The Deep Sea Doesn’t Hear Your Confession

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The CEO of Harrison Group Exposed for Cheating! The trending hashtag had barely lasted a day before I posted my clarification.

There is no third party in my relationship with Mr. Harrison. All these years, my feelings have been a foolish delusion, entirely unrequited. My voice was flat, devoid of any hint of coercion or reluctance.

Out of jealousy, I fabricated the lie that he was having an affair with his secretary and cheating on me. I apologize to Ms. Monroe.

The internet exploded: This morning we felt sorry for you and believed your lies! This afternoon, you contradict yourself! Go to hell, you pathetic wretch!

You think were idiots, dont you? If youre a psychopath, get help!

An endless stream of curses flooded my phone, and my hand trembled slightly.

Are you satisfied?

Liam Harrison smiled. Youve finally learned your lesson. It would have been so much easier if youd done this sooner.

As a reward, I might even make time to accompany you to your next prenatal check-up.

But tomorrow, I have to take Sarah Monroe to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Shes been in a bad mood lately and needs a change of scenery. So, well reschedule your appointment. Youll just have to wait.

I ended the video call. The nurse behind me reminded me that the procedure was ready.

I had waited ten years for him. I had waited long enough.

After I left home, the first place I went was a small, secluded clinic.

Ten years ago, Liam Harrison knelt before my mothers hospital bed here, swearing: I will love Evelyn forever. I will never let her suffer a moment of injustice.

Ten years later, I had an abortion in that very same clinic.

Behind the clinic, under an old willow tree, was a rusty iron box we had buried together. We had promised to open it in ten years.

The box was corroded, but the papers inside were surprisingly intact.

The first question was written in Liam Harrisons flamboyant handwriting:

Dear Evelyn, my future Mrs. Harrison, how have you spent your past ten years with him?

I looked at the intimate endearment on the paper, a bitter laugh rising in my throat.

Did you buy rings?

Yes. A small diamond ring. I wore it on my ring finger for ten years, cherishing it. Even though it was less than a tenth the size of the one on Sarah Monroes hand.

Hows the company? Did we get married?

The company had indeed grown larger and larger, but so had the number of women around him. Every time I brought up marriage, Liam Harrison avoided the topic. We had been entangled for ten years without a marriage certificate, without a wedding.

Do you have a baby?

We did have a child once.

But he was stillborn, covered in bruises, never having the chance to cry.

Now I was pregnant again. Because Sarah Monroe wanted a child to play with. Liam Harrison said she was a career woman and couldnt sacrifice her figure or time.

The next question was mine.

Over the past ten years, Mr. Harrison, what do you consider the most important thing in our relationship?

What would Liam Harrison say?

Trust, probably.

After all, he always used to say, impatiently: Evelyn, cant you trust me more? Hannah, my assistant, and I are completely innocent.

Sarahs incredibly capable at work. Dont always look at her with such suspicion. Its not easy for a woman to get where she is today.

I had tried to convince myself that it was just professional contact.

But their eyes didnt lie. Their actions even less so.

I remember the morning he attended his first board meeting as CEO. I woke up early to iron his shirt and chose a sapphire blue tie. I meticulously tied it for him.

Just then, Sarah burst in, oblivious.

Her gaze lingered on my hands for a second, then she held up a different tie, smiling. Liam, this is a very formal occasion today. I suggest this dark patterned tie; it looks much more dignified.

Liam Harrison didnt hesitate. He simply untied the knot I had just finished. The blue tie slipped to the floor. He took the one Sarah offered and, without a glance, tied it skillfully in front of the mirror.

In the reflection, he saw my stunned expression.

When he turned, he patted my shoulder. Dont misunderstand. Sarah has been by my side for a long time. She understands the dress code for these occasions better than you do.

I lowered my head, staring at the abandoned tie in my palm.

I didnt think I had misunderstood anything.

After the abortion.

The second place I went was the ocean.

Over ten years, I had mentioned countless times that I wanted a wedding by the sea.

I lay on the yacht bed, enduring waves of delayed, dull pain.

Sarah called.

She sounded triumphant: Liams luggage for his Iceland trip today, could you pack it for me? Ill come by to pick it up later.

She paused, then chuckled softly. But you dont need to pack any underwear. I bought him new ones. He really likes the size and style.

A sudden, sharp cramp seized my lower abdomen. I bit my lip, refusing to make a sound.

In the past, every time Sarah subtly provoked me like this, I would lose control. Id call Liam Harrison in a hysterical rage, or storm into HR demanding they fire her.

Just last week, Sarah had feigned concern: Evelyn, they say a womans body changes after childbirth, becomes looser. Liam is probably afraid of that, which is why hes reluctant for me to have a baby. Hes just making you do the hard work instead.

I had immediately trashed her office. The commotion drew countless media outlets, eager for a scoop. After that, the scandal between Liam Harrison and his secretary was out in the open. Rumors spread like wildfire.

It was a critical time for his companys IPO, and the blow was devastating. He was known in the business world for his ruthlessness and vindictiveness.

He ordered me to quickly issue a public statement clearing Sarahs name. If you cause any more trouble, Ill take the child the moment its born. Youll never see it again.

Between us, he still leaned more towards Sarah.

