*[You still don't know who I am, do you? You're just like your useless mother—superfluous. A waste of space.]*
*[So what if you're an A University professor? Thomas will handle everything for me. My dad will ensure he climbs another rung on the ladder.]*
*[Elise James, if I were as much of a failure as you, I'd kill myself.]*
The realization hit me like a physical blow.
Hazel Fox was my half-sister. My father's illegitimate daughter.
The mistress's child had returned to steal my husband.
Tremors racked my body, but then, a laugh tore from my throat. Loud. Manic.
*Perfect.*
Thomas Gilbert, you've touched the one person in this world I despise the most. You and she can go to hell together.
Suppressing the bile rising in my throat, I scrolled through Hazel's social media feed. I archived everything. Every post, every photo, every check-in was evidence of Thomas's infidelity.
The most recent post was a video captioned: *"The happiest day."*
Below it, a comment read: *"Happy wedding."*
Hazel had shamelessly replied: *"Thank you."*
And Thomas had liked the video.
I took screenshots of it all.
When I arrived home, I photographed the pile of luxury gift boxes stacked by the door.