Chapter 3 The Revelation

(Sybil’s POV)

After Mary left I got out of bed and put some clothes on. I was hungry, so I went down to the kitchen. I had made some ceviche earlier today, because I knew it was John’s favorite. I hadn’t known at the time that he would be home for our anniversary, but I wanted to be prepared just in case. He wasn’t around now to enjoy it, of course, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have some.

After taking it out of the fridge, I served myself a plate. I sat down at the dining room table and poured myself a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. I raised the glass in a silent toast to the death of my dream of being Mrs. John Rutherford for real.

Mary suddenly burst into the dining room at full speed. “Pardon me, madam,” she panted, “but Miss Amelia is running a fever. The doctor is with her now.”

I looked up at her in concern. “Oh, no!”

Amelia was John’s little sister, although he was old enough to be her father. Their parents had her when they were close to fifty. From what I understood, after John was born Mrs. Rutherford had spent years longing for a little girl. She had just started giving up hope when she discovered, to her complete shock, that she was pregnant. She was absolutely delighted when Amelia was born, the girl that she had always wanted. As a result, both she and Mr. Rutherford treated their daughter like a princess. Now eight years old, Amelia was constantly doted on.

Unfortunately, Amelia was recently diagnosed with leukemia. She had been in and out of the hospital for a while. She didn’t usually let that get her down, however. I spent as much time as I could with her, playing with her or reading to her. Now as I rushed to her room, I came to the realization that she was the only person in this family who was always happy to see me.

When I entered her room, I saw Amelia lying in bed, her face flushed. She was shivering uncontrollably. Mrs. Rutherford was sitting nearby, worry etched on her face and her perfectly manicured nails tapping anxiously on the arm of her chair.

Dr. Harrison, our family doctor, glanced at me when he heard me come in. “Oh, hello, Mrs. Rutherford.”

My mother-in-law pursed her lips at this. She resented not being the only Mrs. Rutherford in this house. She restrained herself from making a snide comment, so as not to upset Amelia.

Dr. Harrison, having just completed his examination, turned to Mrs. Rutherford. “I’m afraid Amelia has to go to the hospital again.”

Mrs. Rutherford gasped, her hand fluttering to her mouth. “Oh, my poor little angel!” Then her demeanor quickly changed as she glanced at me, her eyes cold and unfeeling. “Sybil will phone for an ambulance at once. Won’t you, Sybil?”

“Yes, of course.” I took out my phone and called for an ambulance.

“Thank you.” Mrs. Rutherford waved her hand dismissively. “You are no longer needed for the moment. You may go.”

Fine, I thought, I would go and visit Amelia in the hospital later. Hopefully when that woman wasn’t there.

I walked back toward the dining room, where my dinner was still waiting. I looked at my watch and saw that it was after midnight, and my appetite was gone, so I took my food back to the kitchen and put it in the fridge. 

On my way to the stairs, I heard Dr. Harrison’s voice from a short distance. I followed the sound and saw him standing with Mrs. Rutherford near the front door. I hid so that they couldn’t see me. “You don’t need to worry about Amelia,” he said, “she is not in immediate danger.”

Mrs. Rutherford nodded. “I know. But to cure her once and for all, she will need that bone marrow transplant.” From where I was standing, I could see her eyes light up with excitement. “If that useless daughter-in-law of mine finally has a child, maybe it will be a match!”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Now it all made sense. She had been the one who snuck into our room and poked holes into each and every condom. She was so desperate to save her precious daughter’s life that she tried to trick me and John into conceiving a child whose only purpose would be to donate bone marrow and whatever else Amelia needed.

I couldn’t stay in that house any longer. I didn’t care about the contract or anything else, all I wanted was to leave. Once Mrs. Rutherford had seen the doctor out and departed up the stairs, I made my escape. I moved toward the front door and opened it, with a sigh of relief as I stepped outside.

The first thing I saw was my husband, locked in a passionate embrace with another woman.