Chapter 12
I followed behind them, feeling defeated, as we made our way back home.
When we arrived, the sky, which was bright moments ago, unleashed a thunderous roar. They say April showers bring May flowers, but June? June’s as fickle as a lover’s promise.
Out of nowhere, it started hailing, pelting the car windows with icy fury.
“Damn, hail now?” the friends cursed under their breath.
I couldn’t help but laugh. My luck was worse than a cursed protagonist in a folk tale.
But Claude was too busy ensuring Kate wasn’t hurt, soothing her worries. Being loved by him must feel like a dream.
I remember once I cooked fish on a whim. Just as Claude and Kate dropped by, I offered Kate a taste. But she instantly reacted to an allergy, her throat swelling up, and she couldn’t breathe. We rushed her to the hospital. Claude forced me to kneel outside the operating room.
I resisted, but he spat, “Claire, apologize. You’re getting off easy. It is manslaughter. I could have you locked up in a heartbeat p>
Tears rolled down as I insisted on my innocence. But Claude was seeing red. His buddies pinned me down, forcing me to bow until my forehead bled, with doctors and nurses eventually stepping in to pull me away. Even till this moment, the memory throbbed.
Back then, despite my timidity, such humiliation was a heavy blow to my pride. I went home and threatened to jump off the roof. I thought dying was better than living in disgrace.
But Gabrielle begged me. “If you die, how can I face your parents? If anyone should die, let it be me p>
Crying, she crawled over and pulled me back from the edge. I didn’t dare to end my life because Gabrielle wished me to live.
Gabrielle said in tears, “Claire, sweetie. If you feel wronged, talk to me. I’ll make Claude apologize to you. How did it come to this between you two p>
Looking back, I should have divorced Claude and stepped aside for Kate. That might have spared me this misery.
Claude returned, but with a storm in his eyes, he pointed at the balcony railing, “Jump. You’re always all talk. You’ve never had the guts to do it p>
“Claude, don’t speak to Claire that way,” Fighting back, Gabrielle tried to hit his arm.
But Claude glared at me, convinced I’d never go through with it. Just like this moment, he was still not sure I was gone.
Maybe deep down, he believed I
wouldn’t die and that I couldn’t die without having him. Perhaps he thought my love, or the love of one so cherished, made me bold
en
And I wondered why I was ever such a fool for him.
The hail snapped me back to reality.
Claude’s phone rang.
Swn?
It was Gabrielle. “Claude, I had a dream. In my dream, Claire was pregnant, trapped in a fire, screaming for help. You have to save her p>
Claude’s gaze shifted to me before he glanced at the clock, showing nine in the evening.
“Mom, dreams are just dreams. They are not true.” He swallowed hard as he spoke.
Gabrielle didn’t give up. “But the dream felt so real. Claire said she was pregnant. I need to check her medical records at the hospital.” Hearing Gabrielle’s panic, Claude grew anxious. “Mom, I’ll find her. Don’t worry. Tomorrow’s your birthday, she’ll show up p>
After hanging up, Claude seemed lost in thought.
“Is Claire pregnant?” Kate asked, tilting her head.
Claude didn’t answer, but his grip on
the phone tightened. I knew he remembered the doctor’s call from the day before, telling him about my pregnancy.
‘With Gabrielle’s vivid dream, should Claude start to wonder if I’m truly dead?’thought, ‘But if he knew the truth what expression would Claude wear p>