The Lies

William scooped the shaking, agitated Bianca up and strode out of the hall without saying another word. Jason followed closely, and he didn't even look at me.

The event came to an end.

It was already the dead of the night by the time I got home. My body was exhausted, and I leaned my hand on the fingerprint lock lazily. However, all I got was a notification that told me it was the wrong fingerprint.

William had the only spare key.

I had no choice but to call him. "The lock's broken. I can't get in."

He said something to Bianca before he answered, "I tried to log Bianca's fingerprint into the database, but it was full, so I deleted yours. Jason and I are at the hospital. Just tough it out through the night in a motel or something."

I opened my mouth, but my emotions got the better of me as I spat, "So, I can't even go home now?"

William cleared his throat and tried to coax me to see things his way. "I just need you to tough it out through the night. I'll log your print in once the new lock comes tomorrow. Don't read too much into this."

I snickered and held down my churning, bubbling emotions. "Fine, do as you wish."

I could hear the sigh of relief William heaved even from this side. "I knew I could trust you to be the bigger person. I'll handle the change of address. All you have to do is…"

"No, save yourself the effort," I interrupted. "All we have to do is get a divorce."

A moment of cold silence followed, and then William raised his voice. "Are you mad? You're getting a divorce just for this? It's just a change of address. It's not like I'm kicking you out of Pierton!"

I listened to his absurd answer, my heart cooling with each word. My lips curled downward. "They're the same to me."

…

That froze him up.

It was a reply he never saw coming, but his fury swiftly overwhelmed him as he yelled, "You already have everything in life! Bianca's been all by herself, and only now she's finally reunited with Jason! Be thankful!"

A small smirk twisted my lips. Ah, so I was a greedy girl because I wished for his love? Yes, he'd told me he loved me a thousand times, but I had a feeling he wasn't sincere. The question that had been on the tip of my tongue died right then and there.

After all, William had given me the answer through his actions.

"My lawyer will talk to you, William. That's all." The moment I hopped into a cab, I rested my head against the window, my strength exhausted.

"Where to, miss?" the driver asked.

I wanted to answer, but I found that I had no destination in mind at all. The place I'd just left had been my home, so there truly was nowhere else for me to go. I had turned William into my whole world, choosing to pour everything I had into him.

I never once thought about my needs or wants.

In the end, I stayed in a motel.

When I checked out the next day, Jason texted me. "Where are you, Mom? Dad's worried sick, and an ambulance just took him away! Myocardial infarction, they said. You need to come back! The doctor said it's not looking good!"

My mind was filled with a rush of white noise. I rushed right to the hospital, but the sight that greeted my eyes froze me in place.

William was perfectly healthy and fine.

Mockery

William was tenderly peeling an apple for the patient in the bed, Bianca. The moment I stepped into the ward, Jason hid his smile behind his hand. "I told you she was throwing a tantrum, Dad. She'd never get the divorce.

"She came right over the second she heard you'd fallen ill. She cares about you."

I froze up like a statue.

William looked at me with the calmness of a person who had everything under control. "You shouldn't be threatening divorce, not when you're an adult. You should be ashamed of yourself."

Bianca nudged William's arm, but her eyes were on me as she murmured, "William's a softie, Yvonne. He didn't mean to lie. We just have good news for you." A smile curled her lips, and she exchanged a look with William.

Then, William took a file out of the drawer and handed it to me.

"The change of address is set in stone, but you can still stay here. You don't have to go back to Cathay."

How curious. "What? If I change my address, my PR gets terminated. How am I supposed to stay?"

William gave me a calm, collected glance. "Easy. I got you a new visa. You just need to be renewed every year." He leaned back into his seat and raised his chin. "Sign it. It needs to be stamped."

I took the contract with stiff hands, but when I saw the content, my blood grew cold. It was an application for a working visa, and it was for a housekeeping position.

