Chapter 3
I found it laughable. Liam, who had spent the past two days practically living at Clara’s house, had the audacity to accuse me of neglecting my own home.
Enjoying the bliss of playing husband and father to his “adopted” family, it seemed he had finally realized the looming danger of the heatwave.
“Jaje! Are you listening? Where are you? Go stock up on food and water before Clara and Mia starve!” His exasperated tone practically dripped through the phone. “Why can’t you be more like Clara? She knows how to take care of a family!”
The irony wasn’t lost on me. Clara certainly knew how to “care” for a family, just never her own.
And Liam had outdone himself with his double standards.
When I prepared for the heatwave last time, I was “overreacting.” When I didn’t buy anything, I was “irresponsible.”
It seemed that no matter what I did, I’d always be the villain in his eyes. A walking scapegoat for all his problems.
He had probably despised me for long. After all, my existence prevented him from living with Clara and Mia.
A
<
If that was the case, why not live life on my own terms?
I didn’t bother arguing. “Didn’t you see my message? I’m out of town on business and can’t get away. Besides, the stores are almost emptied by now. Why don’t you and Clara try a few more places? You might get lucky”
I figured this would be my last act of kindness.
After all, we had been married for years.
Tomorrow, the temperature was set to soar to 124°F, hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement.
For safety reasons, stores would close, and people would barricade themselves indoors.
But Liam couldn’t care less. He was still preoccupied with doting on his “goddaughter.”
“It’s Mia’s first Children’s Day since her father passed,” he said stubbornly. “Clara and I promised to spend it with her. If you can’t handle a simple task like this, don’t bother coming home!”
“Oh, so I’m still your wife when you need a servant?” I thought.
I rolled my eyes, hung up, and unwrapped a popsicle.
Let him make his choice. Playtime or survival?
I wasn’t about to save someone so determined to dig his own grave.
The first day of the heatwave arrived, and the government announced a halt to work and school. Strangely, some people saw this as a cause for celebration. Under the searing sun, they danced and partied in the streets.
It didn’t take long for the first person to collapse. Then, the second. And the third.
Panic spread. People began to realize this wasn’t something worth celebrating.
Animals lay dead on the streets, their bodies bloated and scorched. The stench of decay filled the air, forcing people indoors.
By the second day, whispers of prayer and chants for salvation began to echo in the silence.
Meanwhile, I sat in the guest room of my well–stocked villa, savoring delicious food with the AC on full blast while watching the surveillance footage.
Then, I found out that Clara and Mia had already moved into my house.
