The Wedding, The Goodbye

My anguished screams echoed throughout the entire villa.

Susan leaned against Chester, her expression disapproving. "Jess, even if you like to grab Chester's attention, you shouldn't be so rude. Chester has the softest heart, and he might get hurt because of you!"

She giggled softly, then pouted at Chester. "She's being so rude. Should we teach her a lesson together?"

Chester pinched her cheek affectionately and replied, "Alright, I'll do whatever you want."

Susan collected the ashes and walked toward the toilet. She poured them all in with a look of disdain.

"If you can scoop those out with your mouth in the next ten seconds, I'll let this go. Who knows, maybe Chester will even get you a more glamorous, colored photo!"

Chester dragged me across the floor, leaving long trails of blood on the white tiles. He then dropped me at the bathroom entrance.

Susan began counting down, "Ten, nine…"

I could no longer tell if the liquid on my face was tears or blood; what I could only do was to crawl forward with all my strength.

I got closer to the toilet bowl.

Susan walked over, her face filled with malice. She stepped on my broken hand.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Jess! But my foot hurts, I can't lift it at all," she said, feigning innocence.

Chester quickly continued the countdown. "Five, four—"

I clenched my teeth and kept crawling.

Susan was terrified by my move.

"Ah!" She screamed and jumped back, her foot left my mangled hand. "You're crazy!" she shouted.

She was audibly angry, but I did not care anymore. I lost everything. My body was broken, and my soul was shattered. Losing a piece of flesh meant nothing to me.

I was about to reach the water in the toilet bowl. Blood mixed with tears ran down my face as I trembled with anticipation.

"I—I'm dizzy!" Susan exclaimed, swaying as she pressed the flush button.

Everything disappeared with the flush.

My hands shook as they hovered over the toilet. Tears streamed down my face, but I could not make a sound.

Susan looked at me with mock innocence. "Sorry, Jessy. It's my fault. I just happened to feel dizzy at that moment."

Chester hesitated for a second but still wrapped his arm around her. "It's not your fault. She's just getting what she deserves for all the bad things she has done. She brought this on herself!"

I drained all of my strength. I lay on the cold floor, and a bone-deep chill spread through me.

Chester glanced at me and frowned. "Stop pretending. If you don't want to apologize, fine. I will not force you. But don't even think about leaving me. And don't bother making empty threats. You end up begging me every time. This is your last chance to back down. Even if you complain to my mother, it won't work."

He added coldly, "Susan has suffered enough. I need to make it up to her. Reflect on yourself while I'm gone."

Chester walked off, holding Susan's hand. My vision grew blurry, and I could not hear his words.

I felt so tired and sleepy. My mind began to replay moments I experienced my entire life.

Everything around me seemed to fade away.

Through the haze, I thought I saw someone running toward me, crying desperately…