Whose Redemption

Chapter One

The third year of being forced into an engagement, Mark finally agreed to marry me, but with three conditions.

“I hate having anyone in the house with me. If you want to marry me, you’ll sleep in a tent in the garden.”

He looked at me, his eyes vacant.

“There’s no cook, you’ll make all my meals.”

“And finally, I’m not your seeing-eye dog. Stop clinging to me like a cripple.”

Eventually, I learned my lesson.

I happily let the wedding go to Jessica, stopped showing up, stopped causing him embarrassment, and went to get my eyes treated.

But when I handed him the divorce papers, Mark’s eyes welled up as he asked me,

“Is regaining my sight the first thing I do after discarding my crutch?”

“Sarah, you can forget about it!”

(One)

“The license is signed. I don’t have time for a wedding, and everything else is settled. Are you satisfied now, Mrs. Peterson?”

I couldn’t see Mark’s expression, but I could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

Before I could answer, a loud bang echoed as Mark slammed the door and left.

Mark’s mother anxiously grabbed my hand.

“Don’t take it to heart with that good-for-nothing. You’re the woman Mark loves most. If he recovers his memory and finds you gone, he’ll have a relapse. The doctor said he’ll recover. The wedding will happen. What style do you like? I’ll contact…”

My world went black, but the scene of the car accident replayed in my mind.

The last memory was Mark shielding me.

When I opened my eyes again, I couldn’t see anything. Mark stood before me, wary, his tone unfamiliar.

“Who are you?”

I let out a breath, suppressing the pain in my chest, and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“It’s okay, Mark hates me now, don’t pressure him. He’s right, I’m blind, what kind of wedding would we have?”

I carefully placed the ultrasound report and thick wedding planning book together.

The wedding I’d dreamt of countless times, the meticulously planned wedding… someday, maybe it would happen.

My phone buzzed. A text from Mark, just an address.

As I fumbled to open the private room door, my foot caught on something. I instinctively protected my belly, falling awkwardly.

Laughter erupted.

“Wow, sis-in-law, quite the grand entrance!”

I couldn’t see, only hearing their sharp, cutting laughter, like knives, ready to strike from any direction.

“Mark…”

I instinctively called out for help to the familiar person.

“Tsk.”

The familiar voice came, but with the same coldness as everyone else.

“Sis-in-law? Who were you calling?”

The others quickly changed their tune.

“Wrong person, wrong person, don’t let Jessica hear that.”

“So, new sis-in-law, such a happy day, since you’re here, join us for a drink.”

I clenched my hands. “I’m on doctor’s orders, I can’t drink.”

Knowing Mark was alright, I ignored his friends and tried to leave.

As I pushed open the door, Mark’s mocking voice stopped me.

“Isn’t this the day you’ve been waiting for? Not drinking?”

I always had endless patience with Mark.

“I really can’t drink.”

Mark smirked. “Of course, I won’t let you drink.”

Hearing this, I hesitated no longer and drank the liquid in the glass.

Then came a roar of laughter, shaking the roof.

“You said a word and she drank it. The rumors were true, Mark, she’s madly in love with you!”

The glass was full of hand soap.

The bitterness of the detergent brought tears to my eyes.

I turned the faucet full blast, but couldn’t drown out the sounds.

“Tsk tsk, too bad she’s blind. But seeing her obediently following your every whim, Mark, you’re lucky.”

Mark was dismissive and cold.

“A blind woman, why don’t you just marry one?”

Click-clacking heels entered the room.

Unlike his flippancy towards me, the room fell silent.

Jessica pitifully said, “Mark, you’re married, is there no room for me?”

Mark sighed, “How much space do you want? Isn’t the master bedroom big enough?”

Jessica was satisfied and turned to me. “Congratulations on getting what you wanted, happy wedding. This tent is my wedding gift for you, do you like it?”

The stares were tangible. I felt an unprecedented humiliation.

Someone puzzled, “Wedding gifts are tents now?”

Jessica feigned surprise. “Didn’t you know? Mark hates having others in the house, so Sarah agreed to sleep in a tent in the yard.”

Silence, then whispers reached my ears.

“Damn, this blind woman is more of a simp than I imagined.”

“That’s called marriage? Even a dog deserves to live inside.”

My remaining dignity was crushed.

(Two)

I don’t know how I got home.

I huddled in the corner of the tent, trying to ignore the howling wind and the damp chill from the ground.

The absolute darkness amplified the sounds.

My phone rang relentlessly. I finally answered. Wendy’s voice was serious.

“My mentor’s made a breakthrough in this area. With timely treatment, your eyesight can be largely restored. I’ll be back in a month for the treatment. You won’t give up this chance, right?”

“Sarah, don’t you want to paint anymore?”

My fingers clutched my clothes, feeling the faint heartbeat in my belly.

I didn’t answer, just endured the long night.

Dawn brought sounds from the house.

Silently, I prepared breakfast as per our agreement.

But things I once did easily now left me bruised and battered.

I carried the breakfast to the living room, placing the plate on the table.

My fingers were suddenly seized.

Mark didn’t speak, but I felt his gaze scrutinizing me.

“Making yourself look like this to win my pity?”

He released my hand, his tone cold.

“Take down that awful tent. It’s an eyesore. You’ll sleep in the downstairs guest room. If you step upstairs, you know the consequences.”

“I have a maid to cook my meals. Who knows what’s on your fingers in that blind woman’s cooking. Call a home doctor for your wounds, I hate blood.”

He picked up the plate and tossed it in the trash.

Disinfectant stung my wounds. Yet, a flicker of hope arose; Mark was slowly accepting me; maybe things would improve.

Mark came downstairs, offering me water.

“Drink this, let’s go.”

I instinctively drank. “Where?”

