He Betrayed Me in a Language I Knew

The day before our second anniversary, my boyfriend, Henry Hayes, invites a group of friends from his hometown over for a nice dinner. After a few rounds of drinks, my best friend, Rachel Quinton, kicks off a drinking game in the Southern dialect. "I… slept with one of the guys in this room. We kept going at it for more than a day—and we did it in his girlfriend's bed." The entire table bursts into laughter. Holding his wine glass, Henry lets out a small laugh and answers in the same dialect. "In that case… I used up two boxes of protection with my girlfriend's best friend behind her back." As the laughter grows louder, Rachel kicks Henry under the table. "Keep your voice down! She's sitting right next to you!" Henry turns toward me with a smile. "She's from the North. She can't understand a word we're saying." With that, he reaches over and pinches my cheek affectionately. "What are you guys talking about?" I ask softly. "Rachel just told us she got a new boyfriend. Everyone's teasing her about it," he replies without missing a beat, casually placing a meatball onto my plate. Steam rises from the pot of soup in front of me, blurring the faces of the couple sitting across from me. I've always loved spicy food, despite growing up in a region where people generally preferred milder flavors. So, it never occurred to Henry that my family was actually from Harborcrest City, where the Southern dialect was spoken too. Chapter 1 I swallowed the meatball coated in chili oil and forced myself to smile at my boyfriend, Henry Hayes. Looking pleased, Henry ruffled my hair. "Have as much as you like. Despite where you're from, you do enjoy spicy food a lot." Across the table, my best friend, Rachel Quinton, was laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath. Switching to the Southern dialect, she said, "Your girlfriend is so easy to fool, Henry. She's not even mad that we're leaving her out of the game." "She's always been slow. She believes everything people tell her. She's no fun at all," Henry answered in the same dialect. Under the table, Rachel stretched out her foot and slowly rubbed it along his calf. "That's not what you said about me last night." Henry swallowed nervously. "You're practically a siren. You nearly squeezed me dry." The entire table let out a knowing laugh. When someone chuckled and reminded Henry that I was still sitting right there, he simply wiped his mouth nonchalantly. "So, what? It's not like she can understand us," he said coolly. Turning toward me, he said with a tender expression, "They're talking about this joke from our hometown, Carol. It has something to do with a siren." I swallowed my discomfort and nodded. "Really? It must be pretty funny." As I stared at his gentle features, I suddenly remembered how he acted while he was pursuing me two years ago. He was born and raised in the South, yet he practiced speaking in a Northern accent every day just for me. Back then, he held me tightly and said, "Carol, you'll never feel like an outsider when you're with me. From now on, I'll only speak in a language that you can understand." When he said that, I felt incredibly touched. To protect his pathetic pride, I kept my ability to understand the Southern dialect a secret. But now, that same dialect had become an encrypted language he was using to communicate with his mistress right in front of me. Rachel glanced at me before switching back to the standard local language. Feigning concern, she asked, "Why do you look so pale, Carol? Are you feeling unwell?" "I'm fine," I replied. "I'm just feeling a bit hot. I'm going to the bathroom." The moment I shut the door behind me, I could no longer hold it in. I bent over the toilet and retched violently. When I looked up at my disheveled reflection in the mirror, something on the shelf beside the sink caught my eye. Half-hidden behind my makeup remover was a square-shaped wrapper that had been torn open. It was the brand Henry often used. When I pulled the wrapper out, I even caught a whiff of the perfume Rachel was wearing today. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath before dropping the wrapper into the toilet and flushing it away. Then, I took out my phone and cancelled the flight Henry and I had booked for our trip to Sunshore Island next week. Afterward, I messaged someone I hadn't contacted in a long time. "I'm coming home, Caleb. Can you make the necessary arrangements for my return to Harborcrest City?" read my text message to my brother, Caleb Scott. After touching up my lipstick, I opened the door and exited the bathroom. The atmosphere in the living room was still lively as ever. Rachel raised her glass. "Here's to Henry. May all your years be better than your last!" Henry downed his drink in one go. When I returned to my seat, he casually slipped an arm around my waist. "Why were you gone for so long? I missed you." If this had happened in the past, I would've been touched by his words. But now, he reeked of greasy food and perfume, and it only made me feel sick. "It's nothing. I was just touching up my makeup," I said as I gently slipped out of his hold. Rachel flashed me a taunting smile. "Carol's so obsessed with her appearance. We're only having dinner at home, but she still made an effort to touch up her makeup." Then, she switched back to the Southern dialect and told Henry, "I'm