Dual Marriage：A Friend's Tragic Farewell

Tortoise

Christian was looking at me with hatred, and I felt something crushing my heart. There was barely any love between me and Timothy. I knew he didn't really want to marry me. He just wanted to rebel against his mother.

I willingly became his tool to survive. Before my son came to be, our marriage was cordial and perhaps peaceful. I thought we would live as a couple until the end of our lives. Then everything changed when Chris came to be.

Timothy's mother took him away from me. She said I would never be able to educate her grandson well enough. She took my son to her residence and found a wet nurse for him. I was only allowed visitation rights at certain times.

I cried and begged for my son, but they only mocked me. I thought Timothy would help me, but when I told him why I came, he asked me in confusion, "You think you can teach our son better than my parents?"

He thought his children should be raised in business. They should only be machines that work perfectly. He never thought the boy would need me. He never thought I needed my child.

From that day onward, what little feelings I had for Timothy died. Chris' disdain and apathy for me killed all reason for my staying with the Hopkins. I'd have left this uncaring cage if not for Rachel.

With Rachel gone, I should leave these people behind. This was a house of monsters, after all. I stopped contacting the Hopkins after I made up my mind. I went to the funeral parlor and started the process for my best friend.

Unfortunately, they couldn't piece all the pieces of her body back together, but fortunately, the beautiful idiot's head was intact. After some embellishment, she was once again my beautiful friend. I cried and hiccupped. "I'm sorry, Rachel. I'm sorry. You'd never have married that man if not for me… I should've been the one who died, not you…"

I saw her body off into the crematorium. I paid to see her for the last time. I thought I'd accepted the fact of my best friend's death, but when the flames engulfed her, they ate up my heart as well.

Memories of my friend flooded my mind. I could still see her smiling at me. She'd sometimes act like a child around me. "We're going to be together for life, aren't we?"

And then, something in me crumbled. I got up and trudged toward the crematorium. "I'll be there for you…" I muttered.

I lost my mind and ran ahead, but the staff member held me back. He was a man in his forties, and he didn't want to see me kill myself. Quickly, he persuaded, "No, girl. Your friend wouldn't want this."

I snapped out of it and slapped myself. 'Yeah, what was I thinking? I haven't avenged her. I can't die just yet.'

An hour later, I traipsed into the funeral parlor, holding an urn that carried my best friend's ashes.

Then I heard soft cries and looked in the direction of that sound. Lo and behold, it was Timothy and his family. They were right beside Rachel's mourning hall.

Jade was crying her heart out. Samuel was holding her shoulder, consoling her softly. They must've believed that Rachel was dead. I couldn't believe Samuel had the audacity to bring Rachel with him.

'He still wants to humiliate her after her death?' Furiously, I strode up to him.

"How dare you bring this bitch here! Do you even have a heart, Samuel?" And I froze.

These people weren't here for Rachel's funeral. The photo in their mourning hall belonged to a tortoise. Jade was holding a small urn, bawling her eyes out.

Timothy said darkly, "What are you up to this time, Penelope?" He looked at the urn I was holding and frowned. "Why are you here? Is that an urn you're holding?"

I sneered. "No, it's your mother. Of course, it's an urn, you moron."

Timothy did not expect that attitude. He glared at me and tried to talk back, but Jade said with aggrievement, "Why are you here, Penelope? You're still on about that story about Rachel's death? No one will believe you. Leave. I don't want any uninvited guests at Didi's funeral."

Samuel quickly said, "Yes, Penelope. Leave, now."