Chapter: The Book
The kids snuck into Jane's room, giggling as they jumped on the bed.
"Mom, wake up! We need to go to Dad's! It's already 8:30—we have to leave by 9:45!"
"Five more minutes," Jane murmured, pulling the covers over her head.
"No, Mom! Wake up now or we'll be late!" one of them insisted.
Jane sighed and smiled, pulling both of them into a warm hug. "Alright, alright. Let's get ready. I'll drop you off at your dad's."
"Hehehe... okay, Mom! We love you!"
"I love you two, too."
After breakfast, Jane helped the kids get ready and packed their bags. On the way to her ex-husband's house, a painful memory began to creep back into her mind—the day she discovered his betrayal.
---
Flashback
That day, Jane had made a new dish—something she'd never cooked before. Excited, she decided to surprise her husband by bringing lunch to his office.
When she arrived, she heard muffled sounds from inside. Soft giggles. Kissing. At first, she thought she was imagining things. Without knocking, she opened the door—and what she saw shattered her.
There he was. Jacob. Her husband. Locked in an embrace with his secretary.
She stood frozen. "What's wrong with you!? What are you doing?" Her voice trembled.
Jacob's face paled; he had no excuse ready.
"I gave you everything," she continued. "We have kids at home, an infant! After all these years—I loved you, I trusted you…"
"I was sick and tired of you!" Jacob snapped suddenly. "After you gave birth, you changed. You stopped paying attention to me. You neglected me!"
Jane stared at him in disbelief. "You were supposed to take care of the baby. You didn't even want kids, remember? You said you'd handle them. You're calling me neglectful? You never cared about me or the babies! All you ever cared about was your work!"
"I can't do this anymore," she said firmly. "I'll be moving out. I'm taking the kids with me."
Jacob tried to object, but Jane cut him off. "You bet I can. The divorce papers will be ready by the time you get home." And with that, she left.
---
Outside, Jane broke down in her car. She'd kept it together long enough to say what she needed to say, but now the weight of it all hit her. For a fleeting moment, a dark thought crossed her mind. But then she thought of her children—and that was enough to stop her.
With nowhere else to go, she called her best friend. Through tears, she asked, "Cyndi, can I stay with you for a while?"
"Of course you can. For as long as you need, okay? Don't cry," Cyndi assured her.
Jane then called her brother, a divorce lawyer. "I know you told me not to marry him. I should've listened. I'm so sorry."
"Jane? What's wrong? Are you crying?"
She told him everything. Furious, he offered to let her and the kids move in with him.
But Jane refused. "I don't want to burden you. I'm staying with Cyndi for now. I just need you to handle the divorce."
"Alright," he sighed. "Be safe."
That very day, Jane and her children moved in with Cyndi. She started job hunting immediately—even though she'd never worked before. Jacob had always promised to provide for her. But that life was gone now.
Fortunately, thanks to her impressive education, Jane found a job quickly. Not long after, she signed the divorce papers and moved into her own place.
Jacob didn't fight the divorce. He remained distant and silent.
Three months later, Jane applied for full custody. Her job wasn't yet stable enough to win full rights, but since the kids preferred living with her, the judge granted her 80% custody. Jacob was ordered to pay child support.
---
Five Years Later
Now, five years later, Jane dropped her kids off at their father's. She wouldn't see them again until next weekend.
Feeling exhausted, Jane tried calling Cyndi. They'd planned to have lunch, but Cyndi wasn't answering her phone. Concerned, Jane went to her friend's apartment. She knocked. No response.
Worried, Jane used the spare key Cyndi had given her and stepped inside.
"Cyndi? Are you in the bathroom? Where the hell are you?" Jane called out.
As she searched the apartment, something unusual caught her eye—a dusty, old book with strange red and brown stains. Beside it lay a dried flower and a note:
"This book is for Jane. Don't touch it."
Curious and increasingly anxious, Jane picked it up. She noticed Cyndi's phone was left on the sofa.
Maybe she went out to get groceries? Jane thought.
She gently moved the dried flower aside and opened the book...