not going home tonight. Come look for me in the guest room once she falls asleep." As Henry squeezed my thigh under the table, he replied in the same dialect, "Sure. I'll show you what I can do tonight." I looked down. Our two-year relationship was just like the cold pot of leftover stew sitting on the table. It looked rich and inviting on the surface, but it was filled with nothing but nauseating scraps. By the time the gathering finally ended, it was incredibly late. "I don't want to go home alone at this hour. You don't mind if I spend the night at your place, right?" Rachel asked, tugging on my hand with an innocent expression. I gently pulled my hand away from her and flashed her a small smile. "Of course. I just changed the bedsheets in the guest room." She clearly hadn't expected me to agree so easily. Henry, on the other hand, quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Carol's so understanding," he said. He instinctively leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my head away. "I'm going to go clean up the dishes." Amid the steady rush of water from the kitchen, I heard the faint sound of a door closing outside, followed by Henry's lowered voice. "Go take a shower. I'll head over in a bit." Chapter 2 After washing the dishes, I felt my phone vibrate. It was a message from my brother. "Finally come to your senses? I'll take care of the paperwork. Come home whenever you're ready." I stared at the screen and let out a long exhale. When I heard the faint sound of running water coming from the guest room, I untied my apron and walked back into the master bedroom. Then, I pulled out the suitcase I had thought I'd never need again. The soundproofing between the rooms was poor. Every now and then, I could hear the muffled sounds of a rocking bed through the wall. I curled up on the cold floor as a sharp pain tore through my stomach. With trembling hands, I called Henry. After what seemed like forever, the call finally connected. But to my dismay, Rachel's breathless and coy voice rang out from the other end of the line. "Henry's in the shower. What do you want?" She didn't even bother putting on an act anymore. Her smugness was practically seeping through the phone. I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood. "Put him on the phone… My stomach hurts…" I groaned. After the sound of rustling, I heard Henry's irritated voice. "What are you fussing about in the middle of the night, Carol Scott?" he spat impatiently. In the past, even the slightest furrow of my brow would have been enough to make him check in on me and make sure I was okay. Now, I was in unbearable pain, and he was assuming that I was just making a fuss. When he hesitated, I heard Rachel's voice in the background. "Henry, my leg cramped up. It hurts…" she cried. Upon hearing this, Henry's voice instantly turned cold. "Are you doing this on purpose just because Rachel is here? How bad can your stomach hurt from a simple dinner? Get yourself some medicine. I'm busy right now." The call ended with a sharp beep. I used all the strength I could muster to change into a new set of clothes. As I stumbled out of the house, I could hear Rachel's unabashed laughter coming through the crack in the guest-room door. When I staggered into the hospital, the emergency-room doctor frowned at me. "Acute gastric bleeding. Where's your family?" he asked. I flashed him a pale smile. "I don't have anyone. I can handle it myself." As cold fluids dripped into my vein, I took out my phone and canceled the order for the Green Submariner I'd planned to give Henry as a two-year anniversary gift. Then, I transferred all of my savings into the overseas account Caleb had given me. My screen lit up again. It was a message from Henry. "Rach wasn't feeling well, so I went over to check on her. Does your stomach still hurt, baby? I'm sorry I was so harsh with you earlier." Two years ago, he would feel guilty just for looking at another woman for too long. Now, he had just climbed out of another woman's bed, yet he could still call me "baby" without the slightest hint of shame. I didn't reply, and I simply put my phone on silent. … Once the IV drip procedure was over at dawn, I returned to the home that was now filled with nothing but lies. Henry was frying eggs in the kitchen. He had an apron around his waist and a perfect smile plastered across his face. "You're up early, baby. Where did you go?" he asked. He reached over to hug me, but I stepped aside and avoided his touch. His hand froze for a moment before he quickly tried to mask his uneasiness. "Why do you look so pale?" When he stepped closer, I caught the familiar scent of the body wash I'd bought for him. Only now, he also smelled like another woman. Moments later, the door to the guest room opened, and Rachel stepped out. There was a red mark on her body just above the neckline of her top. "Morning. Your pajama is so comfortable. Henry said it looks better on me than it does on you," she said provocatively. "Stop joking around." Henry's expression shifted slightly before he pretended to tell her off. Then, he lowered his voice and switched to the Southern dialect. "Have you lost your mind?" he hissed. "Go change!" "What are you so afraid of? She can't understand us," Rachel pouted and answered in the Southern dialect. "You weren't this harsh with me last night." "I'm going to take a