My pride crumbled in an instant. The envious gazes of Brookside's noblewomen turned to derisive laughter. The humiliation of being nothing more than a replacement consumed me and I couldn't bear the betrayal. Late one evening, with my hands trembling and tears streaming uncontrollably, I swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills, hoping to escape the suffocating reality.
When I opened my eyes, however, I found myself staring not at the afterlife but at the familiar, elegant decor of Jonah's living room. The air was heavy with the fragrance of fresh roses.
This was the day of our first wedding anniversary—the day he presented me with that rose tattoo.
This time, I wouldn't play the fool.
——
"Rosa, look at this rose," Jonah's voice interrupted my racing thoughts. I turned to find him standing in front of me, holding up a photograph of the tattoo freshly inked on his chest. His lips curved into a proud, boyish smile. "It's my gift for our first anniversary. I had it tattooed over my heart because you'll always be in my heart. From now on, every heartbeat will remind me to tell you that I love you."