Since Mark’s memory loss, he’d avoided me, let alone taking me out.

Before my hope blossomed, his voice turned cold.

“To the hospital.”

“I’m not having that child.”

I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave, taking a step back.

“Mark, you can’t, it’s my child…”

Mark remained unmoved, grabbing my arm.

“Look at you, you can barely take care of yourself. Are you fit to be a mother? Behave, don’t make me angry.”

“I don’t need your…”

Mark sneered.

“Don’t need me? You just drank a whole glass of cleaner. A cripple trying to have another cripple? You think this is a charity home?”

My struggle froze.

“Why?”

Mark dragged me out. “Trying to tie me down with a child? Who taught you this, my mother? I don’t know what kind of spell you cast on her.”

“If I hadn’t seen your report, you two would’ve hidden this until the baby was born?”

His taunts left me weak and I closed my eyes.

It was never Mark’s mother, it was always Mark himself.

Once, to be with me, Mark threatened suicide several times and developed severe anxiety.

After the accident, Mark’s mother begged me to stay by his side, afraid of any more accidents.

I lay in the operating room, my abdomen throbbing, acutely aware of the life being taken from me.

Mark left before the surgery ended.

High heels stopped by my bed.

Jessica stood at my bedside, triumphant.

“Mark said marrying you was already wronging me. He won’t let you and the child stand above me.”

“Sarah, what’s the point of all your scheming to marry him? My child will be his only child.”

The assistant nervously spoke.

“Ms. Feng, you’re pregnant, Mr. Peterson specifically instructed us not to let you move around.”

Jessica scolded, “I’m not that weak.”

The assistant laughed, “Mr. Peterson’s a first-time father, it’s understandable he’s nervous.”

My abdomen ached, but my heart was numb.

The decision I couldn’t make, Mark had made for me.

I called Wendy.

“In a month, I’ll go abroad with you for treatment.”

(Three)

After losing the baby, I didn’t care anymore. I followed the doctor’s orders, taking medicine and going to the hospital for eye checkups.

I learned to do everything alone, as Mark wanted, not reporting to him, not letting him accompany me.

At the hospital, bumping into Mark, I apologized.

Then my wrist was seized.

Mark’s voice was strained.

“You weren’t home, so you were here. How did you know Jessica was at this hospital?”

I broke free, softly explaining.

“I didn’t know she was here, I was just here for my eyes.”

Mark was impatient.

“You have a home doctor for regular checkups. You deliberately ran into me. I warn you, don’t use these pathetic tricks. Jessica’s pregnant, if she sees you and has a miscarriage, I won’t forgive you.”

“I don’t have time to watch you all day. Stay home. Or if something happens, I can’t guarantee I’ll find you in time. I’m sending someone to take you home.”

I wisely didn’t argue.

I planned to switch hospitals to avoid Mark.

I couldn’t understand why, even when I tried to avoid him, he was still angry.

Back home, I instinctively touched the half-finished painting in the living room.

If treatment failed, it would be my last painting.

My last gift to Mark.

I promised him, it was his get-out-of-jail-free card.

If he ever angered me, I’d unconditionally forgive him once.

Upon receiving it, Mark carefully hung the painting, promising,

“Don’t worry, I’ll never need this.”

But it was gone.

The housekeeper explained, “Ms. Feng had severe morning sickness, allergic to paint fumes. Mr. Peterson ordered it thrown away.”

I froze, rushing out.

I searched the trash, my hands groping.

I needed to keep something.

Rain washed away my tears. I realized that even if I found it, the paint would be ruined.

A strong hand pulled me back.

Mark panted, his voice cutting through the rain, almost a roar, “Are you crazy! In this downpour, alone, if no one found you, you could’ve died!”

I didn’t know why he was angry. “I can go back myself.”

His voice softened slightly.

“Just for that painting? It’s nothing valuable, I can get you as many as you want, whatever you like.”

“No need,” I said calmly, even smiled, “I don’t need it.”

I couldn’t fit a painting in my suitcase. I had to let it go.

Mark made the choice for me again.

(Four)

The villa buzzed; Mark was throwing a wedding for Jessica.

I heard pages turning.

“A wedding plan is here.”

Jessica’s voice was mocking.

“Sarah, Aunt found this when she cleaned your room. Looks like you planned it for a long time, even I’m impressed.”

Mark took it, frowning.

“Didn’t we agree I wouldn’t have a wedding? Why did you do this?”

I froze, almost forgetting.

My fingers traced the edges of the wedding planner. My love with Mark felt like a past life.

I smiled, letting go of the book.

“Maybe Aunt made a mistake, it’s not mine. I heard about your wedding, if you like, use it.”

Jessica’s triumphant tone faltered.

Mark rarely explained, “Jessica’s pregnant, emotionally unstable, I’m just having a wedding to appease her.”

“If you really want one, I’ll make time for yours.”

I shook my head. “No need, I don’t need one.”

Again, that phrase. Mark frowned.

“Sarah, are you playing hard to get?”

I didn’t explain; my suitcase was full, no room for this plan.

Better to put it to use than throw it away.

I smiled, genuinely wishing them well.

“I really don’t need one, congratulations.”

On the wedding day, Wendy and I boarded a plane.

Before boarding, Mark’s messages flooded in.

“You’re not home, where are you?”

“Where are you now?”

I answered truthfully.

“At the airport, I’m going abroad for eye treatment.”

Mark’s messages went crazy.

“Who allowed you to go abroad alone!”

“Come back immediately, I’ll send someone, if you cause more trouble, I’ll divorce you.”

“I’ll find the best doctor, stay at the airport, don’t move, I’ll come get you!”

The last voice message was panicked.

“Sarah, you’re not coming back?”