In the morning, Sarah woke up from the sound of a car in the yard, followed by Emma’s exciting voice, “Dad, Mom, I’m back!”
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas greeted her back. Looking through the window, Sarah saw Charles getting out of the car, holding several shopping bags in his hand. Emma was still talking with Mr. Thomas, who had been trimming flowers in the yard, and Christina was doing her morning exercises routine.
Sarah felt it strange that Charles and Emma were together this early in the morning and that they had so many shopping bags. Had they been together since last night already? Why else would they be arriving together this early in the morning? No shops were open this early.
Sarah decided not to overthink it but couldn't shake off a strange feeling of why they were together. She didn’t doubt Charles for she trusted him, so she hurried up to get dressed, brushed her hair, and then went downstairs to meet them.
Seeing Sarah’s regular expression, Charles came over to her, placed his hands on her shoulders, then lowered his head toward her, and asked gently. “How was your sleep last night?”
Sarah just nodded slightly and said. “It was okay.” Staring at him, she felt Charles was acting abnormally toward her. Why wasn't he angry with her, but rather seemed to treat her extra nicely?
Charles laughed and whispered into her ear. “Could you sleep early without me?”
Sarah raised her eyebrows in defense. “Did you give me medicine to sleep, or why'd you think I can't sleep without you?”
Charles was about to whisper something else when he heard Christina coughing. Turning around, he saw his mom staring at him coldly, and Emma behind her. Only Mr. Thomas seemed not to care but instead took it as a joke between a married couple.
Blushing, Sarah pushed Charles away, leaving him no choice but to let her go.
After breakfast, they prepared to see Emma off at the airport. Christina was crying, holding Emma’s hands tightly as she kept telling her to come back soon.
A slight sigh escaped Sarah when she saw Christina treated Emma with so much love. If she only treated her with one-tenth of the affection, she was giving Emma, and their life could be so much better. Charles and Emma acted very normally towards each other, like normal brother and sister, exchanging a gift and the usual goodbye chatter.
After Emma was boarding, Sarah sighed, thinking that Christina would now have all her time to dedicate herself to stirring up her peaceful life since Emma had left. But even if Christina wanted to do anything, Emma was gone now.
It never occurred to Sarah that greater troubles were waiting for her. Christina wouldn’t give up so quickly in her effort to destroy her marriage.
***
After Emma left, they all were about to go back home when Charles suddenly held Sarah’s shoulder and pulled her into his arms. Seeing their intimate affection towards each other, Mr. Thomas smiles, whereas Christina had her arms crossed in front of her chest, displaying her obvious disapproval.
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