3#03

3

"The saying goes, 'Out with the old, in with the new,'" Eric explained. "It's simply your mother's way of encouraging you to create a fresh family portrait for her. After all, our little Ben has grown considerably."

Evidently, Ben took his father's words seriously, as he flung himself onto Wanda's arm and declared in his childish voice, "Mama, I'll make tons of new family pictures for you!"

Indeed! Out with the old, in with the new, it seemed.

Wanda's eyes filled with self-doubt. So, this aging wife and mother would have to make way for the younger, more attractive Christina.

A faint food scent lingered in the air, catching Eric's attention. He was surprised to see a still-steaming beef stew in the trash.

"Wanda," he inquired. "Did you prepare dinner yesterday?"

"I haven't cooked in ages," Wanda replied nonchalantly. "It turned out dreadful, so I disposed of it."

Wanda couldn't fathom why he bothered to ask. Even Ben clinging to her legs felt overwhelming.

She rose abruptly and, to dismiss them, claimed she felt unwell and headed upstairs.

No sooner had she reached her bedroom than her phone began vibrating constantly. Upon checking her WhatsApp, she found Christina had sent three images.

The first showed Christina holding a bouquet of red roses, posing with Eric and Ben.

The second depicted the trio enjoying a meal at the restaurant they had reserved weeks prior.

The last was a close-up of an emerald bracelet adorning Christina's wrist.

As Wanda gazed at the warm, intimate scene in the photo, the dull ache in her heart transformed into a sharp, relentless pain. The agony was so intense that breathing became increasingly difficult.

Hazily, memories from two decades ago resurfaced. At nine years old, her parents perished in a plane crash. While relatives fought over her custody to access the vast Hamilton family fortune, only fourteen-year-old Eric took her hand and provided her a home.

Back then, he had promised, "Wanda, I'll protect you and never let you suffer."

That vow became her guiding light. Despite stumbling over the years, she always followed him.

Upon learning of his stomach issues, she chose to study food science and tirelessly honed her culinary skills to prepare comforting, nourishing meals for him.

When he studied abroad, she pushed herself to take the IELTS and improve her English, all to attend the same university.

High society whispered that Wanda was merely a child bride raised by the Gordon family. Yet, she paid no heed, believing wholeheartedly in her happily ever after with Eric.

However, in affluent circles, genuine feelings fade swiftly. Eric now had a new love interest, yet he continued to deceive her with lies.

As Wanda wiped away her tears, another message from Christina arrived.

"I assume you've received your anniversary gift? The emerald bracelet is too large and outdated for me, but should suit you perfectly."

The younger woman's arrogance was evident in her words, thinly veiling insults about Wanda's age and fading beauty.

Wanda turned off her phone, inhaled deeply, and attempted to compose herself. She desperately wanted to pretend nothing had happened, but she couldn't deceive her heart.

The red roses and jade bracelet... In fact, every "gift" from Eric and Ben had been Christina's discarded items.

This realization alone was suffocating. She couldn't help but question every past gift. Had they all been rejected by other women? The thought made her feel foolish for ever believing she was cherished.

Just then, Eric entered, holding Ben's hand. The boy was dressed in bear-print pajamas. "Ben insisted on sleeping with us tonight," he announced.