On the bedside table, a painting of sunflowers rested. It was my mothers, the only thing I had taken from home. My mother had left me many things, but over the years, to pay off debts, only this one painting remained. On countless sleepless nights, looking at that painting brought me immense comfort.

I reached for it. The painting clattered to the floor. Something fell out from behind it.

Ignoring the pain, I froze. Inside were some photos of a young Liam Harrison.

He was only seventeen when my mother brought him to the city. In the photos, the boy wore a faded old T-shirt, his back straight, his eyes innocent yet sharp. Back then, his back didnt bear those grotesque scars.

My mother fully funded his university education. After graduation, he naturally joined Thorne Industries. He was smart and hardworking, and his future was bright.

Until my father, a lifelong philanderer, died suddenly, collapsing amidst a bed of peonies. His illegitimate children, previously unseen, bared their claws, tearing savagely at the family fortune.

I was caught completely off guard. All that was left for me was a shell of a company with only ten employees, and a mountain of soul-crushing debt. My mother, suffering a heart attack, also collapsed. Without money, we couldnt afford a proper hospital. We found this small clinic, where she barely clung to life with basic medication.

Liam Harrison appeared by my side. I cursed him, tried to drive him away, but he wouldnt leave. Creditors were everywhere. We hid, living in constant fear. Sometimes, when there was no escape, cornered in an alley, he would immediately shield me tightly in his arms, covering my eyes with his broad hands. Dont be afraid. Dont look.

Those scars were all from that time.

After two grueling years, all debts were repaid. The company finally began to show some promise.

I tentatively suggested, We should get married.

He paused, then smiled and ruffled my hair. Whats the rush? Its not the right time yet. Wait a little longer. Ill save up to get you the most dazzling engagement ring, and well have a spectacular wedding. Ill marry you in style.

He leaned down and kissed me, reassuring me. Dont worry. Youll always be my wife. Where would I go?

After that, his social engagements visibly increased. A new secretary also appeared by his side.

Sarah began to infiltrate every corner of Liam Harrisons life. By the time I realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

I fought with him countless times. I gave him two choices: either fire Sarah or marry me.

He remained silent, choosing neither. The disappointment within me grew.

The first time I was pregnant, we were in the midst of our most intense cold war. Morning sickness plagued me day and night, my legs swelled horribly, and Id wake up in agonizing pain from cramps. He rarely came home. I endured it all alone.

He knew I loved the ocean. He habitually booked a five-day, five-night luxury cruise for my birthday. But on the deck, I saw Sarah, laughing brightly.

On the second day of the trip, the cruise ship unexpectedly sank. A panicked crowd surged towards the lifeboats. I clutched my heavy belly, distraught and helpless. He had paid a high price for two lifeboat spots and, after securing them, immediately reached out to help me.

But Sarah rushed out, crying and pushing me away. Liam, shes pregnant! The rescue workers will prioritize putting her on the other lifeboat! What about me?

Liam Harrison hesitated.

The crowd pushed and shoved violently. Something fell from above, and I slipped. The sea swallowed me whole.

Evelyn!

When I woke, excruciating pain radiated from my lower body. The doctor told me the baby was gone. It was a boy. I only saw him for a moment before tears streamed down my facehis eyes and brows were so much like Liam Harrisons.

Halfway through the cruise, I staggered out of bed. I opened the small urn I had brought from home.

Baby, I whispered to the churning waves, Mama is so sorry.

Mama will leave you here, alright? My vision blurred with tears. I scattered his ashes over the ocean.

After losing the baby, I became increasingly silent. Whether he spoke kindly or erupted in a rage, I barely bothered to lift my eyelids at Liam Harrison.

He couldn't take it anymore. He fell to his knees by my bed, his eyes red, and roared, What do you want me to do to make you forgive me? Tell me!

After that, he came home almost every day, forcing me to share the bed. I didnt resist, but I didnt respond either.

I became pregnant again. Looking at the prenatal report, a flicker of hope stirred within me. I longed for this child to come back to me.

Liam Harrison finally promised he would cut ties with Sarah. He started coming home regularly, sometimes bringing a bouquet of lilies to help me sleep. At night, he would wrap his arms around my increasingly heavy waist from behind.

Perhaps the arrival of this child could truly change something.

Not long after, I found a pair of silk stockings that werent mine in Liam Harrisons suit pocket. They still carried Sarahs warmth, like a slap across my face.

Distraught, I went to the company. Through the glass, I saw Sarah, the woman Liam Harrison claimed to have fired long ago. Her office was directly across from his, and on her desk sat a large bouquet of lilies. She saw me, unsurprised, even raising her left hand to flash the ring on her ring finger in a defiant gesture.

I grabbed everything within reach, smashing it furiously towards that infuriating scene! Liam Harrison rushed out, his face ashen. In a fit of rage, he raised his hand and slapped me hard.

Who let you in? This is a company! If you want to make a scene, go home!

I clutched my face, looking at his disgusted expression. How had we come to this?

After the scandal broke, the stock price plummeted, and the board of directors was in chaos. Liam Harrison ordered me to immediately clear Sarahs name.

Issue a statement saying everything was your deranged delusion! Otherwise his threatening gaze slid to my swollen belly.

This was my only lifeline. He was satisfied with the instant paleness of my face.

I want to see your clarification statement before I leave the country.

Sarah hasnt been feeling well lately. Im taking her to Iceland to relax. Shes always loved the Northern Lights there.