Chapter: Chapter 5: The Angel I don't know“I agree this was a mistake. I’m sorry I made you lie. I’m sorry I—”“Stop that,” he growls. “Stop apologizing for everything.”My heart is hammering. The vibration from the elevator feels like it’s coming from my chest. The ride feels too long. I wonder when the doors will open. No one is getting in from any of the floors.Zayn is too close. I can smell him—dark cologne, smoke. If he’s a killer, I have to act right. Not provoke him. But he can’t be a killer. Can he? He doesn’t look like one. Then again, neither did Daniel.“I’ve never met you,” I say carefully. “Who are you? You’re not here to kill me, are you? Did Daniel hire you?”He actually recoils like I’m the weird one, his brows pinched together. Then he laughs. He reaches out, not to grab me but to tuck a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. His fingers graze my cheek. I shiver from his touch. He steps away from me, standing across the elevator room.“Six years ago. Callowell University. The library, third floor,” he says s
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-03-02
Chapter: Chapter 4: The Perfect Lie“Is that a bride?” a young girl whispers to her friend as they scuttle past.“Bride of Chucky,” the other snickers. “She looks so cool. Nice dress.”I exhale. The hotel lobby hums softly. But I barely hear it. I’ve been sitting here for what feels like hours now. My hands wrap around a glass of water, trembling.“What do I do next?” I say to myself.What sane human has a plan when their entire life is a dumpster fire?My phone won’t stop ringing. Daniel, Barbara, my parents, Mason, even Natasha. They’ve been sending threats in the form of texts.“Where the fuck are you?” That one’s from my mother.“Are you insane? Think of the guests.” My dad.My wonderful mother-in-law sent this: “How dare you abandon my son at the altar?” And my older brother, Mason. “I knew you’d find a way to shame us all.” Says the basement-dwelling parasite who keeps landing us in huge debts. I ignore them all. My head drops. I let the tears come. Then the table shakes. Someone plops into the seat opposite me
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-03-02
Chapter: Chapter 3: This Time, I Choose MyselfThe church is too quiet. Not peaceful quiet. Judgmental quiet. I can feel every pair of eyes on me. They’re watching me, confused, curious, and annoyed. Daniel’s grip tightens around my fingers, his nails digging into my skin hard enough to remind me exactly who he is beneath the mask. “Jade,” he whispers through clenched teeth, his smile still perfectly in place for the audience. “What are you doing?”What am I doing? I almost laugh. What I'm not doing is dying for you again. Not this time. Not ever again.I force my breathing to slow. Panic would ruin everything. Rage would expose me. Right now, silence is my greatest weapon. “I’m sorry,” I say suddenly. “I—I feel dizzy.”Murmurs spread across the church. Concern replaces tension. Daniel’s grip loosens slightly. Confusion flashes across his eyes. He wasn't expecting a retreat. He was expecting obedience from me. To be the good woman I’ve always been.I turn to the priest. “I just need a moment.”The priest nods. “Of course, my chi
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-03-02
Chapter: Chapter 2: I finally know the truth“What are you doing here? How long have you been standing there?” Daniel growls.“Long enough to realize my entire life was a lie,” I whisper, my voice shaking as I stand on my feet.My mother shoots up from her seat. Her palm strikes my cheek with a quick, searing crack. My head snaps to the side. And the coppery flavour of blood fills my mouth.“You ungrateful brat! How dare you look at us with such judgment? We raised you. We endured you!”“Endured me?” I choke out a hollow laugh, looking at the woman who had birthed me. “You sold me. You ruined my life for a paycheck. Was the price high enough, Mom?”Barbara approaches slowly. “I told you I’d talk to them. Why did you have to come here and ruin the mood? This is on you. Your curiosity killed the cat.”Daniel grabs my chin. His grip is tight enough to hurt. “Barbara’s right. You’ve always acted as if you were holier than everyone else. You should’ve just died quietly, Jade. We’re all exhausted from pretending to love you.”The dam
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-03-02
Chapter: Chapter 1: The lonely womanJADE“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ederson. There’s nothing more we can do. You should contact your family and say your goodbyes,” Doctor Declan says.My chest feels hollow. Not because of his words, but because the people who are supposed to care for me have vanished months ago. My husband hasn’t come since he dropped me off at the hospital. Not even once.No calls. No texts. No messages in the dead of the night. My mother-in-law? Nothing. And my own family? They all disappeared. It’s as if I have faded out of existence.I try convincing myself they are busy. Probably work. Life. Responsibilities. But how busy can someone be to forget their own sick daughter… their own dying wife?My fingers tremble as I borrow Doctor Declan’s phone again.My love, it’s Jade. Please… come. I need to see you. Something urgent came up. And I miss you.The message delivers. Daniel receives it. He reads it. And he doesn’t reply. He has stopped picking up my calls or replying to my texts for a while now.I stare at my
Dernière mise à jour: 2026-03-02
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