Chapter 4

Morning.

Austin came back.

I set the ring down in front of him. "Here's your ring. Give me the pendant."

"I gave it to Janice."

He glanced at me, then added, "She said she really liked it."

What?

For the first time I lost my composure in front of him. "That pendant was placed in your hands by my mother herself."

"It's the symbol of the Summers son-in-law. Even if we divorce, it should go back to its rightful owner. How could you just give it to someone else?"

Back then, on her sickbed, my mother had pressed the pendant into Austin's hands. "As long as the two of you live happily, I can die with no regrets."

"I have only this one daughter. I hope you'll take good care of her."

Austin had nodded again and again. "Don't worry, Mom. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up. Sharon is the lady of the Farley house. No one is allowed to hurt her."

Now everything was the opposite of what he'd said.

"It's just a pendant."

His face was pure indifference, and then, as if he'd seen right through me, he gave a cold snort. "I get it. You're using this as an excuse to squeeze money out of me, right?"

"Go on, say it. How much extra do you want?"

"I, Austin Farley, may not have much else, but I've got money to spare!"

His eyes were full of disgust.

My mouth opened, but all at once I didn't want to say anything. I turned, went upstairs, scooped up our daughter, grabbed the suitcase, and left.

"Hm?"

Austin froze for a second, then his brows drew together and his face went dark. "You're in that much of a hurry?"

Last night he told me to leave.

Today he said all of this.

I didn't make a sound. I kept my head down and walked, straight to Janice's place.

I meant to get the pendant back.

Janice opened the door.

I didn't beat around the bush. I told her exactly why I'd come.

But Janice only smiled, took out the pendant, and swung it carelessly in her hand.

"Sharon."

"What would you do if I smashed it?"

She asked it as if the idea amused her.

"Don't you dare!"

My hands clenched into fists.

"What's there to be afraid of? You think Austin would blame me once he found out? Keep dreaming."

Janice smiled again. "Do you know why he changed his name to Austin?"

"He said he hoped for a love that was pure and true," I answered.

"Heh."

Her mouth curled with scorn. "It's because Janice sounds like it belongs beside his. That's why. Understand?"

A shudder went through me.

So that was it.

Crack.

A sharp sound, all at once.

While I wasn't watching, Janice had smashed the pendant.

In a panic I lunged forward and shoved her hard, then crouched down to gather the broken pieces.

And in that moment.

The door swung open, and Austin walked in.

"Austin, save me!"

Janice dropped every trace of her earlier provocation. She sat on the floor and sobbed out her accusation. "Sharon rushed in and hit me. She even said she'd take a kitchen knife and chop me into pieces."

"That's not what happened. She smashed my—"

I tried to explain.

What I got instead was Austin's roar.

"Shut up!"

"You gold digger! You can't even behave with a child in your arms! Sneaking over here to make trouble for Janice. So all your calm and good sense before, it was all an act!"

"You almost fooled me again!"

"You stay right here and think about what you've done!"

Austin's voice was so loud it made our daughter cry and cry.

But he paid it no mind. He lifted Janice up, his eyes full of concern. "Did the fall hurt? I'll take you to the hospital."

The door slammed shut.

Then the air conditioner in the room suddenly began blowing hot.

The display climbed from 75 degrees to 104.

I couldn't find the remote, and my phone wouldn't control it either. All I could do was call Austin.

He didn't pick up.

I messaged him instead. [The AC just switched to heat, it's at 104 degrees, our daughter won't be able to take it.]

[No matter what you think of me, she's innocent!]

Austin replied. [Hah. Trying to trick me again? Janice said the house is on cooling.]

[And even if it is heat at 104, so what? This is the punishment you deserve.]

[A gold digger like you, what kind of normal daughter could you ever produce? It's only right that she suffers a little too.]

Line by line, the words bled endless hatred.

They shattered something in me.

Left me hopeless.

Killed whatever was left in me.

My hands shaking, I swallowed the injustice and sent one more message. It showed that I'd been blocked.

With nothing else to do, I sent Justin a plea for help.

I tried to cool things with water.

The tap ran dry.

I opened the refrigerator.

The power was cut.

The room grew hotter and hotter.

I was drenched in sweat, my clothes soaked through, my head spinning.

Our daughter, worse.

Her breathing came faster and faster, her skin flushed a frightening, burning red.

Just as I was about to drop straight to the floor.

The door was kicked open.