Chapter 9%
I sneered. “What a noble–sounding love.”
“Shut up! What do you know?” Van glared at me. “You’ll never understand how much I love Pam!“”
“Love? If you really loved her, where were you when her father passed away? When did her mother have a car accident? When she was all alone, where were you?“%
“Van, don’t talk about love. You have no shame.”
“You-!” Van’s face turned red. He quickly turned to Pam. “Pam, don’t listen to him. I really do love you. I wanted to come back when your parents had their accidents, but I was stuck. And during your wedding–1 planned to stop it and take you away, but I didn’t, for your sake.” “So you lied to me about having a terminal illness–when I was finally living a happy, peaceful life?” Pam looked at him, her eyes full of hatred.
Van stammered, “Pam, I-“B
“You destroyed the life I should’ve had!” Pam screamed, trembling in fury.
Van looked ashamed. “Pam, I lied, I admit it. Hit me, yell at me if it helps. Just… don’t question how much I love you.”
“Really?” Pam’s voice suddenly turned calm. “Okay. I believe you.”
She held up the divorce certificate. “I’m divorced now. We can get married–there’s still time before the Civil Affairs Bureau closes.” Van lit up. “Pam, I’ll do whatever you want. Let’s go now!“}]
Pam glanced at me briefly, then turned and walked into the building with him.§
I saw the determination in her eyes. My chest tightened. Quickly, I pulled out my phone and sent her a message:
[Don’t do anything crazy!]
She replied instantly:
[Don’t worry. I’m just doing what I should have done.]}
My face went pale. Something was wrong. I dashed into the Civil Affairs Bureau.
But it was too late.
Inside, Van lay collapsed on the ground, a paper cutter buried in his neck. His eyes were wide, frozen in disbelief.”
Pam’s white dress was soaked in blood. She turned to me and smiled.
“I did what I had to do.”
I rushed over and grabbed her shoulders, yelling frantically, “Are you insane?! Do you know what you’ve done?!“}
She smiled faintly. “I know. But he destroyed my happiness. I took it back.”
“You…” My tears wouldn’t stop. I pulled her into my arms.
“You’re so foolish… so unbelievably foolish.”
Pam smiled against my shoulder. “It was worth it–to feel your warmth again.”}
I held her tighter, unwilling to let go–even when the police arrived.}
I hired the best lawyer I could find, but Pam lost all interest in life. She refused to cooperate in court. In the end, she was sentenced to life in prison–for murder committed in public, with extreme severity.>
And at that moment… she smiled.
A month later, I received a letter from prison.
[David, thank you for being by my side. To me, you were first a friend, then a lover, and always the only person who gave me warmth after my parents died.]
[When I lost them, I fell into despair. It was you who reignited my desire to live.]}
[You were a lighthouse in the dark–a flame that lit my way. But I blew it out with my own hands.]}]
[These mistakes are mine to bear. The only thing I can do now is silently wish you well.]
[David… my husband… please be happy.]
At the end of the letter, she had drawn a small smiling face–like the joy and sweetness we once shared.
And I sat there, holding the letter in my hands… weeping.
100.09