The stormy look in my eyes didn't escape William, and he cleared his throat awkwardly. Then, he said, "This is us making a compromise. This is the perfect solution. Be thankful."

Jason huddled closer and put on a fake smile. He teased, "You've been a housewife your whole life anyway. This is perfect for you."

I stared at William in silence.

He was still cool and calm, as if Jason's mockery was a simple fact to him. That took all the strength I had to retort.

I grabbed a pen and flipped to the last page before signing the papers.

That stunned William. He didn't think I'd agree so readily. He arched an eyebrow and approached me, but the stern look on his face softened. "It's better this way. Jason has two mothers now, and we'll be a happy family of four, just like we used to be."

All I had to offer was a stiff, bitter smile.

The change of address went quickly.

The moment he got the PR for Bianca, William couldn't wait to hand it over to her. "And now Pierton is officially your home, Bianca. I'm sorry you had to suffer for so long, but I'll make it up to you!"

I sat in front of the counter all alone as I processed the fact that my address was being changed. This marriage took everything from me, leaving me with nothing. In a way, this was a blessing. Sometimes, not having a rock was better than having one and losing it anyway.

The counter's staff member stuck her head out. "Miss, it's a long-term work permit. You'll have to renew it every year, or your residence will be terminated."

I looked back at the happy family of three. The scene etched itself in my mind, proving that I was an outsider in what I thought was my family.

I took a deep breath and slid the renewal application back to the staff member.

She's Leaving

"Do me a favor, young lady."

…

It was finally done. William set up a grand banquet to welcome Bianca, and it was to be held at the new observation tower he owned.

I knew that place. It was the same place he had once proposed to me. There were no flowers or any diamond rings. All it had was him kneeling on one knee, blushing as red as an apple. He swore he would make me the happiest woman in the world.

30 years had gone by since that promise was made. He did make good on his word, but it was to someone else. The banquet was, if nothing else, magnificent. The world's bluebloods and reporters were all present.

William had chosen the time of sunset for his little show. When the skies were burning crimson gold, and the observation tower lit up like a brazier that shone over the city, he put his arm around Bianca and walked onto the stage.

The city of Pierton unfurled behind them. While the party was reaching its peak, someone asked, "Mr. Larson, you spent more than three billion and six years on this tower, and you said it was made for your wife's sake. Why are you naming it after another woman?"

Silence swooped in, but William was unfazed.

Instead, he smiled. "My wife is very magnanimous. She has everything anyone could hope for. One name won't hurt her."

…

As the party went on and the socializing went underway, the wealthy ladies all huddled around Bianca, while William was chatting with some investors.

No one noticed me, more specifically, my seat. It was empty and had only an equally unfilled glass as its only witness.

As the party came to an end, a waiter pushed the cake onto the stage. William took the knife and scanned the hall, then he frowned at Jason. "Where's your mother? I thought we were going to celebrate together."

Bianca clenched her dress and replied quietly, "She left without even saying a word. Yvonne must still hate me."

William scoffed. "Doesn't matter. It'll only hurt her if she keeps being so narrow-minded." He took a sip from his glass and continued nonchalantly, "She'll just throw a quiet tantrum and come back like a good puppy the next day."

William checked his phone, but there was no message from me.

My lack of response displeased him, so he growled, "I can't believe she's absent. This is an important event. She has to be here even if she's upset. Otherwise, my reputation will be tanked! I shouldn't have spoiled her so much."

William's phone buzzed. Pierton's police station was calling.

A frown creased his forehead, but he took the call. "Mr. Larson? Your wife's application has been approved."

William heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Bianca and Jason. "See? The permit's approved. She can't complain anymore."

The staff member interrupted, "Mr. Larson, your wife did not apply for a work permit."

William tightened his grip on his phone.

When he found out what I had really applied for, his smile slowly disappeared as his pupils shrank. He stayed rooted in his spot, as if something invisible had wrapped itself around his feet.