Helen’s POV:
As soon as I reached home from work, I requested George to sit down on the sofa so we could talk.
"Do you know the actual relationship between Jane and me?"
This was probably the first time that I had spoken about Jane so calmly in George‘s presence.
I looked at him in the eye, waiting for his answer.
"Yes, I sort of have a rough idea," George said in a soft voice.
I decided to state the fact of our relationship frankly.
"Jane is my father‘s illegitimate daughter.Now allow me to enlighten you about how unruly my father
was.He set Jane and her mother up in a house directly opposite ours, declaring that Jane‘s father was
abroad and absent from their lives for years.He even asked my mother to take care of them as a good
neighbor should.
Jane and I grew up together.
My mother and I were so trusting that we never doubted their real identities.
Since Jane‘s father was not with them, we took very good care of them.
When we were little, every time Jane and I argued, my father always took Jane‘s side.
He would scold me and ask me to apologize to her, irrespective of who was in the wrong.No matter
how much I had been wronged, I was always the one who bore the consequences, without
exception.That is why I kept asking you who was more important to you, Jane or me.I knew that you
and Jane were very close.I didn‘t want to be with a man who might hurt me for Jane, just like my father
did.Perhaps because my father always favored Jane, she has become a scheming hussy.She
portrayed these vices all through her childhood.Every time we had an argument, I was the one to end
up losing.When she sauntered back into my life again, I couldn't accept it at first, but later I realized that
as long as she didn‘t hurt me, I would not provoke her either.I was actually ready to pretend that I never
knew her."
When I finished my words, I looked at George, trying to interpret some new emotion on his face.
There was none.
His eyes were full of love for me.He stood up and walked over to me.His broad, warm palm gently
stroked my head.
"Helen, it‘s all over now.You need to put it behind you.From now on, I will protect you and won‘t allow
anyone to exploit you.That‘s my solemn promise to you."
I looked at him icily.
"Really? Are you sure it‘s all over?"
I laughed mockingly.I thought his promise was ludicrous If I hadn‘t known that he was secretly covering
things up Jane, that woman who almost killed me, I would have believed him.
George was stunned by my question and his expression changed.
"So you‘ve known already? Helen, I won‘t make excuses, nor will I let it go.I‘m just waiting for the right
timing and I need more time to prepare a decisive strategy,"
George explained in a strained whisper.
His words confirmed my suspicions.I shoved him back roughly and shouted coldly, "So you were aware
all along that Jane was responsible for my mental conditions, weren‘t you? But you still chose to keep it
a secret and protect her!"
I‘d just been guessing before, but now I was a hundred percent sure that George was aware of Jane‘s
role in it but he still chose to condone her actions and hide it.He had seen me suffer from insomnia and
hallucinations every day.He had even seen me jump off the subway platform that almost got myself
killed.
However, Jane‘s reputation mattered to him more than my life.
"Helen, I admit I knew about it, but I never intended to cover up for her.I just need to wait for the right
time to take appropriate action."
George held my hand tightly while defending himself.
"But I see no reason to wait anymore.Whenever I think about how Jane almost killed me, it burdens my
heart with intense hatred.George, I have no intention of hurting you, but I have to expose her.I‘m
addressing this contentious issue here with you today out of respect for our relationship.I feel you have
a right to know about this.But I am not going to discuss anything further with you or ask your opinion," I
stated unequivocally.
George bit his bottom lip and didn‘t say anything.His eyes became dull and lusterless.I couldn‘t figure
out what was going on in his mind.
"George, I‘m sorry, but I can‘t compromise myself for you," I added.
"I will never forgive nor forget what Jane has done to me.I am still suffering as a result of her iniquitous
ways.If you object to what I plan to do then we can dissolve our marriage."
Before I talked to George, I had already prepared for the worst case scenario.I had even printed out the
divorce papers in my office and had them in my bag.
George and I got married on the spur of the moment.
The good news was that because we had been married for such a short period of time, no property or
any other disputes would arise.
As for my mother, I could hoodwink her.
George instantly stood up from the sofa.
"Are you going to divorce me over this matter?" he questioned me with a straight face.
"Helen, what‘s wrong with you? Do you think I am some kind of fool? How could I sacrifice my marriage
for someone who means nothing to me? Do you not believe in our marriage? Or do you not believe in
me?"
He sounded hurt and disappointed.I could tell that he was trying his best to suppress his anger.
Looking into his deep, emotive eyes, I silently put the divorce papers back into my bag.
"Do you mean to say you support my decision to expose Jane?" I asked, seeking reassurance George
slowly calmed down and nodded at me.
"You can do whatever you need to.I will take care of the rest for you." I had made a bunch of negative
assumptions before I could even tell George my decision.
Yet he reacted in such an unexpected manner.I gave him a suspicious look and still found his words
incredulous.
After all, he had put his blood, sweat and tears into building Zhester Technology and it was his life
work, even dearer to him than me.
It had taken him many years to climb up the corporate ladder.I couldn‘t believe he was prepared to risk
it all.
Seeing the comic disbelief on my face, George burst into laughter.
"Is it so surprising? Let me tell you something, then.If Zhester Technology goes bankrupt after this, then
you, my dear wife, must support me!"
"Okay, I give you my solemn word," I replied.
He was so cooperative that I eased into my skin.
Then I started thinking about how to minimize the harm to Zhester Technology.
Anyway, I was taking it up personally with Jane.
George had already made a concession.
I needed to also think about him without jeopardizing his business.
But my revenge had to be exacted at any cost.
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