Her Own Light

My name is Judy Fox. Robbie Madison is my husband. Before I married Robbie Madison, I already knew about Greta Rodriguez. Greta Rodriguez had been the one Robbie had cherished in his heart for many years. It's not that I didn't mind; it's just that back then, I always believed love could conquer past attachments. My acquaintance with Robbie Madison was hardly romantic, yet it held my first feelings of pity and a fluttering heart for him. I was seventeen that year, and on my way home from school, I came across a group of boys surrounding Robbie. They tugged at his school uniform, faded from too many washes, insulting him as a b*stard without parents. Robbie kept his head down, fists tightly clenched, but never once fought back. I don't know where I found the courage, but I picked up a stone from the roadside, threw it, and shouted at them that I was calling the police. Seeing I was serious, the group cursed under their breath and finally left. I walked over to Robbie Madison and handed him a tissue. He lifted his head, his face bruised, his eyes as cold as ice, without saying a single thank you. Later, I found out that Robbie Madison had grown up in an orphanage, where bullying was a daily ordeal. I started paying attention to him, bringing him breakfast and helping him catch up on the lessons he'd missed. At first, he resisted and kept his distance from me. Then, six months later, he walked me home in the rain, drenched, yet smiled and said he was afraid I'd catch a cold. From that day on, our relationship slowly grew closer. Robbie Madison said I was the first person who treated him well and never looked down on his background. I believed that this unique kindness would help him completely let go of his past. After graduating from university, Robbie Madison proposed to me. He knelt on one knee, holding a modest ring, his eyes sincere. He promised to treat me well for life and give me a stable home. I nodded with tears in my eyes, overlooking the fleeting haze in his gaze. Our wedding was simple, with few guests, but every corner bore the marks of my careful planning. The days after marriage were ordinary, yet somehow tender. Robbie Madison worked hard, and when he came home, he helped me with the housework. I thought we would just keep going like this forever. Until I discovered I was pregnant. When I showed Robbie Madison the pregnancy test, his face lit up with surprise, but beneath it lay a flicker of worry I couldn't decipher. From that moment on, Robbie began to change. He often came home late, sometimes carrying a scent that wasn't mine. When I questioned him, he said it was just socializing and told me not to read too much into it. I comforted myself, telling myself it was just pregnancy hormones and I shouldn't suspect him. But once suspicion takes root, it grows uncontrollably. That day, I was overcome with pregnancy nausea and wanted Robbie Madison to accompany me to the hospital. I called him, but he said he was busy, his tone dismissive. Compelled by some strange impulse, I went to the address a friend had given me. It was a small apartment, with a pair of women's high heels placed by the door. I pushed the door open and saw the scene I least wanted to see. Robbie Madison and Greta Rodriguez were entwined on the sofa; Greta's hand rested on his chest, her smile gentle and tender. When they saw me, the smiles on their faces froze instantly. I stood at the door, my body chilled, even breathing felt difficult. Robbie Madison hurriedly stood up, trying to come to my side. I raised my hand to stop him—not crying or making a fuss, just quietly looking at him. Greta Rodriguez also stood, her eyes filled with provocation and a faint, barely noticeable smirk. "Judy Fox." Greta was the first to speak, her tone deliberately intimate. I ignored her, my gaze fixed solely on Robbie Madison. Robbie Madison's face flushed bright red, his eyes averted, unable to utter a single word of explanation. I turned and left the apartment without looking back. The wind outside was fierce, making my whole body shiver. I didn't know how long I had walked until my legs gave out, and I stopped, leaning against a tree. Tears finally spilled uncontrollably, dropping onto the cold ground. The deep love I believed in was nothing but a lie. The sense of security I thought I had was nothing but an illusion.