a few clothes, and left.
く
A guest, about to offer a toast, hesitated.
Ethan scoffed,
“Let her go. A useless woman, always faking
illness, taking pills. She wouldn’t last three
days outside of this house.”
The room erupted in laughter. I clutched my medical report in my pocket.
They didn’t know I was eight weeks pregnant. I had late–stage leukemia.
- 1.
The flashbulbs went crazy, guests showered Ethan and Willow with congratulations. They were the perfect match, everyone agreed. Amidst the cheers, Ethan bent down to kiss the grape juice off Willow’s
lip.
Nobody noticed me, the “special guest ex-
wife,” in the corner of the ballroom.
く
Willow and Ethan danced in the center, their
twirl bringing them near the buffet table.
A waiter, blinded by the flashing lights,
bumped into me with a tray of red wine.
As I pushed myself up, Willow stood over me.
“Sarah, you can’t even handle a few glasses
of wine? You should have given up the title of
Mrs. Reed a long time ago.
“Don’t put on this sad act in front of us. It’s
just a little illness, you’re not dying.”
The smell of alcohol triggered my morning
sickness.
“With all these people watching, are you
trying to frame Willow for this?”
Chemotherapy had weakened me. I didn’t
have the energy to argue.
After the gala, Willow started crying, claiming
L
I embarrassed her.
Ethan turned furious and, in the back garden,
knocked the bowl of medicine from my hands.
“You know how much Willow means to me, and you still make her a laughingstock.”
He’d ripped off my earrings–a pair Willow
had left behind–tearing my earlobes when I’d accidentally worn them.
This time, he knocked over the expensive
cancer medication I’d saved up for.
So that’s what mattered.
My three years of marriage were just me
being her replacement.
Our secret, unblessed marriage never existed.
“Willow’s upset, go apologize to her.”
“My medicine…”
He cut me off.
<
“Don’t play games, go apologize. Otherwise,
I’ll burn all your medicine.”
33
The cleanup crew watched, eager to see my
humiliation.
And I was a joke, wasn’t I?
I went to Willow and Ethan, and apologized.
“Not sincere enough. Do it again.
33
He ordered someone to hold my medicine
bag over a fireplace. A single sign of
reluctance, and it’d be ashes.
He knew my weaknesses, after three years of
marriage.
Without hesitation, I knelt and apologized twice.
Willow merely blinked, faking tears, and kissed Ethan.
“Still not enough, Willow says you have to
