Glory Gone

My mother never contradicted Jaime, no matter how far she went.

I watched Jaime act so carefree. My hands lowered, then weakly clenched before falling open again. A sudden thought struck me. Everything I had done over the years had not been worth it.

Jaime noticed my blank expression and let out a cold laugh. She threw the divorce agreement I had sent her onto the table.

I had already signed it. The space for her signature remained blank.

“I’ll pretend I don’t know about the divorce. I’ll have someone prepare the medicine for the next few months. Don’t call me cruel.”

Jaime wanted to continue speaking when her phone rang.

Derek’s panicked voice came through at once. “Jaime, look at the trending topics. Our photos were…”

Jaime’s face darkened. She scrolled through her phone in a rush. She stood up at once and slapped me hard across the face.

Her eyes were wide and bloodshot. “Joseph, how did I not see how sneaky you were? You even posted these videos online to threaten me.”

The slap left me dizzy. When I regained my senses, I saw that the top trending video was made from the intimate photos Derek had sent to my phone.

I gritted my teeth and spoke in a low voice. “Ask Derek about this. It has nothing to do with me.”

Jaime never believed me. “Who else could it be? Did Derek release it? Joseph, when did you install a camera on my bed? Do you enjoy watching me with someone else?”

Each word stabbed into me like a knife.

I took a shaky breath. I wanted to defend myself, yet I stayed silent.

Jaime demanded that I apologize in front of reporters and the media to protect Derek’s reputation.

I closed my eyes and answered in a flat tone. “Okay. Set a time.”

My calmness left her with nowhere to release her anger.

She let out a cold snort and threw the bag of medication at the closed door of my mother’s bedroom. “What a buzzkill.”

She muttered under her breath, slammed the door, and drove away.

My cheek still burned as I smoothed the crumpled death certificate and placed it on the table. “Mom, I will take you back to our hometown to reunite with Dad. You wanted to leave for a long time. This can be your relief.”

I spoke softly while booking a flight home. My father’s ashes were buried there. I did not want my mother to be alone.

The next day, Jaime informed me to admit my mistake in front of the media.

I went to the company as agreed. As soon as I stepped inside, I heard the rustling of clothes and the playful sounds of Jaime and Derek in the cubicle.

I would have lost my temper in the past. I would have questioned her and demanded answers.

I stopped at the door and waited calmly for her to finish.

After a long wait, Jaime finally stepped out, straightening her clothes. Derek followed behind her. She paused when she saw me and tugged at her collar to hide the marks on her neck.

The reporters she had arranged were already present, and the broadcast was live.

Her expression returned to normal. She glanced at me and spoke in a cold voice. “Joseph, you need to understand your situation. Your mother’s life is still in my hands. If you do not want her to die, you had better admit your mistake properly in front of the media.”