Marianne lay there, stunned and hurt, surrounded by Gregory's heavy breaths. Anger, betrayal, and heartache swirled inside her. How could he say another woman's name in such an intimate moment? She had always known he loved Jane, even before she came into the picture. She knew she had come between them if she were honest with herself. But knowing this truth from the start, did she really have the right to feel the way she did right now? Could she even complain about his betrayal? After all, he never promised to accept her as his wife entirely. Yet, here she was, shedding tears for a man who didn't love her. She wiped her face in frustration. She had been strong all these years. Was this surge of emotions a side effect of losing her virginity?

Carefully removing herself from Gregory's embrace, her mind raced with conflicting thoughts. She needed space to process what had just happened. Wrapped in a robe, she closed the short distance between the bed and the window. Feeling a twinge of pain, each step—a painful reminder of what had transpired between them. She gazed out the window; the night was quiet, and the moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow that offered little comfort in her solitude contrasted with the turmoil within her.

She loved him, that much was certain. For years, she had harbored an unrequited love. Despite his persistent distance, reluctance to be alone with her, and barely acknowledging her presence even in company, she still found herself drawn to him. What was it about him that had captured her heart? Glancing at him, sound asleep amidst disheveled sheets, oblivious to the world, she realized it was the first time she had seen him sleep, the first time they had shared this bedroom—a room he had surrendered to her immediately after their union. He had made it clear theirs was a marriage in name only, with no intention of it evolving into anything more.

"George, my heart is breaking," she sighed, leaning against the windowsill, sorrow heavy on her chest. You told me to be patient... you said..." Tears trickled down her cheeks, wiped away with the hem of her robe. Memories of Gregory's disdainfulness towards her over the past few years began to resurface.

Amid her misery, she recalled a conversation from earlier in their marriage when she had almost lost hope a few months in. During a family outing, she brushed a small beetle off Gregory's arm, only to have him slap her hand hard. His disdainful look at that moment weighed heavily on her memory.

"I can't do this this anymore! I'll call him... and tell him. Not even six months in... He's won!" Marianne sobbed, clutching her stinging hand.

"They were laughing," she recalled, looking up at the elderly man. Her in-laws' amused faces echo in her mind as they chuckled loudly as she hurried out of sight.

"Clara is still a child, with much to learn... Unfortunately, Evelyn's…personality is rubbing off on her," he defended, expressing concern about his granddaughter and daughter-in-law.

She didn't respond, drowning in despair, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Listen, my child. Gregory will recognize his wrongs. He's still... grieving."

"You're making it sound like she died," she grumbled, pouting.

"She might as well have been," he dismissed.

"That's harsh," she gasped, attempting to refrain from laughing.

George sighed, gently massaging her hand, reddened by Gregory's strike.

"If love were simple, everyone would embrace it."

"I just… feel like I don't belong.… I feel like a pest at his side," she sighed, looking away.

"You're not a pest. He doesn't know how lucky he is. He will come around."

"Only if I were to transform into Jane overnight!"

"Don't sell yourself short."

She snorted, pulling herself from the memories, wiping away tears, and cursing at the moon, almost as if it were George.

 "You were wrong," she muttered bitterly.

A familiar chime diverted her attention to her phone. Frowning, she glanced at the clock on the nightstand, wondering who could be messaging her at this late hour. Walking over to the soft glow emanating from her phone's screen, she unlocked it.

Unknown number: I'm back, bitch. Pack your bags!

She squinted, bewildered by the vulgar text. What the hell?

Marianne: Who is this?

Unknown number: I didn't know married life caused amnesia!

Marianne frowned, even more confused.

Unknown number: Thieves feign innocence when caught.

Marianne: You've got the wrong number. Please don't text me anymore.

Unknown number: You have no idea how much Gregory loves me, do you? After all these years married to you, he loves ME. Our meeting tonight all but confirmed it.

Jane? Her mind raced as her fingers were paralyzed on the phone's keyboard. So that's why? She peered at Gregory, deeply asleep, oblivious. It wasn't just drunken speech. He did think that she was Jane when he came up to her in her sleep.

Unknown number: By the way, he's still as good of a kisser as I remember. Gosh! I wish I could kiss him all night!

They kissed? They kissed. Realizing Gregory's profound disrespect for her and their marriage was indescribable. As soon as Jane returned to town, he raced to her like a long-lost puppy greeting its master.

Another alert beckoned her attention back to the screen.

Unknown number: It's only a matter of time, you know? Now that he's had a taste for the REAL thing. He will no longer need a substitute.

Marianne: I'm anything but a substitute!

Unknown number: Whatever! I hope you didn't get too comfortable with a luxurious life. Now that the senile old man is dead and I have returned, nothing will stand between Gregory and me anymore. Time to go back to where you belong.

"Where I belong?" she seethed.

Unknown number: Oh wait! You DON'T actually have a place you belong, right? Oops! My bad, I forgot orphanages don't accept adult rejects!

Marianne blocked the number, switched off the phone, and squeezed it until numbness set in.