The Thomas and Moore families were old friends. Michael was five years older than me, and our marriage was arranged when I was a child.
I used to follow him everywhere as a child, and he would protect me, never letting anyone bully me.
But everything changed when he went to college and met Evelyn.
Eight years ago, the Thomas family faced bankruptcy.
I brought thirty percent of the Moore family’s shares into the marriage, ensuring our family would support theirs through the crisis.
I thought this would make Michael look at me differently.
Even if he only stayed with me out of gratitude, I would have been content.
But I was so wrong.
Childhood affection couldn’t compete with a new love.
In eight years of marriage, we barely slept together.
I got pregnant with Skylar because he was drunk and out of his senses. I was held under his body, enduring his madness and listening to him calling Evelyn's name over and over again.
A marriage in name only, no matter how hard I tried to hold it together, shattered irreparably.
I saw my daughter’s lifeless body in the morgue, her bloodstains cleaned.
I don’t know how long I stayed there, lost and numb.
My brother Aiden Moore arrived after hearing the news.
Despite our strained relationship over Michael, he couldn’t help but cry seeing my shattered self and Skylar's lifeless body.
"Where’s the hit-and-run driver? Where’s Michael?
"How could such a thing happen, and why isn’t he here?"
Aiden asked, but I was too exhausted to answer.
He called Michael, who answered quickly.
"Michael, where the hell are you? Skylar was in an accident, and you're not at the hospital. How could you leave my sister to face this alone? How could you be so heartless?"
Aiden had put the call on speaker.
After a pause, Michael's harsh voice came through.
"So, is she trying to fool me with her cheap tricks again? Even dragging you into her act?
"Tell her to stop these disgusting tactics. It only makes me hate her more."
The line went dead.
Aiden was furious and punched the wall hard.
"That bastard!"
My usually calm brother cursed.
He walked up to me with red eyes and patted my head like he did when we were kids.
He said, "Clara, don't be afraid. You still have me."
With Aiden’s comforting words, my tears that had just stopped burst out again.
Aiden hated seeing me cry. He awkwardly wiped my tears, his voice choked.