Chapter 2 A Hard Truth
676 Words
Aidan's indifference and Cathy's face kept flashing in my mind. I wanted to confirm my suspicions, but deep down, I tried to deny it.
There was no way I could accept this.
It couldn't be.
Aidan loved me.
From the moment we met, fell in love, and built our life together, he had always been kind and attentive. We had three adorable kids, and he had taken care of me with all his heart and soul.
We never had a single argument for a decade. His tenderness and affection made me believe he could never do something like this to me.
No, it couldn't be true!
And if it were Cathy, that didn't make sense either.
Before she came to work for us, I didn't even know her. We had no past grievances. Her salary was excellent, among the best in the industry.
I had handpicked her myself. She was two years older than me, clean-cut, and efficient. She had started working as a housekeeper after graduating from high school, and her abilities were top-notch.
When I hired her, Aidan wasn't entirely satisfied. He whispered to me, "Isn't she a bit too young? Is she reliable?"
"Young doesn't mean unreliable. She's pleasant to look at and quick on her feet! Come on, she's a top housekeeper. Aren't you too picky?" I had teased him. "Shouldn't I be the one worried?"
He playfully pinched my cheek, replying, "What are you thinking? Don't say that."
Then he pulled me into his arms, biting my earlobe in a playful compromise. "All right, as long as you're happy. She's here to help you, after all. I just worry that young ones don't stick around long, and we'll have to replace them soon. It's a hassle."
To my surprise, Cathy did stick around long—for nearly eight years. Over these years, I had treated her like my own sister. How could she poison me?
Besides, if it were her, Aidan would have noticed my strange behavior. He would have questioned the medication's effectiveness. He wouldn't have...
I couldn't think about it anymore.
I didn't know if it was because I hadn't taken the medication or because Sherlock's condition had scared me, but I was unusually alert. My mind felt like it was on fire, every cell in my body buzzing with energy.
Fear kept me wide awake.
It was the longest night of my life.
But what chilled me even more was that no one came to check on me. No one asked if I was fine or had eaten anything.
I had to accept that every night, I slept alone in a separate room, completely isolated.
It seemed Aidan's care and concern were not as genuine as they appeared.
Just like tonight, his supposed concern didn't materialize. Had he grown used to my comatose state?
As dawn broke, Sherlock, who had been in a coma, slowly regained consciousness under the covers.
At first, his eyes were unfocused, and he let out a weak meow.
After a while, his limbs started to twitch, and then he stretched out, turned over, and curled up beside me, sleeping like an ordinary cat. However, its movements were sluggish, and he still seemed lethargic.
His condition mirrored how I felt every time I woke up, deepening my suspicions.
I clutched Sherlock to my chest, burying my face in his soft fur, and cried silently.
I couldn't understand why this was happening. Who was doing this to me?
After a long while, I lifted my head, gritted my teeth, and told myself I couldn't just sit and wait. I had to find out the truth.
With my resolve firm, I knew I had to play along. I had to keep "sleeping"!
First, I needed to find out who was behind the medication and what their motive was.
I still held a glimmer of hope, wanting to believe that it was Cathy. Maybe that would be easier to accept.
But the truth hit me hard, painful and cruel.
And it was worse than I had imagined.
- Writer
