- 10.
The divorce didn’t happen.
To appease Ryan, my aunt and uncle signed
over their entire estate to him, rewriting their
will.
They’d made some money in business. Not a
fortune, but with their house and other
assets, it amounted to a few million dollars.
For the money, Ryan stayed.
And to win back Ryan’s affection, my aunt
gave Ashley an ultimatum – lose weight. She
had to return to her pre–pregnancy figure.
Desperate, Ashley called me.
“Ashley, are you crazy? Nobody diets
anymore! We get liposuction. That’s how I
stay thin while eating whatever I want!”
“No money? I’ll lend you some! It’s nothing! I
know a great place, don’t worry.
I sent her the address from a flyer I’d picked
- up.
<
। Seriter tie audress full a liyer u pickeu
- up.
I didn’t anticipate that this liposuction would
bring my revenge to an abrupt end.
I saw Ashley again in the hospital.
The botched liposuction at the shady clinic
had caused nerve damage, leaving her
paralyzed and unable to speak. Only her eyes
could move.
I was the first to visit.
Ashley lay in bed, silent and still, unable to
cause any more drama.
After confirming with the doctor that her
recovery was unlikely, I sat beside her,
watching.
Her eyes were filled with hatred. I smiled.
“Ashley, you resent me, don’t you? If it wasn’t
for my recommendation, you’d just be hungry,
not paralyzed.”
29
Г
not paralyzed.”
“And you should resent me. Because…”
I looked at her innocently.
35
“It was me. I pushed you to have Logan.
Logan, who’s not only developmentally
delayed, but also likely infertile, and possibly
a sociopath. Who knows, maybe he’ll…
accidentally… kill someone someday and end
up in juvenile detention.”
“It was me. I encouraged you to overeat
during your pregnancy, delayed signing the
C–section papers.
99
“It was me. I posted those cryptic messages
on social media, just for your mother–in–law
to see, giving her ideas on how to torment
you. And I hinted that you were talking about
her behind her back.”
Ashley’s eyes widened, her pupils dilated with
shock.
I continued. mercilessly
Г
divorce Ryan. After all, who would he abuse if
you left? Who would be his family’s unpaid
maid?”
“And as for warning you about his affair?
That was deliberate too. I’d known for years.
All those trips to the gynecologist? Probably
STDs he brought home from his mistress.”
“You want to know why I did it? Because
you’re a snake in the grass, Ashley.”
“You don’t need advice; you need a shovelful
of dirt. If you can’t handle being human, hurry
up and reincarnate. Next time, don’t come
back as a person. Be a porcupine. Suits your
backstabbing personality. You’ll fit right in,
like a dung beetle in a pile of…”
As Ashley thrashed in silent rage, I heard
familiar voices approaching. I casually placed
the clinic’s flyer near her phone, then
pretended to sob.
My relatives arrived just as I shed my
L
crocodile tears.
“Ashley… why… why would you do this to
yourself… it’s okay to be a little overweight…
why hurt yourself like this…
“”
Despite Ashley’s frantic attempts to
communicate, she couldn’t stop my lies.
Who would doubt me?
For years, I’d played the role of the
supportive sister, the one who wanted nothing
more than Ashley’s happiness.
And that flyer? How could it be mine?
I was a successful businesswoman, a college
graduate. I wouldn’t be caught dead with
something like that.
Ashley was clearly the one to blame. So
foolish, so easily swayed by a cheap
advertisement.
My relatives comforted me, condemned
Ashley, and I watched as the doctors rushed
in to stabilize her.
<
supportive sister, the one who wanted nothing
more than Ashley’s happiness.
And that flyer? How could it be mine?
I was a successful businesswoman, a college
graduate. I wouldn’t be caught dead with
something like that.
Ashley was clearly the one to blame. So
foolish, so easily swayed by a cheap
advertisement.
My relatives comforted me, condemned
Ashley, and I watched as the doctors rushed
in to stabilize her.
Before she lost consciousness, I made a
grand, public promise:
“Ashley, don’t worry! I’ll take good care of
Logan!”
Everyone
