Chapter7
The Miami air was humid and warm, a stark contrast to the crisp air I was used to. I stood before the University of Miami, still slightly in disbelief.
Walking across campus, I felt a sense of rebirth.
During the day, I sat in class, absorbing knowledge like a sponge.
At night, I worked at a small diner, bussing tables, washing dishes, until my back ached and my feet throbbed.
But this exhaustion felt… grounding.
A month later, I had settled into this busy but fulfilling routine.
Then I saw Jason standing at the bottom of the dorm building.
“Sandy! Why did you do this?”
“Why did you put Kate’s name on the marriage license? Why didn’t you come to New York?!”
His voice was filled with anger and confusion.
I looked at him coldly. “I don’t want a husband whose heart belongs to someone else.”
“It’s disgusting. It’s agonizing.”
He stared at me in disbelief. “How can you talk like this? You were never like this before.”
I turned away, nausea rising in my throat.
I couldn’t bear to look at him, not even for a second.
“Jason, I just want to focus on my studies and start a new life.”
“Kate is the one you’ve always wanted, isn’t she?”
“You two should cherish each other and leave me alone,”
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “What are you talking about? I’ve always thought of Kate as a sister!”
I scoffed. “What kind of siblings cuddle and sneak kisses?”
I’d once walked in on him kissing a sleeping Kate. The tenderness in his eyes was something I would never forget.
Shame flickered across his face, quickly replaced by anger. “Sandy, don’t talk nonsense! There’s nothing going on between Kate and me!”
0:51 am p
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“Your so–called ‘sibling affection‘ is utterly repulsive to me.”
“Let me go, and let yourself go.”
His face turned pale, but he didn’t know what to say.
I remembered the fear of being a burden when I first arrived at the Millers‘. I often went hungry.
One night, I was so hungry I snuck out to the yard and ate leaves. Jason saw me.
He shared his snacks with me, comforting me, “Don’t worry, Sandy. I’ll protect you.”
That moment of warmth had trapped me.
That’s why, in my past life, even though Jason didn’t love me at first, I still married him.
For the next few days, Jason lingered around campus.
I avoided him, determined to have no contact with him.
10:52 am P
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