ManyWriters

I have an obsessive crush on Alec, and I'm willing to marry him just to be his shield for his affair with his childhood sweetheart.
"I'm bringing Vivienne home tonight. You'd better not show up."
I'm recuperating in the guest room, trying to avoid them at all costs. I watch helplessly as they embrace and head upstairs. They don't even bother to close the master bedroom door before they start their intimate entanglement.
My thoughts are simple: to love someone is to love what they love.
I'm under Alec's spell. If I can't have him, I'm content with being Mrs. Grey in name only.
But when the earthquake strikes, I witness Alec rushing to Vivienne's side, holding her tight as they escape danger.
Meanwhile, I'm trapped under layers of crumbling walls, billboards, and utility poles, closing my eyes forever.
I regret it now. No amount of affection is worth more than my own life.
Given another chance, I decide to give up on Alec.
But now he's the one with regrets.

Husband Abandoned Me During the Earthquake

"Enough!" Mrs. Grey couldn't bear to listen anymore. "Your darling is sick, and your first thought isn't concern, but that she's trying to deceive you. How did I end up raising such a dimwit!"


The best friend didn't keep them waiting for long, immediately pulling out her phone and initiating a video call to me.


I quickly applied foundation to whiten my lips, then slightly messed up my hair to make myself look even more frail.


Alec heard the call connect and started scolding without even looking at the screen.


"Melody, you're getting bolder and bolder, actually pulling this little sick act..."


He stopped mid-sentence as he looked at the screen, swallowing the rest of his words.


There was no helping it; I looked incredibly weak on the video.


I coughed loudly a few times, then greeted them with a feeble voice.


"Alec, what are you talking about? ... Mom, Daisy, why are you at home?"


"You... you're really sick? Where are you?"


Alec was clearly caught off guard, stumbling over his words.


I smiled weakly, "I'm hospitalized. It's nothing, just a little cold. I'll be better in a few days."


Mrs.Grey shot Alec a fierce glare, "Melody, you silly girl, why didn't you tell your mom about your bad cold? I could have come to check on you."


I exchanged a few pleasantries with Mrs. Grey, smiling, "What's going on here? The place looks like a mess."


No kidding, they'd just had a heated encounter. How could the house not be in disarray?


I was about to steer the conversation in that direction, but for some reason, Alec seemed off and tried to cover it up.


"Get some rest. I'll come see you tomorrow."


His tone when speaking to me could even be described as gentle.


Sure enough, when no one knows he's bullying me, he can do it without any guilt.


But when everything's out in the open, he has to back down to save face.


In reality, he's always been image-conscious. It's because he couldn't bring himself to be with his own niece that he chose me as a shield.


Having died once already, I don't have even an ounce of love left for him.


Just as my best friend was about to take the phone to chat with me a bit more, Vivienne couldn't hold back anymore.


"Melody, sis, how come you're sick? Is it serious?"


She swiftly approached me to say hello, making sure to expose the hickey on her neck.


She thought I would yell, make a scene, lose my cool.


This way, she could make Alec despise me even more, worsening our relationship further.


But in reality, I just smiled and said, "Vivienne's back? That's great. I'm sick and can't entertain you, so let your brother keep you company!"


Then I asked her, "What's with those red marks on your neck, mosquito bites?"


Chapter 3