The egg shattered against the stone, the sound sharp in the quiet morning air. “Hey!” I yelled, my voice shaking. “What are you doing?” The figure stiffened but didn’t turn. My heart pounded as I ran toward them. They turned slowly, and my breath hitched.
“Madison?” My sister’s face stared back at me, pale and wide-eyed. She still had an egg in her hand, her fingers trembling. “Why are you here?” she asked, her voice low and sharp. “You!” I snapped. “You’ve been the one doing this!” Her face twisted.
“You wouldn’t understand.” “Try me,” I said, stepping closer. She laughed bitterly. “You think he was perfect, don’t you? The loyal husband, the loving dad. That man lied to you for years.” “What are you talking about?” My voice cracked.
Madison’s eyes burned into mine. “We had an affair. Five years, Emma. Five years. He promised me everything — money, a future. But when he died, I got nothing. Not a damn cent. All of it went to you and your precious kids.” I felt like the ground had disappeared beneath me.
“No,” I whispered. “You’re lying.” “Am I?” she shot back. “Didn’t he leave everything to you? You’ve seen the will.” I stared at her, my hands shaking. “How could you do this? To me? To him?” Her voice turned cold. “You don’t get to judge me. He lied to both of us. He made promises he didn’t keep.”
I couldn’t speak. The words wouldn’t come. Madison dropped the egg, letting it fall to the ground. “You’ve always had everything, Emma. The perfect life, the perfect husband. Well, he wasn’t perfect.” I watched her turn and walk away, her words echoing in my ears.
I sat on the damp ground by Owen’s grave, my mind spinning. Madison’s words were like daggers. “We had an affair. Five years.” How could she say something so vile? How could she claim that the man I had loved, trusted, and built a life with had betrayed me like that?
But the doubts started to creep in. I thought about the times Owen had gone on last-minute business trips, always with a vague explanation. “It’s work, Em,” he’d say, giving me that easy smile. I’d never questioned him. Why would I? He was my husband.
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