Chapter 3

I gripped the closet for dear life, barely able to stand.

It felt like all the blood had been sucked out of me in an instant.

My hands and feet went numb with cold.

I stared at the unknown name on the property deed: Claire White.

That name pierced my heart like a dagger.

I knew her.

She was Michael's college classmate, his first love.

Michael once told me, "We're just friends."

I actually believed him.

I couldn't believe how stupid I was for trusting him.

He bought that place in cash six months ago.

Back then, I was pregnant. Morning sickness had me barely holding it together.

Meanwhile, my husband was spending our hard-earned savings to buy a place for his precious first love.

I shoved the property deed back into the brown paper bag.

My hands were shaking as I jammed the USB drive into my laptop.

It was my own laptop. Michael never even touched it.

There was one folder on the USB drive with no password.

I opened it up.

Inside, there were a ton of photos and videos.

Every shot was in that apartment: the living room, bedroom, balcony, and so on.

Michael and Claire wore matching pajamas, looking every bit like a couple, snuggled up together on the couch.

Michael had his arms wrapped around Claire from behind, cooking together in the kitchen.

They were making out in bed and watching the stars together on the balcony.

In every picture, their smiles were so sweet that it made my eyes sting.

The videos were even worse, with stuff I couldn't even bear to watch.

Every filthy, shameful moment they spent together in that apartment was recorded.

In the background, Michael's voice came through, soft and intimate. "Claire, you're the one I love most.

"Don't worry, once that woman gives birth, I'll dump her and file for divorce.

"Don't worry about my parents. They only care about money and having a grandson.

"Once I finish up this project at the company, I'll get you pregnant with my son.

"They'll worship you like a queen.

"Sarah? She's a useful tool, dumb and gullible."

My vision went black for a second.

I felt like I was about to throw up.

From the start, it was all a lie. It was all a setup.

He married me to exploit my parents' connections and resources. All so he could secure his place at the company.

He got me pregnant to fulfill his parents' dream of carrying on the family name.

Everything was a scheme.

I was a puppet on a string, acting out the script he wrote for me, step by step, right up to this moment.

How foolish of me to ever believe he loved me.

I shut my laptop and pulled out the USB drive.

I slipped the property deed and USB drive back into the suitcase's secret compartment and put them back exactly as I'd found them.

Then I shoved the suitcase all the way back into the closet, as if nothing had ever happened.

I leaned against the wall, inching my way back to bed, every step a struggle.

I lay down and pulled the blanket over myself. I closed my eyes.

Something hot and burning trickled from the corner of my eye, seeping into the pillow.

But it wasn't tears. It was my heart, bleeding out.

Michael, Claire, you two really were the perfect pair of trash.

You really thought you were the masterminds behind it all. But you had no idea that the real hunter had already set a trap that covered everything.

Linda's impatient voice came from outside the door. "Michael, hurry up. Are you done packing? The car we booked is almost here."

"Coming," Michael called back, his voice bubbling with excitement.

Very soon, my door was pushed open.

Michael, Linda, and Robert were at the doorway, ready to go, dressed to the nines, each pulling a brand-new suitcase. They stood at the foot of my bed, about to set off on their grand adventure.

"Sarah, we're heading out," Michael said, giving me that same old gentle act. "Take care of yourself and the baby.

"Don't hold back on spending. If you need more money, tell me."

He sounded so genuine.

If I hadn't uncovered everything half an hour ago, I might've actually been moved.

At that moment, all I felt was pure disgust.

Linda put on her usual fake concern. "Sarah, while we're away, you must take good care of my precious granddaughter."

She finally bothered to call my daughter her "precious granddaughter." Guess she was about to splurge the fifteen thousand dollars I handed over.

Robert kept his head down, like always, silent as a stone. But I could totally see the anticipation and excitement in his eyes.

I looked at them, so fake, so selfish, and so greedy.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Linda, Robert, Michael, have a blast. With me here, everything's peachy."

I pulled back the covers, showing off the bandaged wound on my belly. "Sorry, but I'm not really up for walking you guys downstairs."

My voice carried the right amount of weakness and regret.

For a split second, I saw Michael's expression soften, maybe even a hint of compassion. But whatever it was, it vanished in a heartbeat.

He straightened up. "It's fine. Stay in bed. We'll head down ourselves."

"Alright, we're off," Robert said.

"Let's get going," Linda added.

"Bye, Sarah," Michael said.

They dragged their suitcases out, making a grand exit.

The door closed behind them. And like that, the whole world went quiet.

I lay in bed, listening intently for any sound.

Downstairs, I heard the car start up. The car drove off, the sound fading away until it was gone.

I picked up my phone and opened an app. It was a real-time global ship tracking app.

I typed "Majestic Sevens" into the search bar.

Soon, a little green dot appeared and started moving across the map. It popped up right there on the screen.

It was gliding away from the harbor and setting course for the vast, endless blue.

A cold, almost cruel smile tugged at my lips.

Farewell. My so-called "beloved" family. Enjoy yourselves out there. Don't ever come back.