The Last to Know Chapter 04
Chapter 4 The Truth Written in Blood
Author: Yestin
Life seemed to slip back into its old routine. I still lived in what had once been our marital home. I worked during the day and spent every evening at the hospital taking care of Mom.
Fiona was busy with her new husband and rarely contacted me. For me, the silence was a relief.
After work, I stopped by Mom’s favorite diner and picked up some chicken pot pies before heading to the hospital.
When I walked into her room, I froze. Two young men were sitting beside her bed.
My heart leaped, and I rushed over. Then, they turned around. It was Sean and Oliver.
My voice trembled. “Sean, why did you bring him here?”
Mom smiled at me and explained, “Sean was worried I’d get lonely, so he brought his friend to keep me company.
“I’d never met Oliver before today, but I liked him the moment I did. He’s such a kind, gentle young man. It’s outrageous that his wife cheated on him.”
She sighed. “Oliver, believe me. Homewreckers always get what’s coming to them.”
Oliver slowly rose to his feet and walked over to me.
He glanced at me with a smile that never reached his eyes. Then he turned to Mom with a gracious smile that somehow felt even crueler.
“Ms. Sutton, you’re absolutely right. Homewreckers always get what’s coming to them.
“So, when is your son going to face his punishment? Then again, maybe he already has. It just happened to fall on you instead. Terminal stomach cancer… I’d say that’s punishment enough.”
Mom’s face turned ghostly pale. She struggled to sit up and glared at Oliver. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Sean angrily pulled out a marriage certificate and threw it onto Mom’s lap. “Oliver isn’t making anything up. Gavin is the shameless homewrecker.
“Look for yourself. Oliver and Fiona are legally married. They’re husband and wife. Gavin knew Fiona had a husband, but he still shamelessly lived in her house and spent her money to pay your medical bills. That money belongs to both of them. Oliver has every right to take it back.”
The marriage certificate was dated June 19. My birthday.
Mom stared at the date as if she could not believe it. Then she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“Mom!” I reached for the emergency call button, sobbing. But before I could press it, Sean and Oliver grabbed me.
Oliver let out a cold laugh. “Your mother said it herself. Homewreckers deserve to be punished. If she doesn’t pay the price today, you’ll never learn your lesson. You’ll just keep trying to steal my wife.
“Maybe it’s better if she dies. Fiona doesn’t earn money to support freeloaders like you and your mother.”
I begged Sean to save Mom. All I got in return was a scornful laugh.
“Best friends? I don’t have a homewrecker for a friend. Oliver is my best friend.
“Ever since we were kids, you always had to outshine me. You were better-looking, got better grades, and even your girlfriend was prettier than mine. I was sick of that fake nice-guy act. Who wanted your pity? Everything that’s happening today is exactly what you deserve.”
I staggered back a step.
A loud ringing filled my ears. So all the times I had looked out for him, he had only seen it as pity. I had thought we were best friends. But to him, we had always been enemies.
Before I could say a word, they forced me to the floor. All I could do was watch as Mom’s body convulsed violently on the hospital bed.
The heart monitor spiked into a frantic rhythm. Then, little by little, the jagged line on the screen flattened.
Mom was gone.
Something inside me broke completely. I struggled free and grabbed the fruit knife Mom used every day to peel apples for me and lunged at them. I was going to make them pay with their lives.
“Gavin, have you lost your mind?”
The door flew open. Fiona had just walked in. She had only seen the final moment. She had no idea what had happened before.
Without hesitation, she rushed toward me. Using her own body as a shield, she threw herself in front of Oliver.
The instant before the knife reached her chest, I twisted my wrist with all my strength. The blade plunged straight into my own chest instead.
Blood sprayed across Fiona’s face. She caught me as I collapsed into her arms and screamed my name with heartbreaking desperation. “Gavin!”
