3 Chapter 3: Is This What It Means to Pour One's Heart Out?

"I've been waiting for you to utter these words!" Wendy Jackson said, filled with joy. Her happiness seemed to be infectious, as everyone present shared her enthusiasm, sending their fervent blessings their way; father... mother... all blessed them!

Ivy Jackson didn't know how she had managed to escape. All she knew was that if she didn't get away from it all, she would suffocate.

Ivy continued to dash around the back garden, not realizing when her high heels had come off.

All she knew was that her heart was in agonizing pain... as if a knife was slowly slicing her flesh. Yet, there was no blood, she felt as if she was dying from the pain!

She loved Bryan Oakley so much. From the first day she became a prosecutor, from realizing he was her senior at university, from his gradual assistance, his warmth, and care towards her that was unlike how others treated her, she had inevitably fallen in love with him. But why didn't he know? Why was he going to marry her sister now? Proposing to her sister in front of her face, how cruel was that, did he know?

Ivy didn't stop running until she fell full-length on the ground, the scent of grass and soil filling her nostrils.

Ivy found herself unable to stand and too weak to crawl. She just lay there, her face buried in the soil and grass, as tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto the ground... She was so dignified, yet at this moment, she was as lowly as the ants and dirt on the ground, so low she couldn't even let out a cry.

"Ivy, you're the eldest daughter of the Jackson Family, you're not supposed to cry, understood?" her mother had told her since the first day of school. From then on, Ivy kept those words in mind, and never allowed herself to shed tears, no matter how much pain she was in.

"Ivy, you must be my pride. You must strive for the Jackson Family's honor and glory, understand? So, go and become a great prosecutor, bring glory to the Jackson family," her father had told her this on the day she stepped into college. Ever since, she had gritted her teeth and earned her law degree as soon as possible, passed the tough judicial examination, and finally became a prosecutor.

All of this, all the hardships only she knew, she just wanted to satisfy her parents, fulfill their wishes. No matter how tired, how difficult, she had never felt as exhausted as she did now, she was so tired, so tired... Like the black night sky had suddenly collapsed upon her, suffocating her.

Ivy had no idea how she made it back to her room. She lay in bed without turning on the lights, staring at the dark ceiling with an empty mind, devoid of vitality.

"Knock, knock." Someone knocked at the door, but she seemed not to hear it. But the knocker opened the door themselves and tiptoed to her bedside, standing in front of her, looking down at her lying on the bed.

"Sis... Can I talk to you?"

Ivy seemed to hear Wendy's voice in her daze. She lifted her head weakly and discovered that, indeed, it was her—her sister, the charming and pitiable Wendy.

"I'm really tired..." Ivy faintly moved her pale lips, too drained to even turn over. She had to cover her own eyes with her hand.

Wendy didn't seem to want to leave, she just stood at the bedside staring at Ivy on the bed, saying softly: "Sis… I know, Bryan Oakley is on your computer screen, you like him…"

Ivy froze, her head buzzing. She didn't expect… Wendy knew. And she just revealed it so casually!?

"What did you say?" Ivy got up from the bed, staring intently at Wendy: "You used my computer!?" Ivy's secret, she thought only she knew, she didn't expect... Wendy knew her computer password, that she had accessed her computer!?

"No, sister! Please forgive me, I didn't mean to do it! Once I came to visit you, but you were in the shower and your computer was open… I'm sorry, sister... I was just curious. Curious about what kind of man would be set as your desktop image. So, I drew close to Bryan Oakley. But I did initially intend to help you two. I didn't expect… I didn't expect Bryan Oakley to fall in love with me. I'm sorry. I also love Bryan Oakley. He does not love you, he just treats you as a friend. Sister, please let us be together!"

Listening to Wendy's explanation of her relationship with Bryan Oakley, Ivy learned that their fates met because of herself... She was the one who had set them up!

"Wendy, you're so cruel!" Ivy's swollen eyes could no longer hold back the tears. The hot teardrops burned her skin as they fell, revealing the truth: "You knew I liked Bryan Oakley, but you woke me up to witness your happiness, informed our parents that Bryan Oakley is the man you like! You let Bryan Oakley propose to you in front of everyone. You let me stand there and watch it all! You announced your happiness to me! What's even worse is that you knew my feelings and my secret! Wendy, how could you be so cruel? How could you … be so terrifying?"

She always envied her sister. She pampered her, gave her whatever she wanted, even helped with her homework. Even when their parents loved Wendy unconditionally, she never hated her. She was merely envious, there wasn't any jealousy or hatred. But how could she do this to her?

"Sister, I'm sorry… I just... I was just afraid you still like him, so I..." Wendy shortly bursted into tears.

Ivy was fed up. She didn't want to hear Wendy's voice, even a single word!

She raised her hand, slapping Wendy across the face. A sharp smack echoed through the room, Wendy's face jerked to the side. The room fell silent... eerily quiet.

"Wendy, get out," Ivy spat out four words coldly, looking at Wendy with eyes as sharp as icy arrows. Wendy, a seemingly weak and beautiful woman.

Ivy really was tired, so tired, so tired, and had no energy left to fight.

"Wendy, get out!"

She had just uttered these four words when the previously dark room suddenly lit up. Ivy looked up in surprise to see her parents standing at the door turning the light on. Their expressions were so gloomy they could only be described as terrifying.

When Ivy looked again at Wendy, Wendy was holding her face with a look of aggrieved innocence, her eyes filled with tears...