Chapter 2

I slumped on the living room couch, my gaze shifting between my phone and the portrait of my late mother.

She had cried in her last moments, entrusting me to John's care and begging him to look after me.

Standing by her deathbed, John had solemnly promised, "Mom, you can rest easy. I'll take good care of Yasmin for you."

However, since she had been gone, John started spending more and more nights away from home.

He would come home reeking of another woman's perfume, his skin often marked with telltale signs of betrayal.

Every time it happened, tears would stream down my face as I asked him if there was someone else.

He would snap back, "You're going crazy! You’re cooped up all day playing housewife, and you’re starting to imagine crazy things. I'm out there networking, so of course I'm gonna pick up different scents."

Snapping out of it, I gathered my things and made my way to my mom's grave.

I laid down the flowers and poured my heart out to her tombstone.

I told her that I was happy and that John treated me well.

I lied, not wanting her to worry about me from beyond the stars.

With no family left on earth, it was time for me to stand on my own two feet and be strong.

Before I knew it, dusk had crept up on me.

Then, John's call came.

"Where've you been?"

He had forgotten today was the day we paid Mom our respects.

It figures. He was too busy with his 'god-sister.'

A bitter taste filled my mouth, despair creeping in.

However, I had to shake it off.

"It's Mom's death anniversary. I'm at the cemetery."

Silence hung on the line for a heartbeat before he said, "Sorry, Yasmin. I got caught up with things and forgot. I'm on my way."

Twenty minutes later, John's car pulled up.

A light rain had started, and my hair was clinging to my face. He did not bother to come out of the car and just told me to get in quickly.

Once I was in the passenger’s seat, he tossed me some napkins for the rain.

"If you had said it was your mom's death anniversary, I would've brought you.

"You can't drive like Holly, so it makes it harder for you to get around."

I had thought about getting my license once.

However, he had shot that idea down. "Why would a housewife need to drive? You wouldn't even use your license if you had one."

"Why are you being so quiet?"

He prodded when I did not respond.

"I don’t have anything to say," I replied, my voice flat.

"Are you mad I didn't come with you?"

John's brow was scrunched up.

The car picked up speed, making the ride anything but smooth.

It felt like he was doing it on purpose just to get at me.

He knew all too well that I got carsick and would vomit on bumpy rides.

I fought the queasiness churning in my belly.

"I'm not mad."

In the past, I would have tripped over myself to explain and prove I was not mad.

However, none of that seemed to matter now.

"Okay. Where do you feel like eating..."

He did not get to finish his sentence as his phone burst into life from the car’s phone holder with a ring.

The contact name flashing on the screen read: ‘My Holly Baby’

John's eyes widened.

"She set that herself. I'll change it back in a second."

"Don't. I kind of like that nickname for her."

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but I looked away before he could say anything. He picked up the call.

I quickly browsed for some top-notch lawyers online.

"Hey, Holly, what's going on?"

He was already on the phone.

Her voice was sugary sweet.

"John, the prawns at the supermarket looked super fresh, so I grabbed some. How about I swing by and make dinner for you and Yasmin tonight?"

"Uh..."

John seemed caught off guard.

"Sure. Come on over."

I jumped in before he could respond.

He gave me a look of sheer disbelief as if my words were the last thing he expected.

I could not blame him for being shocked.

The old me could not stand Holly.

I hated it when she dropped by our place, and I was not thrilled about John hanging out with her either.

My woman’s intuition made it clear Holly had eyes for John.

Every time I tried to keep John from her, it ended in a fight. We had had our share of those over the years.

He seemed to have forgotten the promise he made to my mom to always treat me right.

It felt like we were only growing further apart with each passing day.