Chapter 4

Bianca stood in the doorway, dressed to the nines.

My heart lurched.

Once I was certain the Saul in my home was a fake, the first person I suspected was Bianca.

After all, this little mistress was the one person in the world who understood Saul better than anyone, except me.

Could Bianca be plotting with someone on the inside to make off with Saul's inheritance?

Just as I was fretting over it, the door opened.

Saul didn't even glance at Bianca. Overjoyed, he pulled me back inside.

"Carolyn, dinner's just ready."

"Wash your hands first, and I'll get you some soup."

Bianca panicked and jammed her body against the doorframe.

"Saul! What's the meaning of this?"

"You were the one who said just looking at that plain old wife of yours made you want to throw up. Now the two of you are back together, is that it?"

"Then what happens to me? I waited four years for you!"

I wasn't in the mood to argue with Bianca.

And I knew arguing was useless.

Every time I'd fought back before, all I got from Saul was an even bigger retaliation.

But Saul's face darkened.

He tucked me protectively against him and shoved Bianca out the door.

"I was a fool before. I did things that wronged Carolyn."

"Disrespect my wife again, and I'll be done with you!"

With that, he bolted the door, leaving Bianca to cry and carry on outside.

I sat on the sofa, utterly bewildered.

I couldn't begin to figure out what Saul was up to.

While I was still at a loss, he suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me with a thud and slapped himself twice.

"Carolyn, even though I can't remember what I did to hurt you in the past."

"I swear, from now on I'll be devoted only to you."

"Every mistake I made before, I'll spend the rest of my life making up for it."

Watching that earnest look on his face, I nearly went mad.

Beyond fear, what I felt most was hatred.

If Saul had only kept it in his pants back then and hadn't cheated.

If only he'd bowed his head and admitted his mistake sooner.

I never would have gone so far as to kill him.

And I never would have spent four years living in fear.

But I had bricked him into the wall with my own hands, so why had another Saul appeared, swearing over and over that he was devoted to me?

The relentless shocks of these past two days had completely shattered my mental defenses.

I didn't want to guess anymore.

So I just came straight out and asked:

"My husband died a long time ago."

"Who exactly are you?"

He stood up, stunned, and pulled me into his arms.

"Carolyn, I know I was wrong."

"Hit me, curse me, whatever you want, just don't say things in anger."

I pushed him away, and just as I was about to tell him the truth, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Saul went to open the door, and a team of fully armed officers stood outside.

"Ms. Gilbert, based on a public tip, we found the body of a man dead for four years in the abandoned pigsty on your property."

"According to our investigation, you bought a train ticket back to your hometown yesterday."

I was in a daze for a moment.

Then, in the end, I stood up calmly.

Just as I stretched out my hands to turn myself in, one of the officers took out a photo.

"This is the deceased. Take a look and identify him."

When I saw that photo, my mind went completely blank.

All the doubts and confusion finally strung themselves together.

I understood.

I finally knew what was going on!