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Jane stood on the rooftop, trembling with panic. She could not believe what she had just seen. Tonight was meant to be a celebration of their anniversary-a night of love and tenderness, not betrayal. Earlier that evening, Jane had found a set of divorce papers. Though she had tried to convince herself they were not meant for her, a dark suspicion had grown. Determined to confront her husband, she had gone searching for him. Instead, what she witnessed filled her with terror.
Jane's chest tightened, and she struggled to breathe as if a vise gripped her heart. Every desperate gasp felt weak. She refused to let him see her break down. Before Daniel could turn around, she had bolted for the rooftop-anywhere but where he might catch her.
Not wishing to draw attention from below, Jane quickly took out her phone and texted Lucy, her adopted sister and the one person she trusted. The message read:
"Lucy, please come to the rooftop. I'm stranded. I don't know what to do."
After what seemed like an eternity-about twenty long minutes-Lucy arrived. Adjusting her gown and showing calm concern, Lucy asked, "What's wrong, Jane? Who has you so upset?"
Jane swallowed hard before blurting out, "I don't know if I'm imagining things or if it was real...I just-" Her voice faltered as her thoughts tangled.
With worry in her eyes, Lucy urged her, "Calm down, Jane. Tell me, what did you see?"
In a shaky whisper, Jane replied, "I saw Daniel with another woman." She paused, her voice dropping even lower. "I couldn't see her face clearly-she had her back turned. But I saw them together, and it wasn't just a casual meeting. They were close, full of passion, desire... even obsession." The words left her feeling both exposed and ashamed, especially after the divorce papers she had found earlier.
Lucy's face remained unreadable for a moment, a mix of shock and concern passing through her eyes. Then she teased softly, "So, what did you do when you saw them? You didn't just run away without confronting him, did you?"
Jane's voice was barely a whisper. "I couldn't do anything. I just ran. I was too scared and heartbroken to speak."
Lucy sighed and handed Jane a glass of lemonade. "Here, Jane. I know you're hurting. Maybe this will help you feel a bit better."
Jane's hands trembled as she accepted the glass. "Oh, Lucy, thank you. I don't know what I would do without you."
Lucy sat beside her and spoke in a gentle tone about practical matters-about her family's debts, the need to wait a couple more years to clear them, and even about the possibility of forgiving Daniel. Jane knew Lucy had a point, yet the haunting image of betrayal would not leave her.
Years ago, Jane's family had lived comfortably until a scandal shattered everything. Her father was accused of embezzlement, and his company fell apart. Every attempt to rebuild was met with more accusations, including a painful case of sexual harassment. His company was seized, and debts piled up. When a man named Daniel approached with a promise to revive the failing business, there was only one condition: Jane had to marry him. Only eighteen and newly enrolled in law school, Jane was forced into the marriage for the sake of her family. She agreed, on the promise that Daniel would help her finish her degree. But after their marriage, Daniel made her drop out and slowly took away every dream she had sacrificed for him. When her parents later died in a fire, Daniel's cruelty grew. He manipulated her until she signed away her rights to the company. Despite everything, Jane still clung to a desperate hope that maybe, somehow, Daniel was the man who had saved her family-though betrayal now stained that hope.
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