Second Light

I smiled and told him, "Didn't you say this divorce is just a pretense? I believe you."

He froze for a second, guilt written all over his face.

I felt a tiny sense of victory inside.

He should feel guilty after all those years. I wish he would feel that way forever.

The next day, Eric came home really early, carrying a big box.

"Wendy, there's a fancy dinner tonight, and they said to bring your spouse. Will you come with me?"

I took the box and opened it to find a stunning evening gown with a sparkling diamond necklace on top, even bigger than Yvonne's.

"Alright. I'll try it on."

For years, whenever there was a fancy event, he would take me along, but I always had to get my own dress and jewelry. That was the first time he ever bought me a dress.

I figured it would not fit right since he had not paid much attention to me in years. Was I still chubby or had I slimmed down?

However, before I could even think about it, Yvonne barged into the room.

She shoved me aside, grabbed the gown from the box, and ripped it apart.

"Wendy, you don't deserve to wear something this nice! If it weren't for you, it all would've been mine!"

After ruining the dress, she snapped the necklace and flung it at my face, cutting her finger in the process.

I did not get mad. When she pulled out the dress, I could tell it was not my size. I used to be a bit chubby, but I have gotten much skinnier these days.

That size seemed like it was picked for my old body.

If it did not fit, it was no big deal if it was ripped up.

I picked up the pieces calmly, put them back in the box, and without looking up, I told her, "Yvonne, you were the one who rushed off to get married abroad. Why blame me for your choices?"

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Eric's voice called out, hurrying us.

Yvonne burst into tears, collapsed into Eric's arms, and showed him her bleeding finger.

"Eric, I just wanted to try on the pretty dress, and she said I made everything I touched dirty. She tore up the dress and the necklace, and when I tried to stop her, she hurt me."

Eric spotted the torn piece of the dress in my hands and his face turned red with anger.

He marched right up to me and slapped my cheek hard.

"Wendy! You've gone way too far! I told you that the divorce is just for show, so why are you still being mean to Yvonne?!"

I held my stinging cheek, tears welling up in my eyes.

That was the second time he hit me over Yvonne.

Even with a second chance at life, I could not escape being picked on by Yvonne.

I could not keep quiet anymore and shot back, "Eric. After ten years of marriage, don't you know me at all? Would I really do something like that?

"And be honest. Is this divorce really just for show?"

He looked stunned, as if I had caught him off guard. He stared at me, speechless, without any explanation.

Then he grabbed Yvonne's hand. "I don't have time for your silly talk. Yvonne's coming with me tonight. You should stay home and think about how you can become a better person. If you don't know how, just Google 'how to become a good sister-in-law!'"

With that, he stormed off with Yvonne, not even glancing back.

I looked at the mess around me, dried my tears, and started packing my bags quietly.

In this second chance at life, I would not let them threaten me anymore.

Eric and I were high school sweethearts. I had a crush on him for four years, and we got engaged in our second year of college after I nearly died saving him from drowning.

In my previous life, I knew he had feelings for Yvonne, even though she did not show much interest in him.

I thought that once we were married, he would realize what kind of woman truly deserved his love.

However, I was so wrong, and it had cost me my life.

That night, a wealthy lady who was a good friend of mine gave me a call.

"Wendy, what's up with Yvonne? She's really overdoing it, right?”

"She came and started telling everyone that you and Eric are divorced. She even said you pushed Eric into the river on purpose and then pretended to rescue him, just to make him marry you.”