The Road He Didn't Take

That night, because Jonathan did not answer Rosalin's call, she turned on the gas and killed herself by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Later, Jonathan found out that Rosalin had a panic attack and just wanted his company.

He brought Rosalin's urn back and hugged it in his arms for three whole days. After three days, he resumed his normal self.

He would visit my father after work. He would give me flowers. He would smile at me even brighter than before.

Back then, I thought that he had completely let go of the woman who should not have even been in our marriage in the first place.

The day my father got discharged, Jonathan had even planned him a welcome-home party.

Little did we know that he had poisoned every single dish.

My father was the first one to die. I was fighting for my life, trying to escape, but he grabbed me by my hair and dragged me down to the underground cellar.

He forced me to look at Rosalin's funeral portrait.

"If it weren't for you and your damn father, Rosalin wouldn't have died! Why did your father have to collapse that day? Why did you make me do things for you when Rosalin needed me the most?"

I was in so much pain I screamed. I wanted to explain myself. I wanted to say that my father had only felt sorry for him. He had contacted an old comrade, hoping to help his son-in-law secure his official position.

However, my father already had an underlying disease. He had drunk too much when he asked for a favor, which was what caused him to have cerebral hemorrhage.

Jonathan was only one step away from an official confirmation.

I knelt before Rosalin's urn, trying with all my might to explain.

However, Jonathan was crying so hard his eyes were reddened. He would not listen. He stabbed me right in the heart with a knife multiple times.

"The Stern family has always looked down on me! Why can't you let me go? Let me and Rosalin go! Now that Rosalin is dead, I'll make everyone pay with their lives!"

I lay sprawled out on the floor as my breathing gradually stopped. He kicked me aside, then stabbed himself right in the heart.

"Rosalin, I'll never let you be alone."

Only at that moment did I realize that he had never once let her go.

A few years ago, Rosalin had been followed after work. She had called Jonathan for help.

All because of a light scratch on Rosalin's face, he almost beat the guy half to death.

Back then, Jonathan was just one step away from getting an official confirmation, but he missed his chance because of Rosalin.

I was blinded by love. I was so insistent on holding onto what has never belonged to me.

When I came around once more, the narrow road behind me was already filled with traffic.

I had no time to lose. I took a deep breath and knelt in front of Francis.

"Francis, it's all my fault, but my father is innocent. Can you please clear a path and send him to the hospital?"

I prostrated myself and bowed to the ground in front of him, baffling the other surrounding drivers.

"My father has lost consciousness due to a cerebral hemorrhage. His life is at stake! I'm begging you, only you have such powers!"

Under the whispers of others, Francis snickered, "Jonathan was right. You'd do anything to gain attention."

The ache on my forehead was not as painful as the heartbreak in my heart. I looked up and Francis spat at me, looking at me with contempt.

Then, he grabbed the loudspeaker from the patrol car and shouted to the crowd, "Don't be fooled by this lady! Her father with cerebral hemorrhage? He's faking it!

"Back then, she forced her way into marrying my friend. She had her father, some bureau's chief, force my friend to break up with his childhood sweetheart! She even threatened to ruin his career if he didn't!

"Now, she's just putting on this act for attention! If you ask me, she's just a homewrecker trying to sabotage someone else's relationship!"

The crowd erupted as they cast me disgusted looks.

"Tsk. Unbelievable!"

"Who would've thought that she would team up with her father to do such a thing. Isn't this abusing public resources?"

My heart dropped. I never would have thought that Francis, no, Jonathan, would be so heartless.