shower," I declared coldly. I couldn't be bothered to watch their little performance. I walked straight into the master bedroom and dug a jewelry box out from the bottom of the closet. Inside was a simple silver necklace Henry had given me when he confessed his feelings. I threw it into the trash along with every other cheap gift he'd given me over the years. Then, I took out my phone and sent Caleb another message. "Send someone to pick me up as soon as possible, Caleb." Chapter 3 By the time I got out of the shower, Henry already had breakfast waiting for me. Rachel had changed back into her own clothes and was sitting in my usual seat, sipping her milk with an innocent smile. "Come and sit, Carol. Henry made you some eggs," she said. I pulled out another chair and sat down. Then, I stared at the burnt eggs on my plate without reaching for my fork. "Tonight is our second anniversary," Henry suddenly said, his tone ingratiating. "I made a reservation at a restaurant and invited a few friends over so we can celebrate together." He reached for my hand, but I pulled it away and took a sip of water. "Okay," I responded coolly. He visibly relaxed. But moments later, Rachel kicked the leg of his chair under the table and cut in. "I want to go too, Henry. I'll be so bored if I stay home alone." Henry looked conflicted. "I don't think that's a good idea. It's our second anniversary—" "She can come," I interrupted calmly. "The more, the merrier." He froze for a moment before breaking into a bright smile. "You're so generous, baby. Let's all head to the restaurant together then." … At 7:00 pm, we arrived at the restaurant. Henry had booked out the entire floor and invited more than a dozen friends. The moment I stepped into the private dining room, I sensed that something was off. Rachel had gotten to the venue before we did. She was wearing a burgundy backless dress, with a dazzling diamond necklace resting against her collarbone. I recognized the necklace immediately. A month ago, Henry, who was up late poring over auction catalogs in the study, suddenly covered my eyes excitedly. "I won a bid on an incredibly rare necklace, Carol. Only a diamond of that caliber is worthy of being gifted to the woman I love the most on our two-year anniversary," he'd declared. Back then, I'd thought I was the luckiest woman in the world. But now, the necklace he'd claimed was meant for the woman he loved the most was hanging openly around another woman's neck. "Carol's here!" someone announced awkwardly. Everyone's eyes were shifting between my simple white dress and Rachel's dazzling outfit. Henry's expression darkened. He hurried over to Rachel and growled in their Southern dialect, "Why are you wearing that? I told you it was for Carol!" Rachel blinked at him innocently. "So what if I borrowed it?" she shot back in the same dialect. "She knows nothing about jewelry. It'd be a waste for her to wear it." Henry clenched his jaw but didn't argue further. Instead, he turned with a smile and led me to the main seat at the table. "Come sit down, baby. You're the guest of honor tonight." After a few rounds of drinks, one of Henry's friends suddenly teased, "It's your anniversary, Henry. Did you not get Carol a gift?" The room fell silent. A sheen of sweat appeared on Henry's forehead, and his eyes instinctively darted toward the necklace around Rachel's neck. Holding a glass, the corners of Rachel's lips curved up into a faint smirk as she eagerly watched the situation unfold. Henry cleared his throat and pulled out a small box. "Of course I did." Inside the box was a delicate white-gold bracelet. The design was incredibly plain. It looked nothing like the diamond necklace around Rachel's neck. "Happy anniversary, baby." Guilt flashed across his face as he handed me the bracelet. In the past, he'd scour the entire city just to find my favorite cake flavor. Now, he couldn't even be bothered to put any thought into my anniversary gift. I didn't reach for it. I simply let him fasten the bracelet around my wrist. The difference between the two pieces of jewelry was painfully obvious. As everyone noticed this, the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly awkward. Then, Rachel abruptly got to her feet. "Oh, come on, Henry. This bracelet looks so cheap. Don't take it personally, Carol. Henry's just terrible when it comes to romance," she said, touching the necklace around her neck in an attempt to flaunt it. Afterward, she added, "Look—this is the one he gave me. If you like it, I can lend it to you for a couple of days." The entire room erupted in an uproar. Color drained from Henry's face. "What the hell are you talking about, Rachel?" he roared. Rachel wasn't intimidated in the slightest. Leaning in toward his ear, she sneered in the Southern dialect, "What? Are you feeling sorry for her now? That's not what you said when you were on top of me last night." Henry looked at me before glancing back at Rachel. In the end, he simply sank back into his chair without saying another word. This was the man I had been willing to cut ties with my own family for. Yet, when faced with the woman he'd been cheating on me with, he couldn't even muster up the courage to defend me. