Chapter 82
Faced with Shane’s interrogation, I stood in the distance with my arms crossed and my gaze icy as I watched Amber.
I was very curious to see how she would try to worm her way out of this one.
Amber panicked and tried to explain, “Shane, last time I was here, I accidentally broke the photo of you and Allison. You said it was fine.
“I couldn’t find another picture of you two, so I took the liberty of replacing it with one of ours. Didn’t you say back then that this photo was really nice?
“And as for those other things, don’t you remember? Some of them were souvenirs we bought when we were overseas, and others were from the island trip.
“You gave them to me, Shane. Have you forgotten all of that?”
Her voice was soft, tinged with a faint sense of grievance.
Shane rubbed his forehead as if only now realizing that the current state of things was something he had implicitly allowed.
And it was only at that moment that I learned the truth about something that had happened a
year ago.
I had arranged to take some leave early so I could go on a tropical island vacation with him. I
had made so many preparations for the trip.
However, just before we were supposed to leave, he suddenly claimed he had an important business trip.
Now, I knew the truth. Shane had taken all the plans I made–the itinerary, the accommodations, the sights I wanted to see–and gone to the island with Amber instead.
He even stayed in the hotel I had booked and visited all the places I had dreamed of seeing, but
with her.
The thought of such a scene made me sick to my stomach. Even though I couldn’t physically vomit, my chest felt unbearably tight.
Over the years, what else had they done behind my back?
No wonder she insisted on displaying those items everywhere. They were her trophies and her
way of flaunting her victory.
Ma
Of course, she wanted to place them where I could see them, to mock me as blatantly as possible.
Shane massaged his temples. “You’re just a sister to Ally and me. Don’t bring these things
Chapter 82
here anymore. If Ally sees them, she won’t be happy.”
See? Men were perfectly capable of understanding boundaries.
2/2
In the past, he had grown used to Amber’s obedient and flattering ways, things he couldn’t find in me. He had relished her deference while simultaneously mocking me for making a fuss
over nothing.
He clearly understood what boundaries were. He simply chose not to respect them.
I stood by the window, reaching out to touch a sliver of sunlight.
I couldn’t help but think how pitiful my former self had been, sacrificing so much only to end up where I was today because of such a selfish, self–serving man.
Tears streamed down Amber’s face as she asked, “Shane, do you hate me now? I swear, now on, I won’t interfere between you and Allison anymore.
from
“I don’t ask for much. I just want to stay by your side and watch over you. Is that small request too much for you to grant me?”
Ha! A small request?
Her small request was the thorn that had been lodged in my heart all along, a thorn that had left me battered and bloody, denying me a single moment of peace.
