Chapter 78. Buried Words

Upon learning the truth, tears streamed down my face. While my heart felt aching sympathy for Pier, I realized I could never forgive him for the years of suffering he subjected me to. I remained by his side, clinging to the hope that he would eventually recover. However, there are limits to what I can endure.

As I busied myself with the preparations for Pearl's fourth birthday, the house echoed with the laughter of children playing outside. The vibrant atmosphere, however, couldn't dispel the lingering shadows within me. The room seemed to shrink as I set my eyes on a picture frame displayed on a shelf—a frozen moment capturing Silas, me, and baby Pearl in a cocoon of happiness.

I couldn't help but be drawn to the image, my fingers gently tracing the contours of the frame. Silas, the man I once thought would be my forever, stood beside me, both of us beaming with joy, our love encapsulated in that captured memory. The weight of longing pressed down on me,