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564words
His family was poor;it was probably all he had.
I shook my head.He forced the money into my hand,giving me his prayer bead bracelet.
“Put on this bracelet. It will bring you good luck…”
I was moved and said.“Thank you very much.”
That night,I bought a bus ticket to the city with money he gave me.
Seven years ago,I saw him on the news,recognizing my savior.
But he’d lost his memory,forgetting how he freed me from that suffocating home.
The surgery felt eternal,finally ending.
Exhausted in my hospital bed,I heard Ethan was tending to Jessica.
During recovery,he never visited me.
The nurses pitied me.“Ms.Thompson,you’re too kind.Why give her your kidney?”
I smiled weakly.I thought I was repaying his kindness.
After recovery,Ethan kept his word,throwing a grand wedding.
“She chased him seven years and actually won.”
“No. She traded a kidney for it.Right?”
“Desperate.Never seen such a lovesick fool…”
I heard the guests' jeers but I still kept smiling..
But I was greatly hurt. My heart is in great pain.
As Ethan and I exchanged rings,Jessica appeared.
In a hospital gown,barefoot,she’d rushed over.
“Ethan,you want to marry her, so you ignore me?!”
Ethan paled and his lip was trembled.
They stared across the flower-decorated aisle,like star-crossed lovers.
I was the villain.I'm the sinner who hinders them from being together.
Jessica rushed me,tearing my dress,hitting me.
“You shameless homewrecker!”
“He loves me!What tricks did you use to make him marry you?”
“Sarah Thompson,you’re disgusting.I won't tolerate you!”
Her strength was unnatural for a patient.I couldn’t fight back.
She scratched my face and blood is dripped.
I pushed her,and she fell into the fountain,thrashing and screaming.
Ethan jumped into the water to save her and held her in his arms.
“Sarah,you knew she’s sick,and you pushed her into the water?!”
“She hit me,and you didn’t see?Ethan,are you blind?”
“I’m your bride.Why aren’t you on my side?”
She leaned against him and kept crying.
As if I’d bullied her,as if I were the villain.
My kidney was in her body.She owed me,not the other way around.
“She’s a patient.Do you understand my words?”
“Apologize to Jessica,or this wedding’s off!”
Why?Why!
Rage exploded and my mind was buzzing.
I’ll show you pitiful!I’ll show you manipulation!
I grabbed Jessica’s hair,shoving her head into the fountain.
“You want to go down together?Let’s die together!”
The guests gasped.
Ethan froze for seconds before pushing me away,saving Jessica.
She coughed,eyes shut,drenched like a drowned rat.
“Help me…Sarah’s trying to kill me…Ethan, help me…”
Ethan slapped me.I couldn’t dodge. My ears were ringed.
“Listen,if anything happens to Jessica,I’ll end you!”
He wrapped her in his jacket and drove her to the hospital.
For the second time,he abandoned me for her.
“Wow,what’s the mattder?Is the wedding still go on?Better than a soap opera.”
“Forced love never works.The bride’s just asking for it.”
“Don’t be a follower.Even God punishes that.”
I touched my lower back. I'm lacking a kidney in my body.
Was I wrong?
Was I hopelessly stupid?
It wasn’t worth it,but I couldn’t turn back.
I thought Ethan wouldn’t return. But in the evening, he came back.
From afar,I smelled liquor and Jessica’s perfume.
He loosened his tie and pinned me to the marital bed.
My lower back ached.I screamed,“Get off!”
He tore my clothes and bited my neck.
“Sarah,this is a wife’s duty.You can’t refuse.”