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I had received a message from Benjamin Hill, the Scott family's butler. "The car is waiting downstairs, Ms. Scott. Mr. Scott wants you to know that no matter what happens, the Scott family will always have your back." As I stared at my phone screen, my lips finally curled into a genuine smile. Moments later, I tapped out a reply. "Bring your men. I'm ready to leave." Chapter 4 After setting my phone down, I slipped the cheap bracelet off of my wrist and tossed it onto a plate littered with food scraps in front of me. A sharp clink rang out clearly in the silent room. Henry's expression hardened. "What are you doing, baby?" Thinking that I'd finally lost my composure, Rachel started to mock me in the Southern dialect. "Can't keep the act up anymore, Carol? Do you really think Henry loves you? He just thinks you're stupid and easy to manipulate." I stared at her coldly. When I didn't respond, she pressed on while she deliberately ran her fingers over the diamond necklace around her neck. "Do you know why he's with me? I know how to excite him. You, on the other hand, only know how to act like his mom." As she spoke, she shot the bracelet lying among the scraps with a contemptuous glance. "That cheap little bracelet of yours isn't even worth a fraction of what my necklace cost. To him, you're just as worthless as that bracelet." "Are you done?" I answered coldly in the same Southern dialect. Rachel froze, and her eyes widened in disbelief. "Y-You can speak the Southern dialect?" Henry looked as if he'd just been struck by lightning. He recalled all the lewd comments he'd exchanged with Rachel, as well as the ways they'd mocked and insulted me over the past two years. Once he recovered from his shock, he instantly stepped in front of Rachel to shield her from me. Then, he turned toward me and barked, "You're such a calculating woman, Carol! You understood everything this entire time, yet you pretended like you couldn't hear us to secretly keep tabs on me. You're sick!" His voice grew louder with every word. He was deliberately making sure that everyone in the room could hear him. "No wonder you've always had such a good temper! Don't let her fool you, everyone. The only reason she put on this sweet, innocent facade and pretends to be the victim is that she's after all the bags and makeup products I buy for her! "I knew you were a gold digger from the start, but I was an idiot! I knew you were after my money, but I was still willing to support you for the rest of your life!" he yelled. He took a deep breath before continuing, "I was going to let you keep your dignity and give you a huge sum of money when we broke up, but you had to cause a scene tonight and ruin my reputation! Are you planning on using this whole thing to pressure me into giving in because you think I'd never leave you?" Rachel immediately caught on and joined in. With a gloating smile, she mocked, "Exactly. She's just some broke nobody who's trying to marry into money by playing dumb. She didn't manage to get enough out of him, so now she's throwing a fit. How pathetic." Everyone immediately started to look at me differently. Some of them even began calling me ungrateful in hushed voices. Henry was willing to destroy my reputation just to salvage his own ego. As I stared at his shameless face, I let out a laugh. "A gold digger? Trying to marry into money?" I exclaimed incredulously. I took out my phone and pulled up the photo I'd taken of the condom wrapper in the bathroom. Then, I held it in front of him. "One day and one night. Two boxes. When the two of you were rolling around in my bed, were you thinking about our relationship at all?" Henry's face went pale. Staring at the screen, his lips trembled as he asked, "Y-You knew?" Rachel's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly folded her arms and scoffed. "So what if you know about the affair? You're just some poor girl from out of town. Do you really think you can survive in a city like this without Henry?" I put my phone away and looked at Henry, who was now visibly panicking. "You disgust me." With that, I turned and walked out of the private dining room. Snapping out of his daze, Henry ran after me. In the hallway, he grabbed my wrist and pleaded, "Listen to me, Carol! I can explain! It was just a moment of weakness. You're the one I love!" He was gripping me so tightly that my wrist had begun to hurt. "Let go." "I won't! If you leave, then we're actually over!" he screamed, his eyes bloodshot. At that moment, a soft ding came from the elevator at the end of the hallway. When the door to the elevator opened, six bodyguards dressed in black marched out. Walking at the front of the group was Benjamin Hill. He strode straight toward us, his sharp gaze fixed on Henry. "Let go of Ms. Scott," he demanded. Stunned by the intimidating group of men, Henry loosened his grip. Subsequently, two bodyguards immediately stepped forward and pushed him away from me. Benjamin lowered his head respectfully. "The car is ready, Ms. Scott. Mr. Scott Senior said that staying at Harborcrest will be good for you. He wants you to come home as soon as possible." Henry and Rachel, who had followed us out, were staring at me in disbelief. "M-Ms. Scott?" I rubbed my reddened wrist and stared at Henry condescendingly. "I forgot to tell you something, Henry. My name isn't Carol Scott." After a brief pause, I declared coolly, "I'm Caroline Scott of Scott Group in Harborcrest City, and I can understand the Southern dialect perfectly."