Chapter 2

In the first year of our marriage, we had happy times too. He’d bake me strawberry cake, buy me pretty dresses. He even seemed to pay less attention to Mia. I naively believed he was moving on. Until news came that Mia had miscarried. We were on vacation then, too. Just like now, he rushed off abroad without explanation, just to be with her through it. Later, I saw a photo on Mia’s social media. Sunset, a castle, two figures side by side. The caption: So grateful you’re here. Just like their over-a-decade-long companionship. Mia was unhappy. After her miscarriage, her husband started staying out all night. And Haley, that’s when he began flying abroad once a month. With Mia, his life seemed to spark again. “This strawberry cake is amazing, I’ll bring some back for you.” In the photo, Mia held the strawberry cake, looking blissful and warm. I thought about causing a scene, but how could I compete with their decade-plus history? Sensing my sadness, Haley told me, “Mia and I are in the past. Don’t worry, you’ll always be my wife.” He was probably having a tiff with Mia then. His Instagram filled up with more and more pictures of us. Until I discovered, not long ago, that those pictures were visible only to Mia. We started fighting, again and again. At first, he patiently coaxed me. “Alright, alright. I just feel bad for her, she’s having a tough time. We’ve been friends for over a decade.” But later, to pave the way for Mia’s return, the man who’d long neglected the company started attending business dinners. Drinking himself sick, all to secure projects and resources for Mia. Once, he even drank until his stomach hemorrhaged. Mia called, and he said gently, “It’s nothing. I owe you. Just say the word, and I’ll lasso the moon for you.” He never said such warm things to me. I envied her. I was jealous. I felt inferior. The more I protested, the more Haley stayed out all night. The worst time, he was abroad for a full fortnight. ...he was nearly shipped to the Mexican border by Mia's cartel husband. I pulled every string to rescue him. When bullets flew, he shielded Mia with his body. She walked away untouched, while a stray round grazed my face, almost took my jaw off. Haley’s parents found out and said, “If you’d given him a child in three years of marriage, would his heart stray to others?” They mocked me several times as a “barren hen.” But they didn’t know Haley had low sperm count. For Haley’s pride, I never told anyone. I secretly used herbal remedies to help treat him. But back then, his heart was entirely on Mia. To help Mia with her divorce lawsuit, Haley hired the best legal team in the country. A feeling of utter powerlessness filled my heart. If Mia divorced, wouldn’t the only obstacle left between them be… me? That day, I begged Haley desperately not to go. He flew into a rage. “You don’t actually think marrying me gives you the right to control me?” “You knew the whole story about us, how long we loved each other!” “If you didn’t resemble her, do you think I’d have married you? Be grateful!” Haley slammed the door and left. Suffocating pain crashed over me. I don’t know how long it took to regain my senses. In the pouring rain, I stumbled outside. I was like a stray dog with no owner, tears blurring my vision. So much so that I didn’t see the car speeding from the corner.