I still remember what they said when they excitedly presented the gifts to me, "We haven't known what you like all these years, but you two are like sisters, so you should like the same things."
I smiled, stroking a pile of unopened astronomy books. At sixteen, I said I wanted to be the world's best painter. John went to great lengths to get me two rare, masterpiece paintings.
After the college entrance exam results came out, knowing my academic scores were secure enough for a top art school, he even commissioned me to have the same art supplies as those of famous painters.
I thought that even though we were seven years apart, our shared aspirations wouldn't change. But now, he said that the wall in his bedroom where he always kept the double portrait of me was now hung with an astronomical chart of constellations that Maria and I had taken photos of. Like me, it was all in the past.
I stepped out of the indoor elevator, carrying my bag. The nannies and maids gathered outside the kitchen door, preparing meals for Maria.
"If you ask me, Mr. Walter still loves Miss Olivia more. Every time she's injured, he's the one who takes care of her personally. After that, we did everything for her. That day, he saw the rotting wound and vomited, saying he'd never seen such disgusting rotting flesh."
I froze, then it felt like a windowpane had been shattered, a cold wind blowing into my heart.
Was that so?
But I clearly remembered him looking at my wound that day and saying sorry. So, behind his sobbing and fainting was disgust.
"Of course, after all, they've been together for seven years. Last time, Miss Maria and Mr. Walter argued about that and Mr. Walter said he'd long since stopped liking that 'slut'! He wouldn't have married her if it weren't for a sense of responsibility."
I couldn’t believe it. He clearly told me I wasn't dirty, that his Olivia would always be the cleanest and most beautiful girl. He begged me to marry him to take responsibility, he said he'd always loved me, he said he'd wanted to have a home with me all these years. I finally opened my heart and agreed to the marriage.
John, you said you'd never lie to me for the rest of your life. Have you learned to be two-faced too?